open top or glass top??

[Dchi225]

putting together everything for my 55 gallon reef build and have been trying to figure out if i want to leave it open top or glass top. if i use glass will it cut down on the intesity of my 4 bulb t5's. any input or opinions one way or the other would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I know you can go open top if you want, but you will need to pay more attention to water evap and salinity levels.

 

[Daniel Fishy]

I go topless. Less heat in summertime better gas exchange. Only downside is fish can jump out I only had a firefish jump. Three tanks all are topless.

 

[Dchi225]

im leaning more towards the open top but wanted to know if there were any upsides or downsides to either way.

 

[kwandrsn]

I like open top. Better gas exchanges like someone said earlier. Plus using a top depending on the material can lower your par. Plus you will be cleaning the top constantly our the buildup will lower your par. I currently use the checkers eggcrate light diffuser material but I am going to switch to clear screen material sold by bulkreefsupply because the eggcrate is lowering my par too. Some people say with a open top you get salt all over the room. I have yet to notice this. Maybe around the tank like on equipment but I constantly wipe stuff down anyways

 

[tonedogz]

I have a two piece top that I can open or close. If its hot I open half then close it at night when it cools in the winter its down most of the time. With an open top your going to have a lot of evaporation, salt creep, fish could jump out.