open top tank?

[ElGuappo]

I didnt vote, because i couldnt vote for both. i normally have glass tops, but in the summer i get rid of them for a few monthes to help with the heat.

[Leah]

I have mine open and yes the evaporation is crazy, but I think it is better in the long run

[banditpowdercoat]

Both my SW tanks are open.

[md14]

Had an open top, but after losing my mystery wrasse I now have tops.

However the tops do have hundreds of small holes

[christyf5]

I have an enclosed canopy on my tank, no glass top though. I'm not really sure what that is classed as so I didn't vote. I've still had fish jump out of the tiniest of holes (firefish can be very determined) and inevitably they find the eurobracing as well. Mostly I think they just ricochet off various hood parts back into the tank if they're interested in jumping. Although I found my royal gramma in the overflow the other day and there was no way he fit in between the overflow teeth, he's a rather portly looking fish

[Atomikk]

There shouldn't be any options here. All reef aquariums need to be open top. You need to enable your tank to 'breathe'. By not allowing your tank to breathe, you enable the buildup of carbon dioxide in the water, making it more acid. This lowers your pH.. and hell breaks loose!

Now I know some people have sumps that are open top.. but that is not enough. The surface area of this is very small and will not do much in balancing your pH and oxygen levels.

[xtreme]

I use a mesh top. Helps prevent any fish from jumping yet still allows the tank to breathe.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

Now I know some people have sumps that are open top.. but that is not enough.

Hmm, my sump is bigger than my tank. And my skimmer injects air into the water. I think I'm ok
Seriously, I'd like to see an O2 content comparison between a tank with glass lids and without. I doubt you'd see a difference at all. As long as you have good flow, surface agitation and a sump that overflows from the main display, O2 would be my last concern. CO2 off gasses very readily, and temperature would play a bigger role in O2 content than glass lids.
The reason to not have glass is to maximize the light entering a reef tank.

[whiteangelbw]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

There shouldn't be any options here. All reef aquariums need to be open top. You need to enable your tank to 'breathe'. By not allowing your tank to breathe, you enable the buildup of carbon dioxide in the water, making it more acid. This lowers your pH.. and hell breaks loose!

Now I know some people have sumps that are open top.. but that is not enough. The surface area of this is very small and will not do much in balancing your pH and oxygen levels.

Ok, then why do all the all in one tanks have covers and I haven't heard anything bad about these (re: being covered). I am new to reefing and am thinking about covering mine, so I am just wondering.