lighting / cover question

lindavon · 01-22-2013, 12:32 PM

Looking at T5 lighting and am wondering in you would use a clear cover under the lights. Have a 55 gallon long so it's 48"L x 12D x 20H. The dual strip I'm looking at is 6" deep and of course it would be above the water anyway. Would I need to get a glass top for the entire aquarium, a piece cut just for the area left open at the front of the tank? My brain is exhausted from trying to wade through the lighting info

Thanks for any input.

BBradbury · 01-22-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindavon

Looking at T5 lighting and am wondering in you would use a clear cover under the lights. Have a 55 gallon long so it's 48"L x 12D x 20H. The dual strip I'm looking at is 6" deep and of course it would be above the water anyway. Would I need to get a glass top for the entire aquarium, a piece cut just for the area left open at the front of the tank? My brain is exhausted from trying to wade through the lighting info

Thanks for any input.

Hello lin...

A clear, glass canopy will work well. I have them on my 55 G tanks. They're fairly inexpensive. A 48 inch canopy will run about $30.00, plus a bit more for shipping. Any of the online tank suppliers, like Foster and Smith will carry them.

B

somewhatshocked · 01-22-2013, 02:48 PM

I just bought a hinged glass cover with those dimensions at the local pet shop for roughly $20 and have seen them at PetSmart for similar prices.

Often, local stores will give you better deals on things like that if you buy other goodies at the same time.

RD3557 · 01-23-2013, 01:11 AM

I too have a 55G w/ T5 lighting and don't use a cover at all (I love the open top/water look). The only issue I deal with is heavy evaporation during the winter months. I usually have to add a pitcher of fresh water to the tank each morning (not that big of a deal in my opinion). I have a heavily stocked tank and have not had one fish jump out (despite having no lid on the tank).

norbot · 01-24-2013, 07:06 PM

I also have 55g with open top, I debated heavily about which way to go.

With a closed top you have less evaporation and you may retain more co2, however for me there was no way I was going to keep up with the cleaning of the glass.

If you don't routinely clean your lids your PAR is quickly reduced.

Additionally, I run a 20lb pressurized co2 so I kinda got paranoid about fish gassing but I am seriously blasting co2 into this tank right now, so it probably doesn't matter that much

No lids = better gas exchange and no indefinite "lid maintenance"

01-22-2013, 12:32 PM	#1
lindavon Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 22	lighting / cover question Looking at T5 lighting and am wondering in you would use a clear cover under the lights. Have a 55 gallon long so it's 48"L x 12D x 20H. The dual strip I'm looking at is 6" deep and of course it would be above the water anyway. Would I need to get a glass top for the entire aquarium, a piece cut just for the area left open at the front of the tank? My brain is exhausted from trying to wade through the lighting info Thanks for any input.

01-22-2013, 02:48 PM	#3
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,604	I just bought a hinged glass cover with those dimensions at the local pet shop for roughly $20 and have seen them at PetSmart for similar prices. Often, local stores will give you better deals on things like that if you buy other goodies at the same time. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

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01-23-2013, 01:11 AM	#4
RD3557 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Midwest Posts: 27	I too have a 55G w/ T5 lighting and don't use a cover at all (I love the open top/water look). The only issue I deal with is heavy evaporation during the winter months. I usually have to add a pitcher of fresh water to the tank each morning (not that big of a deal in my opinion). I have a heavily stocked tank and have not had one fish jump out (despite having no lid on the tank).

01-24-2013, 07:06 PM	#5
norbot Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise Posts: 31	I also have 55g with open top, I debated heavily about which way to go. With a closed top you have less evaporation and you may retain more co2, however for me there was no way I was going to keep up with the cleaning of the glass. If you don't routinely clean your lids your PAR is quickly reduced. Additionally, I run a 20lb pressurized co2 so I kinda got paranoid about fish gassing but I am seriously blasting co2 into this tank right now, so it probably doesn't matter that much No lids = better gas exchange and no indefinite "lid maintenance"