Lid or No Lid

I am also new to the hobby. I have had both a lid and not. I prefer not to have a lid so I don't have to clean it.  I have a 55 gallon and have to top off about a gallon every two to three days.

 

i also have used a glass top and now i do not use them. I have read they can block up to 40% of light. As for topping off you could look into getting an auto-top off system, I love mine. You can get them online for aroung $50(autotopoff.com). I just use a 5 gallon bucket and have to fill it once every week to week and a half (i have about 65 gallons in my system). I can get RO for like $3.71 with tax for 10 gallons at my LFS which isnt that bad. As for putting more live stock in I would have your water tested, most LFS test it for free. How long has your system been up and running? Make sure everything is cycled before you start spending money on thing that will die after going in your tank. The best thing for a new tank is time, it sucks to look at your tank when there is nothing in there but in the long run it is sooo worth it. As for the clean up crew how much algea do you have in the tank? This is all part of the cycling process and most should go away after time. You might want to get some more live rock, this will only speed up your cycling process. good luck and welcome to the big leagues

 

The lid will trap in heat, block light, and won't allow good gas exchange on the surface of the water. The gas exchange is very important for breaking down dissolved minerals and oxygenating the water. I put a glass top on my tank for a day and it got about 5 degrees hotter, just keep a close eye on it.

 

Lids are very important as almost every kind of fish can/will jump. I have seen clowns, tangs, wrasses, gobies, laying on floors.

It is best to use egg crate or similar materials. (although smaller fish can make it though the eg crate)

On a 60 gallone with PC's you wont have all that much evaporation, maybe a gallon or 2 a week I would guess. It is when you get Metal Halides that the evaporation really takes off.

I would add some of a clean up crew right away. They will start eating detrius & keep the algae at bay. It is alot easier to prevent algae then to fight it when it gets out of control.

You can probably add some softies any time, they are pretty tough & good starters.

I started with a few kenya trees, green star polyps, and a couple leathers.

Dont skimp on your water changes. 5-10 gallons a week will do wonders on keeping your tank healthy & looking good. This will be really critical in the first 2 months as this is when your tank will be cycling & chances for amonia to build up will be at its highest.

There are alot of different opinions on about every subject & you will get alot of advice. I would research all recomendations before you jump into them.


Good luck & feel free to ask any questions

Craig

 

Posted By xroads on 04/15/2009 05:49 AM
It is best to use egg crate or similar materials. (although smaller fish can make it though the eg crate)
Craig
If the little fella can make it through the egg crate then it is just plain suicidal and probably deserves to be laid to rest

 

I curently don't use glass tops but I use to back when I had power compacts. What type of filter do you have if it is a hang on the back keep the top or you you will end up with a junk light from salt creep.I would say if your tank is cycled you can add some good starter softies now and if you want I will give you some mushrooms, kenya tree,and clove polyps free. Add a small crew now would probaly be best.

 

My hawk fish after 4 years just took the leap through the little gap where you have lids on without the back piece of plastic so the filters would fit. So not even glass stops that sometimes. I still prefer no glass though.

 

I had a couple of flasher wrasses they never jumped for me other than the fisrt day cause everything was unfamilar to them. After adjusting they were a great addition to my reef.

 

I didn't mean a hot filter I was just saying that a hang on the back overflow filter causes a lot of salt creep witch is when salt creeps out of your tank and corodes to stuff and with a open top it is sure to corode all over your light.But if you have a sump or canister filter it should be fine.