Should I go topless?

[TaknByD]

I was wondering about the amount of light that I loose with my glass top... I have T5s on my tank and it is sitting right on the glass top... I was wanting to go topless but I have a very curious cat and was thinking it wouldn't be a good thing to do... Is there a way around this? I've seen people use the crates, but didn't know if that cuts down in light too? What would you do...? Thanks... :D

[Europhyllia]

Mesh, mesh, mesh. Much more elegant than egg crate and lets light through just fine. :)

Now if your fat cat jumps on it no guarantees but hopefully just the appearance of something on top will keep it out.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?57929-Clear-Mesh-Screen-from-David

[TaknByD]

That looks pretty cool Karin, but I'm just not too sure as to if it will work on my Bow Front... Since it is not all 90 degree angles. Here is an old shot of my tank top to give you an idea of what I'm working with...

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/ditzieg13/photo.jpg

[Mr Cob]

dude, totally off subject but I did not know you had a bio wheel....man those make great cryptic fuges or a regular lighted fuge. Toss all the bio bail stuff out....like the carbon filter and fill er up with live rock rubble....also makes a great place for pods to populate and ever once in awhile they get sent over the falls to feed your reef. You can even cut the vented part out and put a little light over it and toss some macro in there.

Anyways I ran two of those on my 120 back in the day and ran one as a lighted fuge and the other as a cryptic fuge (fuge with no light and lots of filter feeding creatures start growing).

On subject.... I'm not a big fan of glass tops because they don't allow much room for ventilation this could be the culprit to one of your PH problems I remember reading in another thread especially since you do not have a sump plumbed in. But the cat could be a problem, guess you don't know until you try.

[Mr Cob]

some good comments on this thread...not sure if you saw it or not: such as the glass filtering some of the light as it gets salt creep on it and the glass causing heat issues during the hotter months

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?64440-glass-top

[TaknByD]

Thanks Rob... I saw that post and have been wondering about my glass top so I figured I asked this question in another thread so I wouldn't hi-jack his... As for the bio wheel, I no longer have that... I went to a canister filter instead to give me better filtration, or so I was told... I wish I had the room for a sump but that is not the case. As for my PH, I'm good with it now... My readings seem to be fine, but I'm going to the LFS today to grab some water and will be having them test it to make sure things are solid. Yeah, the cat had jumped up on the tank once and almost feel in while the wife was feeding the fish... Funny stuff... Would have hoped that he would've learned a lesson but it doesn't look like he has... Better safe than sorry... :D

[Mr Cob]

I would at least remove the lid part of the glass....I know they slide out easily.

[TaknByD]

Well the glass comes off just fine and heat isn't the issue. I'm just thinking about my lighting. I just want to make sure that I am getting all I can get out of my T5s.

[TaknByD]

Okay, so I went ahead and took off the glass and put on the plastic end pieces that are suppose to be able to hug to the sides of your tank (that is if you do not have a corner bow front :at_wits_end:). I guess right now I am more worried about the lighting falling into my tank than I am the cat being curious... Any ideas as to what I can do? Personally I'm thinking perhaps some taking a small piece of wood, cutting it so it hugs the plastic end piece, and gluing that onto my stand...? Here are some photos that I just took...

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/ditzieg13/photo3.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/ditzieg13/photo2.jpg

[Europhyllia]

I love hanging fixtures. I have a fixture with legs right now on my temporary tank and it's so annoying. Personally I would look for a way to suspend it from the ceiling.
My hanging fixtures have very thin steel cables that allow me to raise the fixture up for maintenance or just swing it back if I just need brief access.

[TaknByD]

Now that would make sense.. LoL.. I think I'm going to do just that.. What did you use in order to hang your fixture? Do you have any photos? I'm wondering if I can find something at like Lowes or something...

[justahobby]

You can by thin steel cable by the foot at Lowe's. Then fasteners should be right beside them. And then just get a couple hooks to screw in the ceiling.

[TaknByD]

But how do you make them adjustable, so you can raise and lower them?

[Europhyllia]

I have these type of lighting kids:
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-110/Y-dsh-shaped-Hanging-Kit/Detail

[Europhyllia]

here's my seahorse LED fixture:
http://www.dominopads.com/LEDFixture.jpg
you can see the cable going through the clip and the loose end on the side. You can pull them up and down through the clip (push pin down to make it movable, let go and it's tight again at whatever height you left it)

[Mr Cob]

Dustin...the tank looks much better without the glass tops. Good call by removing them. It will look sweet if you hang the light.

[TaknByD]

@Karin, that is too funny because I was looking at those hangers while you were probably typing that. Thanks so much for the help and the photos.

@Mr. Cob, I think it looks better as well. Plus I think I will get more out of my T5s and get my drags to start growing. :D

I went ahead and bought what I need to hang up the lighting until I get the hangers so I don't have to worry about my fixture tanking a bath.

[TaknByD]

Finished with the temporary setup... Going to order the adjustable kind, that you have Karin, tonight... :D Here is what it looks like so far...

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/ditzieg13/photo4.jpg

[Europhyllia]

Much better. :)
Aren't you glad you asked ;)