Do I need a glass canopy?

[dianas]

Finally got my first 120g tank. It has a wooden canopy w/ lights but no glass canopy/cover that goes directly on the tank. It does have a an 18" long gass section directly in the top-middle of the tank, is that a brace or something?

Anyway, do I need to get glass canopy for it and if so what size? Something that goes all the way across the tank and covers the already existing glass middle, or two glass canopies, one of either side of the glass middle?

Appreicate your help once again.

 

[shelbyzman]

A reason you would you need a glass canopy is that it wouldn't be good for the water to get splashed up on the light bulbs. It really depends on your setup.

The middle glass is a brace. To determine what size glass canopy, just measure from one side to the middle. You will probably need 2 pieces.

 

[LowCel]

I would go with two seperate pieces. By using the glass covers you will have less evaporation, less water splashing on your light and over the sides of the tank when the fish splash around, and less chance of your fish jumping out of the tank.

 

[FuzzyHead]

I have used plexiglass light diffusers to cover the opening of a tank under a wood hood. I had a 55 gallon with a wood hood and no cover and I cut a this diffuser to correct width and then cut two pieces to length, one for each side of the tank. To access the tank, I slide the diffuser so I had access to one side of the tank.

 

[dianas]

Ok, here's another dumb question. My new tank has a hob overflow for the wet/dry. All the glass canopies I've seen online only have around 2" of viny on the back to cut-out for filters etc. The overlofw takes up around 4" of space. Is anyone using glass tops w the hob overflow or did you get a custom peice of plexi with a cut out for the filter?