[Gafi]

Will a thin glass lid...1/8th to 1/4 inch reduce the amount of light that my T5HO are putting out?

 

[sink]

Definitely.

Thickness isn't really relevant, the issue is surface reflection. A good rule of thumb is 10% loss for spotless glass under ideal conditions. In practice it'll be a bit higher. Glass is better than plexiglass, by the way.

Cheers!

 

[Gafi]

thats great thanks! Gonna try without glass to see how things go....anyone find they have to top up water level before the water chanGE?

 

[2in10]

Definitely.

Thickness isn't really relevant, the issue is surface reflection. A good rule of thumb is 10% loss for spotless glass under ideal conditions. In practice it'll be a bit higher. Glass is better than plexiglass, by the way.

Cheers!

Plexi reduces light less than glass about 15% to 20%. Plexi is clear and glass is colored.

 

[NWA-Planted]

Its the lead present in most glasses that causes some of that too. But I could see plexi being more reflective

 

[2in10]

I think it could be if the light isn't perpendicular to the plexi but otherwise IME it isn't.

The impurities definitely cause coloration. Starfire is lead glass and has very little coloration to it.

 

[sink]

I don't know how plexi compares to glass in terms of reflectivity (probably comparable). Both glass and plexi absorb a negligible amount of light so any difference in their "clearness" is hardly worth worrying about. I just meant that plexi scratches easily and is harder to clean, hence my preference for glass.

 

[Higher Thinking]

thats great thanks! Gonna try without glass to see how things go....anyone find they have to top up water level before the water chanGE?

Not having a cover on the tank definitely increases your water evaporation rate. I never had to add additional water between my weekly water changes on my 75, but now that I have an open top tank, I always add a 5 gallon jug midweek.

 

[scapegoat]

i have to add water to the 55 all the time, no top. i also run a dehumidifier in the basement where the tank is b/c it does cause the moisture to go up.

on the flip side, i hated cleaning the glass of algae when i had a lid on my cichlid tank and am much happier topping off the tank every week or two.