UV Light Good/Bad

[MitchM]

A sudden increase in UV rays can cause your corals to bleach. That's why they need to be acclimated to your tank by starting them off in lower areas and slowly moving them up.
Depends on the conditions they came from.

I'm using Lexan lids on my tank, but that's mainly to decrease the amount of evaporation.

[reefan]

I don't recommend a glass top, the tank does better when it can "breathe"

[amoreira]

In the summer, evaporation cools your tank. This means lower cost for chillers etc.. I run fans in the summer that blow air over the top of my aquarium and that meets all my cooling needs at a fraction of the energy consumption from a chiller.

You can buy clear mesh screening to prevent your fish from committing suicide:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...ing-7-x-3.html

There is a video instruction in BRS on how to make a screen top for your tank.

[Harpo]

Does the plastic shield covering my bulbs on my hood reduce the UV light? Will there be any harm that my bulbs will explode or weaken due to salt evap.? I don't have glass covering my tank.

[aquajeep]

my glass top broke.only difference i have noticed is lots of evaporation so now i have to fill my top up bucket every 3 days instead of 5-6 days.gay balls! i like it better with glass top personally because of this but will run without until the day comes and i can afford my starfire cube ;-)

[DisneyCoralReef]

That is a good question. When I was sold the tank, I was sold a glass cover, which bothers me because it looks like it may not be needed-wasted money. Gah! Great thread, lots of information.

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by DisneyCoralReef

That is a good question. When I was sold the tank, I was sold a glass cover, which bothers me because it looks like it may not be needed-wasted money. Gah! Great thread, lots of information.

Have a look here. I would drop the glass lid.

http://reeftools.com/nn/how-to-build...or-your-tank/#

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=74674