Serious Condensation

[Colin_T]

I don't have photos that clearly show what I am talking about so I did picture. The coverglass is in black. You can have a single piece cover with a triangle cut out for feeding (image on right). If you want a 2 piece coverglass (image on left), you can have a 50/50 split or a 60/40 split. I prefer the 50/50.

The support strips are in blue. You can 2 support strips or 4.

 

[powerdyne6]

On my last 2 tanks I have made my lids.

I have access to a laser at work and I design and cut my lids with 1/4” acrylic.

 

[777james777]

I don't have photos that clearly show what I am talking about so I did picture. The coverglass is in black. You can have a single piece cover with a triangle cut out for feeding (image on right). If you want a 2 piece coverglass (image on left), you can have a 50/50 split or a 60/40 split. I prefer the 50/50.

The support strips are in blue. You can 2 support strips or 4.

View attachment 324118

When I consolidated making one this is how I thought it would look. I think the 50/50 one is best too.
Unfortunately I don’t have a laser to cut glass

 

[Colin_T]

When I consolidated making one this is how I thought it would look. I think the 50/50 one is best too.
Unfortunately I don’t have a laser to cut glass

You don't need a lazer to cut glass. You can buy a $10 glass cutter from any hardware store and you put the sheet of glass on a hard flat surface, then hold a ruler or piece of wood on the glass where you are going to cut it. Drag the glass cutter along the glass to score it. Then put a thin bit of wood under each end of the glass where it has been scored. Gently lean on one side of the glass to hold it down and use your other hand to push down on the other side of the glass (one hand on each side of the score). The glass should crack along the score and then you use some fine sandpaper (wet & dry) on a sanding block to smooth the edges of the glass.

You can get the glazier (place where you buy the glass from) to cut it for you. A lot of pet shops can order the glass in cut to size and some shops can cut it on site. It doesn't normally cost any extra but you will still need to sand it down to remove the sharp edges.

*NB* Wear safety glasses when cutting or handling glass.

Check on YouTube for how to cut glass.

 

[Lynnzer]

There's another point to mention here.
Covers are supposed to be a big no-no for marine tanks, but what I've come across is that in both rooms where I have tanks, the ceiling above them became covered in black mould. I mean, REALLY mouldy.
I'm currently topping up the freshwater tank to keep the salinity levels OK, but it's taking around 7 ltrs per day in both rooms.
In the warmer months it's not a problem as windows can be left open, but right now it's a big problem.
Everything that can absorb the moisture feels damp to the touch. Leaving windows open, even marginally, in the cold months means a load of extra energy costs onto already high bills. So it looks like I'm going to do a cover job myself.
Fortunately I have mesh covers on the tanks already to stop the jumpers, and I think all I need to do now is to put a sheet of clingfilm over the mesh, stretched to eliminate any wrinkles..
I'm going to give it a try anyway.

 

[GaryE]

I'm in a land of temperature extremes, with a room full of tanks. I heat it with a dehumidifier. The baseboard electric heating never comes on, but the dehumidifier costs to run. The room is well insulated, and tight.

Frankly, humidity is a big reason I changed what fish I keep. I now aim for species happy at 22 or so. Even a bit lower is good. The room is built into a large, unheated garage, so it doesn't affect the house, but I don't want it to be destroyed or unhealthy to be in.

I have never done a fishless cycle. If you have to run the tank at 28, you are guaranteed massive evaporation, but it should moderate once the tank is at a sensible level. I think you have a temporary problem there.

With the changes in our leisure approaches, fishless cycles suddenly matter. In the past, you'd connect with someone in an aquarium club and they'd cycle your filter media for you, with no fussing or water droplets on the lid. The loss of the human side of the hobby has repercussions.