Condensation Trays

[Fishy_7]

I currently have 2 sheets of glass over the top of my aquarium acting as the condensation tray. Over time, they have become scratched due to the constant opening and closing. and worst is having to clean then when they get covered in algae as they are heavy.

I am thinking of replacing them but cannot decide whether to get more glass cut or to switch to the corregated plastic ones? Plastic ones are prefable due to the ease of moving them around for cleaning but I was wondering if the corregated effect will deflect light and not allow the optimum through into the tank?

What should I get??

Thanks.

 

[Sysiphus]

I currently have 2 sheets of glass over the top of my aquarium acting as the condensation tray. Over time, they have become scratched due to the constant opening and closing. and worst is having to clean then when they get covered in algae as they are heavy.

I am thinking of replacing them but cannot decide whether to get more glass cut or to switch to the corregated plastic ones? Plastic ones are prefable due to the ease of moving them around for cleaning but I was wondering if the corregated effect will deflect light and not allow the optimum through into the tank?

What should I get??

Thanks.

Identical problem here and I considered using flex-glass (a 1/4" clear plastic glass) as a replacement, but ultimately decided against it largely because of two factors.

1. Everytime I clean the real glass it is clear (very clear only for a week but can stay acceptably clear for a month) and what few scratches are in the surface are not a concern. Flex-glass will permanently discolor especially under the Corallife 65 watt 4 light 6K range on 10 hours a day lighting. By the way, Coralife sells these lights with a flex-glass plastic cover. It my case it never gets wet, but after 2 years did disclolor and was replaced.

2. Just as has been found in dog bowls and other "plastic to water" contacts, plastics harbor bacteria which produces chemical changes and imbed to further cloud the clear plastic over time and disfuse light. The surface of plastic while not as condusive to algae growth (I am not sure why, but if you have those plastic pieces at the back of your glass to seal the heater, pump returns etc. you may have noticed these have less algae on them than the glass) embeds with any algae that does cling to it, in a way that is nearly impossible to remove by just a wipe (as with glass) without chemical intervention.

I still think it is a close choice because the problems of plastic discoloring are longer term - you could probably have a plastic cover in OK shape for a year or more and then replace it. Would like to know what you decide and if you go plastic, what plastic product you end up using. Don't know how many times I have cut myself taking the glass sheets out of my tank top for cleaning and its a bit scary working those sheets in the sink for the cleaning.

 

[Fishy_7]

I currently have 2 sheets of glass over the top of my aquarium acting as the condensation tray. Over time, they have become scratched due to the constant opening and closing. and worst is having to clean then when they get covered in algae as they are heavy.

I am thinking of replacing them but cannot decide whether to get more glass cut or to switch to the corregated plastic ones? Plastic ones are prefable due to the ease of moving them around for cleaning but I was wondering if the corregated effect will deflect light and not allow the optimum through into the tank?

What should I get??

Thanks.

Identical problem here and I considered using flex-glass (a 1/4" clear plastic glass) as a replacement, but ultimately decided against it largely because of two factors.

1. Everytime I clean the real glass it is clear (very clear only for a week but can stay acceptably clear for a month) and what few scratches are in the surface are not a concern. Flex-glass will permanently discolor especially under the Corallife 65 watt 4 light 6K range on 10 hours a day lighting. By the way, Coralife sells these lights with a flex-glass plastic cover. It my case it never gets wet, but after 2 years did disclolor and was replaced.

2. Just as has been found in dog bowls and other "plastic to water" contacts, plastics harbor bacteria which produces chemical changes and imbed to further cloud the clear plastic over time and disfuse light. The surface of plastic while not as condusive to algae growth (I am not sure why, but if you have those plastic pieces at the back of your glass to seal the heater, pump returns etc. you may have noticed these have less algae on them than the glass) embeds with any algae that does cling to it, in a way that is nearly impossible to remove by just a wipe (as with glass) without chemical intervention.

I still think it is a close choice because the problems of plastic discoloring are longer term - you could probably have a plastic cover in OK shape for a year or more and then replace it. Would like to know what you decide and if you go plastic, what plastic product you end up using. Don't know how many times I have cut myself taking the glass sheets out of my tank top for cleaning and its a bit scary working those sheets in the sink for the cleaning.

Yes, I also do not like moving sheets of glass about! A disaster to me and people around if I drop it

 

[gayno]

1. Everytime I clean the real glass it is clear (very clear only for a week but can stay acceptably clear for a month) and what few scratches are in the surface are not a concern. Flex-glass will permanently discolor especially under the Corallife 65 watt 4 light 6K range on 10 hours a day lighting. By the way, Coralife sells these lights with a flex-glass plastic cover. It my case it never gets wet, but after 2 years did disclolor and was replaced.

Actually, if you use good quality polycarbonate sheet, or Lexan its sometimes called, it is very unlikely to discolour. It's used a lot in greenhouses these days, and it's also a lot clearer than glass

 

[Teelie]

I'm using a plexiglass top temporarily until I can get a glass top. It's nothing special but it easily holds the light fixture and keeps fish and water in/everything else out. It does scratch easily and has a lot of scratches but as a temporary measure, it works. Long term, I would suggest glass.