To cover or not to cover

[audifusion]

My new build,

800 gallon L-shaped built into wall one side.

I'm going to do a community reef and wondering whether or not I should cover the top of the tank with glass?

Initially I thought it would decrease evaporation and decrease heat loss.

Any thoughts?

 

[Donkey Gun]

All I can say is.... WOW!

 

[Gubernaculum86]

That thing is incredible!
With that much water volume I would expect that the temperature would remain fairly constant. As far as evaporation goes, yeah they would cut down on it. However, they would be some pretty big pieces of glass and what if you wanted to work in the middle of the tank, you would have to take of the whole piece of glass. Unless u had lots of little glass panels.

 

[audifusion]

thought I'd throw up a few more pics.

Few pics of the stand,

I put in close to 600lbs of Carib white sea sand, that's why I was in the tank spreading it around.

 

[Fishie]

Wowowowoow! Nice!

 

[mfdrookie516]

Guys, while I understand that this is a really cool build, please keep this thread on the topic at hand... which is whether or not to cover the tank.


audifusion - I think everyone would appreciate a build thread over in the sw tanks showoff or saltwater reef aquaria forum!

 

[huma-huma]

I've heard that covering your tank actually increases the evap rate ( don't ask me how) if anything id run chicken wire or egg crates on top, that way it'll let the tank breathe while protecting thousands of dollars of fish from skydiving

 

[FTMMWS]

Beautiful!!Love it

While i have always been a top off person ,,my last upgrade (which looks tiny nowthanks to you) I have tops on ...Mainly because i noticed a lot of evaporation and also my windows collecting the moisture ...I think you'll need some sort of ventilation and/or a dehumidifier for the area the tank is too

 

[Sniperhank]

I prefer lidless...but with such a large project I would cover it.

Since it appears to me that you are pretty decent with your hands, I would take a bunch of smaller glass panels and either frame them, or get them framed with plastic or whatever you would prefer, and hinge them. This would allow you to cover your tank and be able to get at any part of your tank without having to remove a heavy piece of glass. Dropping it would be expensive, hassel to clean up, and dangerous to both you and your swimming investment.

 

[Fishie]

Guys, while I understand that this is a really cool build, please keep this thread on the topic at hand... which is whether or not to cover the tank.

audifusion - I think everyone would appreciate a build thread over in the sw tanks showoff or saltwater reef aquaria forum!

My bad! I would not cover the tank!

 

[audifusion]

Leaning towards not covering, can't be bothered constantly cleaning salt off the cover.

 

[huma-huma]

The lids would be out of sight correct? Not saying you could neglect cleaning them but some salt buildup wouldn't be an eye sore

 

[Jason M]

If u do cover it I would use acrylic be because it doesn't filter the light as much as glass does.

 

[huma-huma]

I beloved you're looking at between 5-15% light loss.. obviously there's a few determining factors to the exact number but that's the general range I've found