Top or Topless

[Mudge]

I am new to the hobby and am wondering about lids.

What (if any) are the avantages to an aquarium with no lid. Disadvantages (other than the obvious: fish can jump out)?

Also, can anyone identify the kind of cory I have (see photo).

 

[Colin_T]

Coverglass on aquariums:
reduce evaporation.
reduce heat loss, which reduces power consumption.
stop dust and other things getting into the water.
make the aquarium quieter (less noise from water moving and bubbles).
reduces humidity in the room, which reduces the risk of mould.
reduces moisture build up on lights, and that reduces the chance of being zapped/ electrocuted.
stops fish jumping out, all fish can jump and most do it when startled.

 

[Innesfan]

Regarding covers, I agree with @Colin_T

As for your cory, it is a bit pale perhaps due to the light-colored gravel and/or stress. Is he a new addition? Does he have the company of at least 6 of his own? That said, it appears to be Hoplisoma albinolineatum, which has been widely imported of late.

 

[Back in the fold]

I’m currently trying my first open top aquarium . It’s a twenty gallon with Endler’s and Platy’s . There have been no jumpers so far but it does evaporate out about a quart every three days . As @Colin_T said , a cover helps with that and also helps retain heat . This fall I will put a cover on it when I plug the heater back in .

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Yeah, I see that the cons outweighs the pros, in the lidless category. Evaporation used to be A PAIN for me with my 20 long, and the water sat lower than room temp. Adding the lid just makes it better. If you have a sponge filter and the tiny droplets from it hitting the water surface pop up and hit the light and overtime if you don't dry the light this can cause malfunctions, if your sponge filter is under your light or close.

I think lid is the way to go, but lidless DOES look better imo lol

 

[Back in the fold]

Here’s how I solved the problem with a light over my lidless 20 .

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I have one topless tank, because the whole point of it is to have emergent plants on a floating island, which is impossible to pull off with a cover. I'm going to have to keep the water several inches below the top to keep jumpers in. I agree that all fish can and will jump, though some are more inclined to than others. I once lost a whole group of pearl gouramis from a qt tank, because they all decided to go for a walk in the middle of the night. I'll never know why.

 

[Mudge]

Regarding covers, I agree with @Colin_T

As for your cory, it is a bit pale perhaps due to the light-colored gravel and/or stress. Is he a new addition? Does he have the company of at least 6 of his own? That said, it appears to be Hoplisoma albinolineatum, which has been widely imported of late.

I rescued a 10 gallon tank, and the cory came with it and is pretty much a pale as in the picture. In fact there are two of them, but I have never found anything similar for sale — they are very shy, usually hang out in the back corner of the tank.

 

[Mudge]

Yeah, I see that the cons outweighs the pros, in the lidless category. Evaporation used to be A PAIN for me with my 20 long, and the water sat lower than room temp. Adding the lid just makes it better. If you have a sponge filter and the tiny droplets from it hitting the water surface pop up and hit the light and overtime if you don't dry the light this can cause malfunctions, if your sponge filter is under your light or close.

I think lid is the way to go, but lidless DOES look better imo lol

Actually I am looking into upgrading to a 20 long but find few lid options. What do you have?

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Actually I am looking into upgrading to a 20 long but find few lid options. What do you have?

20 long topfin glass lid, adjust the side hinges and fits well overall. I use it on a Marineland.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Actually I am looking into upgrading to a 20 long but find few lid options. What do you have?

When I need a new lid, I often find it's a lot cheaper to go to the local glass shop and ask them if they have any scraps they can cut to size for me. I do the lid as two pieces and glue a handle of some sort to one so it's easy to open.

 

[gwand]

My tank rims are surrounded by plant boxes. This makes it difficult to cut an acrylic or glass cover.

 

[Uberhoust]

Without a lid:
- Grow emergent plants
- easily look at the fish from above
- Light penetration better
- Increase evaporation losses
- Increase risk of fish jumping out
- Increase risk of other foreign material entering tank
- Increase risk of water damage to lights

With a lid:
- Less evaporation loss
- Smaller risk of fish jumping out
- Decreased risk of foreign material entering tank
- Decreased risk of water damage to light
- Increased filtering of light from lid
- Top of tank accumulates dust
- more chance of mold under glass
- No emergent plants

Overall, both ways have their benefits and risks. Overall, I prefer the look of topless aquariums with emergent plants, but I keep a rimmed tank with a cover because it reduces my maintenance.

 

[emeraldking]

Top or Topless​

I have both... Most are open tanks...
It looks way better without a lid in my opinion. But yes, it can have some disadvantages, like jumping fish and evaporation. Fortunately, my fish don't have the urge to jump from what I've experienced throughout the years...

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Top or Topless​

I have both... Most are open tanks...
It looks way better without a lid in my opinion. But yes, it can have some disadvantages, like jumping fish and evaporation. Fortunately, my fish don't have the urge to jump from what I've experienced throughout the years...

Yes depends on fish. The only thing that is a given is foreign material getting in the tank from ceiling wall shelf etc etc like @Uberhoust said. Yeah no lid tanks are also great to get a closer look if fish have a fungal infection on their head etc.