Glass top or egg crate

carlosngloria · #1 12/19/2007, 02:39 PM

Which one do you think is better and why?

ReefWreak · #2 12/19/2007, 02:45 PM

Egg crate is open and lets your tank breathe, keeping more oxygen in the water as well as letting some of the heat out. The glass top does not allow any oxygen to be brought into the tank through the surface, and also traps heat inside the glass like a greenhouse.

jeffbrig · #3 12/19/2007, 02:57 PM

Of course, the problem with egg crate is that it can melt if you place halides too low over it. Personally, I don't use anything over the tank, and I haven't had a jumper yet (knock on wood). I think having eurobracing helps, since I imagine most jumpers follow the edge of the tank up.

REDDAWG43 · #4 12/19/2007, 03:10 PM

I had eggcrate on my 65g tank with a pair of SE 250w MH that were about 8 inches off of the eggcrate....never melted.
But then again I also had a fan blowing across the top of the tank to keep the temps down, so that probably helped keep the eggcrate cool.
I prefer eggcrate and agree with Erics (Reefwreak) points of view.

ej797 · #5 12/19/2007, 06:45 PM

Not sure if are aware of this option but this is what I am going to do.

Good Luck
EJ

melonball6 · #6 12/19/2007, 07:24 PM

I have mine open on the top as well, but I agree with ReefWreak.

Bernie21 · #7 12/20/2007, 12:52 AM

I had glass before but my temp was too high 81-82. So I took it off about 3 weeks ago and now the temp is 77-79. So I agree w Eric and say No top or eggcrate!!

REDDAWG43 · #8 12/20/2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ej797
Not sure if are aware of this option but this is what I am going to do.

Good Luck
EJ

Please explain what you are talking about...

compulou · #9 12/20/2007, 04:04 PM

How about neither?

I'm with Jeff, open top here and never had a critter go carpet surfing (also knocking on wood

).

Bret61081 · #10 12/20/2007, 04:59 PM

I have both. Glass along the back and front edge egg crate just around the legs of my light fixture. This way no light is being lost....

ej797 · #11 12/21/2007, 05:28 PM

Sorry, I forgot to include this link in my previous post:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...ght=clear+mesh

gasman059 · #12 12/21/2007, 06:21 PM

jumpers versus not.

Tight canopy and egg crate over the of.

Every once in a while i hear the wrasses hitting themselves against the canopy .

Ludwigia73 · #13 12/21/2007, 06:52 PM

I like the clear mesh idea

View Poll Results: Which is better
glass top	4	14.81%
egg crate	23	85.19%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll