Not Doing This Can KILL Your FISH! Do You Need a Fish Tank Lid?
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- Опубликовано: 3 июл 2024
- Hello Everyone,
I have been seeing this question pop up more recently so I wanted to address it in this video. Does you aquarium need a lid? We will look at the pros and cons of covering your fish tanks.
Want to learn more about glass vs polycarbonate lids? Check out this video: • Glass vs Polycarbonate...
Want to learn how to make polycarbonate lids? See this link: • How to Make Fish Tank ...
This is a good discussion on fish tank humidity: • How to Manage Humidity...
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Thanks for watching! 
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Want to learn more about glass vs polycarbonate lids? Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/kKEritI3V_0/видео.html
Want to learn how to make polycarbonate lids? See this link: ruclips.net/video/xyQcuxJ7QV4/видео.html
This is a good discussion on fish tank humidity: ruclips.net/video/uvgcS7XFdN0/видео.html
If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! ruclips.net/channel/UCYVN...
Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch
For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
I love the look of an open tank. Just don't bye jumpers. My 120g looks like a lake. My house is full of plants so it blends well with the decor and maintain a nice humidity level. I keep African cichlids and there is some splashing when eating or fighting...lol.
I use white plastic "eggcrate" for ceiling lites. It's allows the lite to pass through but keeps most of the fish in (i've lost 2 farlowellas from climbing through the grid). Obviously not as safe as glass but easier to "cut", less expensive and available at local big box home-improvement stores.
Lids on all mine heat retention and they keep the cats out
I agree my 🐱 has developed a taste for melaflex when i treat my fry! Next day....ralf! Meow clean ☝ on il kitchen.
Two very good points as well!
I also have bichir s and when i first got 1 he was in my pond. The next morning he was trying to crawl back in. And i went to put a net over top and when i got back from hardware store... My 14y old koi was dead n dry, so i tore the pond down and went to bigger tanks over filtered!
They do get nasty i wipe once a week wen i do water changes. And my koi break glass ones all the time
i scrape off the algae that forms on the lid and feed it straight to my amanos and cherry shrimps. They love it lol, win-win.
I have done that too! : -)
The last point mentioned was extremely important because MANY MANY people overlook that, never think about it or only think about it in terms of salt content increase but that KH and GH increase is messes with the oxygen exchange and keeps that PH higher than normal. Well at least it did for me ever since I added a sump. 12 years PH always around 7.8-8 now 8.1-8.4 after I added a sump.
Thank you…great point on water parameters!
Never knew that about the TDS. Great video, thanks for the information.
Another great video mate really good topic plenty of more reasons why a lid is needed cleaning spray,pets,maintaining humidity levels etc tons of more reasons really good topic
I learned so much from this video. Thank you so much!!
Great video, love your clear suggestions and explanations. Thanks
Thank you!
I had (at the time) 4 goldfish in the 60-gallon tank in my bedroom... The biggest and most striking was a beautiful, gold (as in yellow-gold, like a brick from Ft. Knox) calico Bristol Shubunkin, with a long flowing tail and was big at a year old, probably could have got huge. I had accidentally broke the glass lids that came with the aquarium a few months after purchasing, so I just said, "Screw it..." and just went without a top of any kind. Then, on New Years Eve 2017, right around 6-6:30pm, I went to feed them dinner ... and I noticed, wait ... Where's Arthur? (named from Ser Arthur Dayne) -- and while they have some hiding places, they *always* come out to eat ... and after 30 seconds or so... I thought ... something is wrong here, where is he? So I started looking all around the tank, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen... And then, sure enough, I found him - he was on the floor behind my tank. I have a porcelain tile floor in my bedroom, and he was literally STUCK to it - he had been there for some time, there was nothing to be done. Obviously sometime after breakfast in the morning and into the afternoon he jumped out, and because I was busy doing New Years Eve stuff, I didn't notice ... until it was too late.... So as much as I would appreciate the "free-flowing" appearance of no top, it's just not worth it.
Sorry that happened, but you made such a good point. Even large goldfish that look clunky and slow can jump!
simple, succinct and to the point, love this channel
Thank you!
Great video. You definitely know what you talking about. Educated me on this for sure. I have never heard of anyone speaking about this. I'll spread the knowledge. Please keep making video's my new friends.
Good points Jason
I love the way aquarium looks like without canopy, but losing fish and the light spill everywhere is no go for me.
I keep tank lids just because I hate constantly having to add water because of evaporation.
I find that annoying too. : -)
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I'm thinking of going away on holiday for 6 days. If I leave the lid open, do you think it will be okay? Not too much evaporation? It's 60L and if I use the automatic fish feeder I need to keep the lid up because my aquarium is shaped funny and I'd need it to be open!! any thoughts please?? Don't want my fish to die!!
ahh you mentioned... an inch per week? they'll be fine for a week then
Very useful video, thanks 👍
Thank you, great info. 👍
I learnt it the hard way, so many of my beautiful fish jumped out until I finally decided to have a lid. Definitely get a lid guys!!!
Good sensible advice 🤓
One of the best videos you have put out because of the dissolved solids. To prevent that from happening a 75 % water has to done every 2 months. Also add salt sparingly since it never leaves the tank minus the water that is replaced during a change
Awesome, common sense topic, but it is always be assured by professional, Thanks🐡🐠🐟👌👍
On point! Speaking of evaporation and minerals, the water stains under the lids can also block the light significantly.
