open top or not?

[rpc07]

I know this has been asked before I love the look of the open top and i also like how much brighter my tank is without it, I have an aggcrate top that i made but it blocks a ton of light i would love to run with no top but i am super paranoid about my fish jumping even though there no aggression in my tank and the water parameters are spot on and i dont have fish that are known jumpers...


heres the list

2 false perc clowns
1 algea blenny
1 singapore angel
1 mandarin
1 cleaner shrimp
2 sally light foot crabs

55g tank is that matters

What to do what to do...Mainly looking for suggestions or for someone to tell me im being paranoid and everything will be fine...

I know glass tops are always an option and would also reduce evaporation but people say they limit gas exchange. with a sump, skimmer return pump all creating water/ surface agitation do i need to worry about gas exchange?

 

[James983]

I don't believe any of your fish will jump. But, there's always the odd chance. I ran an open top in my 150 and never had a problem. I liked the open top for the same reasons you stated. The only drawback is you cannot have any fish that may be jumpers (jawfish, hawkfish, ect...)

 

[Liz]

As long as you don't have jumpers do what you want.

 

[albano]

Just about ANY fish can be a jumper...they don't even have to be chased by another fish...they can be startled by someone walking by! Replace the eggcrate with pond netting and a DIY screen frame from Home Depot. There is a thread here on MR about making them.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

+1 on open top

 

[rpc07]

Just about ANY fish can be a jumper...they don't even have to be chased by another fish...they can be startled by someone walking by! Replace the eggcrate with pond netting and a DIY screen frame from Home Depot. There is a thread here on MR about making them.

I would but my tank is not drilled and with my overflow box and return hanging on the back it would be a pain which is why i did the egg crate

 

[JonnyJ]

hey i would suggest some sort of cover.

what do you have the eggcrate resting on? the overflow and the return? can you post a picture?

i dont see why you couldnt do the same with a diy netting.

 

[BYU]

i replaced my egg crate with diy screen from homedepot last week but its hard to find a good netting that lets good light pass through
the screen part was cheap, I got some netting from sports authority that they use to catch bait fish
it actually came out pretty good
how is the tank by the way?
its actually easy to do

 

[rpc07]

hey i would suggest some sort of cover.

what do you have the eggcrate resting on? the overflow and the return? can you post a picture?

i dont see why you couldnt do the same with a diy netting.

I'll take some pics when i get home from work today

 

[funkmaster]

open top and i had 2 jumpers>>>>>they didnt make it ....lol