Condensation

[shamus_uk2004]

after searching in vain for an off the shelf lid to fit my tank, and being quoted a starting price of £85 for a custom made wooden tank lid, i have started to make my own. just wanted some advice as to whether it is normal to get condensation on the underside of the lid? i left it half complete sitting over the top of the tank for a few hours and when came back there was quite a lot of condensation on the underside of the lid. when the front 1/3rd of the lid is added to fully cover the tank i would imagine this will increase the condensation, even allowing for cutouts at the back for pump lead, lighting leads, etc. advice welcomed as always, thanks

 

[OldMan47]

Unless you cover the tank with a glass or similar barrier, you will get lots of condensation on the inside of a tank lid. For my own home built tank lids, I always place a glass cover between the box and the tank.

 

[chrisrm]

after searching in vain for an off the shelf lid to fit my tank, and being quoted a starting price of £85 for a custom made wooden tank lid, i have started to make my own. just wanted some advice as to whether it is normal to get condensation on the underside of the lid? i left it half complete sitting over the top of the tank for a few hours and when came back there was quite a lot of condensation on the underside of the lid. when the front 1/3rd of the lid is added to fully cover the tank i would imagine this will increase the condensation, even allowing for cutouts at the back for pump lead, lighting leads, etc. advice welcomed as always, thanks

that is completely normal, Condensation happens because the water is warm and evaporting out of the tank. The hood is cooler and condenses the water and it drips back in which is a good thing or you'd be refilling your tank constantly!

in my tanks i have perspex sheets 3-4" below my lids which catches the condensation

 

[Timmy_Bee]

drips back in which is a good thing or you'd be refilling your tank constantly!

that depends on your lights. Some lights are not that waterproof and you will have no end of issues with water evaporating on them (assuming there are lights in your hood) - but you can pick up 'condensation trays' which are sheets of 'wiggley' plasic (like those tin roofs on shacks) and are pretty cheap

 

[the biffster]

hi may i ask what size
your tank is

 

[Timmy_Bee]

sheets of 'wiggley' plasic

Corrugated! that was the word i couldn't quite remember...

 

[Aqua Tom]

sheets of 'wiggley' plasic

Corrugated! that was the word i couldn't quite remember...

I prefered wiggley

 

[the biffster]

hi may i ask what size
your tank is

 

[Timmy_Bee]

you dont know how long i googled 'wiggley steel roofs' to try to remeber the word...

 

[nurglespuss]

LOL yeah just pick up a cheap condenstation tray from pets at home or similar...

Something like this?

 

[OldMan47]

I have never used a condensation tray but a simple sheet of glass has worked well for me to keep the hood dry.