Show me your glass top

Ocicat · 04/15/2020, 08:49 PM

I'd love to see pics of tanks running with glass tops.

I am starting to plan for a new tank. It is quite an adventure figuring everything out after a ~10-yr hiatus - amazing how much has changed. And it seems like while I was away, the open-top look completely took over. I am prioritizing low-maintenance, low-complexity this time around, but I cannot even find something like the AIO Red Sea Max 250 I last ran (while living abroad) & really liked, because now all the RSMs appear to be topless.

Totally open top isn't a good option for me because I have 3 cats (one of whom is perpetually hungry), plus I am not interested in dealing with the amount of evaporation it would cause.

I've heard/read conflicting reports on whether or not glass tops show significant salt creep and/or collect a ton of condensation. Aesthetics are right up there in priority with low-maintenance, as the setup will be in my dining room, so a dirty/salty top is to be avoided. Thus... I am looking for real-world pics. TIA!

LQT · 04/15/2020, 10:09 PM

I had a glass lid on my tank many years ago... not a fan. I think most in the hobby have shied away from glass tops and have moved over to screen tops. Glass gets dirty, caked with salt creep, blocks light, traps heat and reduces gas exchange. I use a simple DIY screen door kit with 1/4” netting. Nice, clean looking, inexpensive and prevents my fish from going carpet surfing.

It nicely preserves the rimless aesthetic. Looking at the tank head on, you can’t even tell it’s there.

There are companies out there like Octo Aquatics or Artfully Acrylic that also make nice custom polycarbonate screened lids with feed doors and cord cut outs. These can get quite pricy though.

https://octoaquatics.com/product/octo-lids/

https://www.clearviewlids.com/

alton · 04/16/2020, 05:27 AM

Here is my 65 at work which is rimless. I decided to go with a polycarbonate top. It cuts down on evaporation plus protects my leds and hopefully stops cleaning people from spraying a cleaner in my tank? The second is my 310 and with the black trim the glass tops are fine.

Ocicat · 04/18/2020, 12:23 PM

Thank you both for your input and pics! My main concern with a mesh top is that 3 cats + 3 people + hardwood floors = lots of hair/dust floating about...

Also, as I am familiarizing myself with the lighting options available these days I feel like I may want to do a combo of LED + T5 to lessen the blue effect & add a bit more shimmer... which would probably be best hidden by a canopy.

billdogg · 04/19/2020, 07:56 AM

I used a glass top on my 60 cube for the first 15 years I had it. It was a great tank but I was always battling one thing or another. Heat was always an issue. When the glass finally broke I switched to DIY screen tops. Within days the tank perked up and never looked better. I kept that tank until I upgraded in 2013 to a 120, so 22 years total. I should never have used the glass tops IMO.

At the time I had 2 cats, 3 dogs, lots of people in and out, etc. Dust/hair/etc were never a problem.

wildman926 · 04/19/2020, 10:18 AM

I have glass tops on both of my 90g and 150g. Salt creep is no big deal. I only clean them as needed, about every 6 months. I will post pics later when the lights come on. It helps with humidity, and evaporation. My cabinet is open backed, so no issues with heat, and skimmer provides all the aeration they need.

04/15/2020, 08:49 PM	#1
Ocicat Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, Mo Posts: 1,049	Show me your glass top I'd love to see pics of tanks running with glass tops. I am starting to plan for a new tank. It is quite an adventure figuring everything out after a ~10-yr hiatus - amazing how much has changed. And it seems like while I was away, the open-top look completely took over. I am prioritizing low-maintenance, low-complexity this time around, but I cannot even find something like the AIO Red Sea Max 250 I last ran (while living abroad) & really liked, because now all the RSMs appear to be topless. Totally open top isn't a good option for me because I have 3 cats (one of whom is perpetually hungry), plus I am not interested in dealing with the amount of evaporation it would cause. I've heard/read conflicting reports on whether or not glass tops show significant salt creep and/or collect a ton of condensation. Aesthetics are right up there in priority with low-maintenance, as the setup will be in my dining room, so a dirty/salty top is to be avoided. Thus... I am looking for real-world pics. TIA! __________________ Everything floats down here. Current Tank Info: Entirely hypothetical

04/15/2020, 10:09 PM	#2
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	I had a glass lid on my tank many years ago... not a fan. I think most in the hobby have shied away from glass tops and have moved over to screen tops. Glass gets dirty, caked with salt creep, blocks light, traps heat and reduces gas exchange. I use a simple DIY screen door kit with 1/4” netting. Nice, clean looking, inexpensive and prevents my fish from going carpet surfing. It nicely preserves the rimless aesthetic. Looking at the tank head on, you can’t even tell it’s there. There are companies out there like Octo Aquatics or Artfully Acrylic that also make nice custom polycarbonate screened lids with feed doors and cord cut outs. These can get quite pricy though. https://octoaquatics.com/product/octo-lids/ https://www.clearviewlids.com/ __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge Last edited by LQT; 04/15/2020 at 10:17 PM.

04/18/2020, 12:23 PM	#4
Ocicat Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, Mo Posts: 1,049	Thank you both for your input and pics! My main concern with a mesh top is that 3 cats + 3 people + hardwood floors = lots of hair/dust floating about... Also, as I am familiarizing myself with the lighting options available these days I feel like I may want to do a combo of LED + T5 to lessen the blue effect & add a bit more shimmer... which would probably be best hidden by a canopy. __________________ Everything floats down here. Current Tank Info: Entirely hypothetical

04/19/2020, 07:56 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I used a glass top on my 60 cube for the first 15 years I had it. It was a great tank but I was always battling one thing or another. Heat was always an issue. When the glass finally broke I switched to DIY screen tops. Within days the tank perked up and never looked better. I kept that tank until I upgraded in 2013 to a 120, so 22 years total. I should never have used the glass tops IMO. At the time I had 2 cats, 3 dogs, lots of people in and out, etc. Dust/hair/etc were never a problem. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/19/2020, 10:18 AM	#6
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	I have glass tops on both of my 90g and 150g. Salt creep is no big deal. I only clean them as needed, about every 6 months. I will post pics later when the lights come on. It helps with humidity, and evaporation. My cabinet is open backed, so no issues with heat, and skimmer provides all the aeration they need. __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie