Tops for a reef tank?

[walleyebum]

Should I put the tops on for my fish tank or no? I have a 220 gallon reef tank with mostly soft corals

[cloak]

You don't want the glass tops. The way I understand it is that you want as much gas exchange as you can get. Let your tank breath. If there happens to be an abundance of carbon dioxide in the water this can make some of your parameters fluctuate, pH being one of them and you don't want that. Stability is key. Here's a good article.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

[cloak]

Here's another link that should help you out.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4559662

[UnusualSuspect]

I keep my glass top on. I have a couple of fish that have a reputation for jumping.

I consider this "gas exchange" argument to be pretty weak. If your skimmer & sump aren't providing enough gas exchange ... well, there's your problem.

I saw a post the other day claiming that nitrates and phosphates escape thru the water surface into the air. If you believe that one, I can get you a real good deal on a bridge in Brooklyn.

I tend more to believe the folks who talk about the tops trapping heat, but then I run LEDs so it's not a thing for me.

[hotrodolds]

I keep my glass top on. I have a couple of fish that have a reputation for jumping.

I consider this "gas exchange" argument to be pretty weak. If your skimmer & sump aren't providing enough gas exchange ... well, there's your problem.

I saw a post the other day claiming that nitrates and phosphates escape thru the water surface into the air. If you believe that one, I can get you a real good deal on a bridge in Brooklyn.

I tend more to believe the folks who talk about the tops trapping heat, but then I run LEDs so it's not a thing for me.

nitrogen cycle, look it up....

that being said if you have a sump then I wouldn't worry to much about gas exchange

[ahullsb]

I am a little biased, but here is the best solution I found.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1310096&highlight=tank+lid

[walleyebum]

I have a huge sump and and 3 skimmers going on it.

[UnusualSuspect]

nitrogen cycle, look it up....


Nitrogen gas, N2, will bubble out through the water column if you have the proper anaerobic/anoxic bacterial processes going on in your tank. Nitrates, on the other hand, will NOT under any circumstances bubble out through the water column. It takes biochemical or mechanical (ie: removal via water changes) processes to get rid of them.

Look it up.

[LaOtIn]

<===always used glass tops, no problem

also, food for thought, Biocube, RedSea Max, Aquapod, edge, etc <===all closed tops

all the top brands in our hobby are........wrong by putting a top on their AIO systems?

[Lynnmw1208]

I got the 1/4" clear netting from bulk reef supply and built my own tops. keeps fish in, lets light in and lets gas out :thumbsup:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_q5zxJxS9jm4/TadCzgl2FGI/AAAAAAAAFQM/gP3D41EIl8Y/s800/DSC_0352.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_q5zxJxS9jm4/TadCxt3vEiI/AAAAAAAAFQI/NXDfV9F3KGg/s800/DSC_0351.JPG

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