Tank cover

[nybb1001]

should we use tank covers? what are the pros and cons?

 

[Keith P]

I'm not a pro, but here is a short list:
Pro:
Less dust and room dirt in the tank
Less evap


Cons:
Less gas exchange
Less cooling
Less light passage
Worse top viewing

Any one want to correct me or add to the list?

 

[marrone]

Pro:
Keeping your fish from jumping out.

You can also use the type of cover that Kathy makes, which is made of pond fish netting. This will take away some the of cons on Keith P list, like gas exchange, cooling and light passage, plus it keep your fish inside the tank as opposed to the floor.

 

[nybb1001]

thank you for the info.
I wounder how many of you use tank cover? glass or acrylic? how thick?

 

[JJSBLM]

thank you for the info.
I wounder how many of you use tank cover? glass or acrylic? how thick?

i have a plexiglass cover, 1/4" thickness on my tank.

 

[Keith P]

I've always had open top tanks.

Does euro-bracing help with jumpers? I really want a blue spotted jaw fish (a known jumper).

 

[Reef Reaper]

I have 2 pearly jawfishes and 2 tiger jawfisehes. both tanks are completely covered! I had some escape thru seams in the cover that I never found!

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

I've always had open top tanks.

Does euro-bracing help with jumpers? I really want a blue spotted jaw fish (a known jumper).

should we use tank covers? what are the pros and cons?

Hi nybb1001, Keith P, everyone ;-)

About the pros and cons several members already said it all and yes Keith euro-bracing helps but is not 100% full proof. Personally I do not have tank cover and that already cost the lives of several fish, so if I take action I definitely go for KathyC solution such as showed in the photograph

Also this approach is also used to adapt corals to new lamps and/or light intensities, which in such case, several levels of net are used and are progressively removed one by one on a daily basis, thus allowing the coral to gently adapt it self to the new and further increasing light intensity, especially for new arrivals.

Cheers
Pedro Nuno ;-)

 

[boozeman]

I'm topless and love it

 

[duke62]

wouldnt you want the evap so everyday you add new water to tank

 

[KathyC]

lol Pedro, that tank 'cover' (and I use the term VERY loosely!...lol) was what I put over my tank (knowing I have fish inclined to jump) at about 3 AM after a very long day during my last upgrade.

This is what the finished cover looked like for that tank ..

After having my Royal Gramma jump through egg-crate (has too large an opening for many jumpers, and seriously interferes with lighting getting to the corals) right past me, I'd decided something else was needed and came up with the cover design you see in the pic. I haven't lost a fish due to jumping since, nor does the netting material interfere with lighting (the use of the acrylic edging doesn't throw a light limiting shadow either), nor does it become brittle over time

Regarding pros and cons of solid covers - IMO there are only cons in using them. At best, they may slow evaporation but then you are also retaining more heat in the tank. Not worth the trade off IMO. Add the effective of reducing what lighting enters the tank (think of the $ you are paying for that..) and the reduction in gas exchange (important!!) and they become a lose-lose situation.

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

Hi KathyC

Your very skilful indeed, looks great...what did you use for hinges?

Cheers
Pedro Nuno ;-)

 

[KathyC]

Thanks Pedro

Not easy to see, but the hinges are acrylic as well..

 

[nybb1001]

I'm topless and love it

maybe we will like it more if we can see it, hahaha:shhh:

 

[nybb1001]

lol Pedro, that tank 'cover' (and I use the term VERY loosely!...lol) was what I put over my tank (knowing I have fish inclined to jump) at about 3 AM after a very long day during my last upgrade.

This is what the finished cover looked like for that tank ..

After having my Royal Gramma jump through egg-crate (has too large an opening for many jumpers, and seriously interferes with lighting getting to the corals) right past me, I'd decided something else was needed and came up with the cover design you see in the pic. I haven't lost a fish due to jumping since, nor does the netting material interfere with lighting (the use of the acrylic edging doesn't throw a light limiting shadow either), nor does it become brittle over time

Regarding pros and cons of solid covers - IMO there are only cons in using them. At best, they may slow evaporation but then you are also retaining more heat in the tank. Not worth the trade off IMO. Add the effective of reducing what lighting enters the tank (think of the $ you are paying for that..) and the reduction in gas exchange (important!!) and they become a lose-lose situation.

Kathyc, this is very neat, I like it.
in the future if I get I goby or any jumper, I definitely will try to make one like yours, I just don't know if it is easy enough for me to DIY.