canopy or no canopy? - Aquarium Advice

ZivioRR · 03-30-2006, 02:19 AM

hi all. i was just wondering do most of us have a canopy over the fishtank?
coz all the tanks that i see in my lfs doesnt have any... whats the pros and cons about that? thankz.

**BillyZ** · 03-30-2006, 08:37 AM

I do not.

Pros:
Keeps fish in and kids/pets/random-flying-objects out

Cons:
Inhibits efficient gas exchange at the surface of your tank, affecting your Ph levels (if you don't also have a sump/fuge)

IMO, thats a pretty big con. If you're concerned about the fish/kids/pets/flying-objects i would recomend picking up some Egg-crate from the lighting section of your local hardware store. gives a "guard" while still allowing light and air through.

DragonForce · 03-30-2006, 09:26 AM

I run a canopy with an open back.

They look better IMO with a nice canopy vs an open back. My tank gets plenty of gas exchange and soon I will be adding a nice HOB fuge.

jasno999 · 03-30-2006, 12:02 PM

If I had somehting bigger than a 10gallon tank I would do a closed canopy and an open fuge/sump. That way you get the gas exchange but you save a littl on evaporation and the need for cleaning onf the lights.

BeGiNeR_7 · 03-30-2006, 12:19 PM

I like the look of the canopies and was going to get one. I bought everything else and just haven't decided to spend the money to get the canopy. I think it looks okay without it and I have decided to spend that money on things that actually go it the tank. I figured the option is always there if I change my mind.

Quil · 03-30-2006, 12:55 PM

How big of an issue is evaporation if you don't use a canopy?

zuzecawi · 03-30-2006, 01:04 PM

I have a canopy with open back being made for the 135. Since I plan on using halides, this is a must. Halide lighting is a KNOWN and PROVEN cause of cataracts and glaucoma. (Hope I'm spelling that right/have the right word in mind) Any children, dogs, short people, etc who stare up at the lights are at risk for severe and permanent damage to their eyes and eyesight. Being as I have all of the above in my household, canopy it is. My current tank doesn't have a canopy, and it definitely bothers my eyes. I don't think your evaporation rate would be any lower with an open backed canopy. I lose about 1-2 gallons per day off the open topped 58 and the open topped 20 gal sump.

**melosu58** · 03-30-2006, 03:26 PM

I do not have a canopy and I like it better. Too bulky and tank stays much cooler without one. Temps stay more steady also.

pkremer · 03-30-2006, 05:12 PM

I just removed the original hood to put my new Orbit CF lighting system above the tank, and now have an open top. I just did it today, so I'll have to see how it affects evaporation; however, I am not concerned about things falling in, nor am I terrified of fish jumping out. These new lights rule!

And zuzecawi, you spelled both cataracts and glaucoma correctly (I am a medical transcriptionist), but I haven't done any research on that, so I don't know for sure if you have the right words in mind...hehe!

Paul

ZivioRR · 03-30-2006, 10:32 PM

but if u have MH light, wont a close canopy cause the temp to raise too high??

03-30-2006, 02:19 AM	#1
ZivioRR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 45	canopy or no canopy? hi all. i was just wondering do most of us have a canopy over the fishtank? coz all the tanks that i see in my lfs doesnt have any... whats the pros and cons about that? thankz.

03-30-2006, 08:37 AM	#2
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,623 Images: 6	I do not. Pros: Keeps fish in and kids/pets/random-flying-objects out Cons: Inhibits efficient gas exchange at the surface of your tank, affecting your Ph levels (if you don't also have a sump/fuge) IMO, thats a pretty big con. If you're concerned about the fish/kids/pets/flying-objects i would recomend picking up some Egg-crate from the lighting section of your local hardware store. gives a "guard" while still allowing light and air through. __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

03-30-2006, 09:26 AM	#3
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	I run a canopy with an open back. They look better IMO with a nice canopy vs an open back. My tank gets plenty of gas exchange and soon I will be adding a nice HOB fuge. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

03-30-2006, 01:04 PM	#7
zuzecawi Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 269 Images: 7	I have a canopy with open back being made for the 135. Since I plan on using halides, this is a must. Halide lighting is a KNOWN and PROVEN cause of cataracts and glaucoma. (Hope I'm spelling that right/have the right word in mind) Any children, dogs, short people, etc who stare up at the lights are at risk for severe and permanent damage to their eyes and eyesight. Being as I have all of the above in my household, canopy it is. My current tank doesn't have a canopy, and it definitely bothers my eyes. I don't think your evaporation rate would be any lower with an open backed canopy. I lose about 1-2 gallons per day off the open topped 58 and the open topped 20 gal sump. __________________ Only thing more dangerous than a 2nd lieutenant saying "In my experience" is a warrant officer saying "Hey guys, check this out!"

03-30-2006, 03:26 PM	#8
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,986 Images: 73	I do not have a canopy and I like it better. Too bulky and tank stays much cooler without one. Temps stay more steady also. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

03-30-2006, 12:02 PM	#4
jasno999 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: King of Prussia, PA Posts: 527	If I had somehting bigger than a 10gallon tank I would do a closed canopy and an open fuge/sump. That way you get the gas exchange but you save a littl on evaporation and the need for cleaning onf the lights.

03-30-2006, 12:19 PM	#5
BeGiNeR_7 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 332 Images: 9	I like the look of the canopies and was going to get one. I bought everything else and just haven't decided to spend the money to get the canopy. I think it looks okay without it and I have decided to spend that money on things that actually go it the tank. I figured the option is always there if I change my mind.

03-30-2006, 12:55 PM	#6
Quil Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 20	How big of an issue is evaporation if you don't use a canopy?

03-30-2006, 05:12 PM	#9
pkremer Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 478 Images: 3	I just removed the original hood to put my new Orbit CF lighting system above the tank, and now have an open top. I just did it today, so I'll have to see how it affects evaporation; however, I am not concerned about things falling in, nor am I terrified of fish jumping out. These new lights rule! And zuzecawi, you spelled both cataracts and glaucoma correctly (I am a medical transcriptionist), but I haven't done any research on that, so I don't know for sure if you have the right words in mind...hehe! Paul __________________ 38 Gallon (Freshwater): 1 Green Swordtail, 3 Yo-Yo Loaches, 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Blue Gourami, 4 Otocinclus, 7 Cherry Barbs. 46 Gallon (Saltwater): 60 pounds Lalo Live Rock, 60 pounds aragonite sand, 1 Coral Beauty Angelfish, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 Mushroom Coral, 1 Emerald Crab, various snails and hermit crabs. 10 Gallon (Saltwater quarantine):

03-30-2006, 10:32 PM	#10
ZivioRR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 45	but if u have MH light, wont a close canopy cause the temp to raise too high??

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