Open Top or Not?
Contents:
- Open top or covered top plant tank????
by mason.163/osu.edu (Matthew T. Mason) (Tue, 4 Nov 1997)
- Open top or covered top plant tank????
by "Louis Lin" <lhclin/aw.sgi.com> (Tue, 4 Nov 1997)
- Open top or covered top plant tank????
by George Booth <booth/hpmtlgb1.lvld.hp.com> (Tue, 04 Nov 1997)
by mason.163/osu.edu (Matthew T. Mason)
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997
What are the advantages and disadvantages of both an open and a covered
plant tank?
Assumptions (not good to assume but who cares):
- -Advantages (Open top):
1. More light makes it into the tank
2. Better gas exchange
3. Plants can grow out
- -Disadvantages (Open top):
1. Fish jump out
2. Greater water evaporation
3. Dust and air crud in tank
4. Blocks light going into tank
Thanks
=======================================================
Matthew T. Mason "I'm lonely now,
Doctoral Candidate and I don't know how
Department of Molecular Genetics to get it back to good."
The Ohio State University -Back 2 Good,
mason.163-at-osu.edu "Matchbox 20"
by "Louis Lin" <lhclin/aw.sgi.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997
Matthew T. Mason wrote:
> What are the advantages and disadvantages of both an open and a covered
> plant tank?
>
> Assumptions (not good to assume but who cares):
> - -Advantages (Open top):
> 1. More light makes it into the tank
> 2. Better gas exchange
> 3. Plants can grow out
> - -Disadvantages (Open top):
> 1. Fish jump out
> 2. Greater water evaporation
> 3. Dust and air crud in tank
> 4. Blocks light going into tank
If I were to re-do my 90 gallon, it would definitely be an open top.
Some more advantages:
1. I like to look at my plants and fish from the top.
2. Much easier to maintain, especially if you have a tall tank.
To me the only real disadvantage of an open top tank is fish jumping
out. Evaporation and dust are not big problems as long as you do
regular water changes.
Another small disadvantage of an open top tank is you have to
deal with surface scum more seriously.
Louis (with 2 open top tanks and 2 close top tanks) Lin
by George Booth <booth/hpmtlgb1.lvld.hp.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997
> Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 21:51:12 -0500
> From: mason.163-at-osu.edu (Matthew T. Mason)
>
> What are the advantages and disadvantages of both an open and a covered
> plant tank?
>
> Assumptions (not good to assume but who cares):
> - -Advantages (Open top):
> 1. More light makes it into the tank
Incident room light is very much less than hood light bulbs. Some sun
might make it in if the tank is positioned just right. Not really an
advantage.
> 2. Better gas exchange
Very minor if any difference.
> 3. Plants can grow out
Yep, cool advantage.
Others...
o Easy access for feeding, dosing, picking out dead leaves, minor
trimming, adding new fish, etc.
o The hood can be easily raised or moved back towards the wall for
serious trimming while still lighting the tank.
o Looks great! Looking down on the tops of plants close to the surface
is neat.
o If you use MH lights over it, the point-like sources hitting surface
ripples make excellent underwater shadow effects, just like real sunlight.
o Lights are suspended away from the tank, causing less heating from
the bulbs.
o Easier to design a more efficient reflector because there aren't any
restrictions on hood size once it's suspended. Of course, this is
only a dream unless you build it yourself.
> - -Disadvantages (Open top):
> 1. Fish jump out
Yes, but we have a 6" high acrylic fence around the rim of the tank.
Nothing has gotten out of that tank, but we still lose a fish or two
from the tanks with hoods.
> 2. Greater water evaporation
Yep, about double the amount of a hooded tank. One gallon per day for
a 120g tank in our dry climate!
> 3. Dust and air crud in tank
Insignificant factor.
> 4. Blocks light going into tank
Huh? How? The opposite was an "advantage"!
Others...
o A suspended hood lights up the room as well as the tank, especially
with Metal Halide bulbs. Draws DEA agents like flies. Might be bad in
a TV room.
o MH lights are [almost] required because of the distance from the
hood to the water, and they are not as cheap as FL.
o You need a higher wattage hood, using more electricity.
George Booth in Ft. Collins, Colorado (booth-at-fii.com)
The Krib
Plants
Plants