jordan Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 any yous keep your lids on your planted tanks? I was thinking that it would cut out a bit of the light from hiting the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo1 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I prefer lids as it cuts down on condensation and no problems with lights as long as you keep the lid clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I always use glass lids to keep water off the lights, stop evaporation, lessens condensation, keeps temperature better, stops animals and small children getting in and fish getting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Ditto to all the above But I also have a small tank planted with a few fish (non jumpers!) and a some of the plants grow out the top , looks kinda kewl. Actually put this tank right infront of a window, but no artifical light. Goes really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 thanks for he replies every1. Just wondering because when I went to Hong Kong all the planted tanks I saw there always had no lids. I guess thats a way of keeping cost down.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gila_fish Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 the put no lids probably because it is easy access to the tank instead of taking the lid off...dont know why they dont have it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 It might also be that they dont need lids to help with insulation, or as caryl said keeping the temp better. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I use polycarbonate lids. Doesn't seem to stop the light too much and it's supposed to let more useful light through than glass. I used to have no covers but found evapouration too high and discovered discus are pretty good jumpers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Pardon my ignorance but what is polycarbonate and where do you get the lids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Polycarbonate, is a perspex type stuff They make heaps of things out of it now. Its not a brittle as perspex tho. I think you might also find it is AKA "acrylic" If you search on the net http://www.searchnz.co.nz is good. For "poly carbonate supplier" or maybe "acrylic plastic supplier" you are bound to find someone. It is avaiable in sheets and you can cut to size. Eg: someone like this could help... http://www.engineeringplastics.co.nz/plastics/semifinished.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantman Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Most of my tank is partially close to keep the fish from jumping. but there are time when the plant is growing straight up, you must give it room to grow (and off the cover), especially it is a stalks with plantlets. i also use perspex as a partial cover (4-5mm thick) which warps under the strong heat from the light. i wonder polycarbonate will do likewise. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Polycarbonate, is a perspex type stuff They make heaps of things out of it now. Its not a brittle as perspex tho. I think you might also find it is AKA "acrylic" If you search on the net http://www.searchnz.co.nz is good. For "poly carbonate supplier" or maybe "acrylic plastic supplier" you are bound to find someone. It is avaiable in sheets and you can cut to size. Eg: someone like this could help... http://www.engineeringplastics.co.nz/plastics/semifinished.htm Polycarb goes by the trade name 'Lexan' and is what's commonly used as window material at sports venues. It is very flexible and almost impossible to break and has a very good elastic memory. It can be bend 360' without breaking! Perspex (also known as Acrylic) is clearer and slightly stronger but it doesn't bend much before it breaks. It's much more like glass than polycarb. It has a poor memory and when a thin sheet is left suspended over a wide area it will sag with time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 I assume it is as light as perspex? It was the saggability of perspex which stops me using it for lids but glass can be so heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 I don't know the exact weights but they are quite similar. I use 3mm sheets about 750mm * 1000mm and they're pretty lightweight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.