Definitely!
Def need lids
All the aqua scape channels are really impractical
I'm not good at aquascaping but very good with jungles. 🤭 Shop bought tanks here (Aus) all come with glass lids which is a big plus in my book. I have Bettas and Flying Foxes in two community tanks; no need to guess why I ❤ lids. 🤣
great video with great info
Thank you!
If you don't want a hard top (glass acrylic) you can also use a net or screen.
There are multiple sources that cater to screens for tank tops, BRS and RedSea come to mind first.
This does not alter or negate humidity; however it stops jumpers, does not have glare, and does not cut down on light transmission.
I personally use a net on the display tank and then glass on the sump.
However, I also don't have a room full of tanks (creating a large amount of humidity). And I have an RO/DI with an ATO to maintain my waterline.
Very true Jason also sometimes I use evaporation for cooling especially when temps start to climb (no chiller) I have 2 fans on tank 1 in sump and 1 blowing across top but I have ATO but have to fill it like 2-3 times per week
Good point!
Great advice dude, I watched your video on hang on the back filter, great advice. Yes I gree some scraping with wood coming out of the top of the tank looks great. Md does it a lot. Just got a 345 litre tank for my peacocks so thinking of have wood and plants at top of tank as like you say it looks awesome. Thanks for great video
Appreciate you being here!
I personally keep a lid on my tanks.... many years ago I lost a beautiful male Platinum Lyretail Molly 2 days after I paid $7.00 for him because he jumped out of the tank.... broke my heart... him and his Misses made a gorgeous pair....... :(
I think we all learn that way at some point.
Your right most people don't think about the extra minerals, salts, ect. I see a lot of people say I do water changes every week to every other, but I top it off every couple days and they say they're losing fish but there perimeters are perfect
I've seen TDS as high as 600-700 where the tap water is only 120-150 when people just top off after a while.
After watching this i put my lids back on lol Thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching!
I will just say as someone who gets gallon water from the grocery store near my home, the price WILL add up with how many water top offs you may have to do. I live in the basement and have to do tank top offs very frequently. That’s starting to build in cost more then just getting a dang lid that will slow the evaporation 😂
Yes that last point is very important but for some people if they Use RODI units and an ATO you will avoid those effects but yes you will lose a lot more water point well taken.
In our fish room we have super clear (and super expensive) Lexan on the top with a grid down the middle.
One more reason to cover that some people dont think about. I know about it because it's happened to me more than once. If you are using incandescent lighting like T5 T8 T12. Fine bubbles that fly out of the tank from a sponge filter air stone or even HOB can cause electricity to go into your tank from the light or I have even had it start a fire in the light. Also LEDs that are not waterproof could be affected over the long term. Just my two cents thanks great video.
Interesting point - hadn't had that happen so didn't think about that.
Glass tops on all of mine to.
Didn't know that the water that evaporates is pure water, man, this tip is gold, thanks a lot.
Ya, a little fun fact. : -) Thanks for watching.
i dont have a lid on my shrimp/snail tank currently. i like the increased humidity in the air from the tanks during the winter. i have an ATO with RO/DI water to avoid the problem with increasing TDS. If i had fish i would probably try to DIY a screen mesh lid. I dont want to create more things for me to maintain :)
Great video👍👍👌👌 i have 3 tanks and all of them have lid. I saw how much the fish like to jump. 😊😄
It's like they get bored and try something new - air! : -)
@@PrimeTimeAquatics yeah 😄 they are thinking: " i can fly..." 😄😉
Yes found out the hard way.
What is your opinion on screen cover lids for a 40-gallon breeder Aquarium?
You also have the possibility of losing fish by them jumping out of the tank. About a month-and-a-half ago. I had a Jack Dempsey jump out of the tank and I found him on the floor stiff as a board. I was Brokenhearted. I had Lids on my tank somehow he squeezed in where the square I cut out. On the back part of the glass for the Inlet for the canister filter.
I have a plakat that was trained to jump for food, so the lid is basically a requirement for me.
I unfortunately can’t have a lid, I have a ton of frogbit with beautiful roots. But with a lid the condensation drops ontop of the leaves and causes them to rot. Fortunately the frogbit acts as a bit of a lid
Very good point!
The Budget Aquarist thank you very much I’ll get right on that!!
The Budget Aquarist one more question, sorry! Haha. Do those Little pads have adhesive or will I need to put like a little dot of hot glue to hold them?
Same.
It is good to put the reasons for compensating for the rise in mineral concentration due to evaporation out there for everybody. I like how you explain it in such simple terms that anyone can understand.
I keep lids on all my tanks because not only is the evaporation a huge issue but even with lids, fish find the tiniest opening & out they jump. I even put plastic wrap over any openings because a lot of my fish are notorious jumpers. It was a noted non jumper who managed to get out a small opening by the airline that confirmed my decision to plug every space no matter how small or what type fish was in the tank. Thanks for this video.
It's so crazy how they always seem to find the one little tiny opening and make the jump!
Lids all day, I made a custom one for my frameless tank out of a DIY window screen kit.
Great video! Btw your beard is looking epic today
Why thank you! : -)
Beardscaping!
I will never have a lid on my tanks. That's what floating plants are for. I even keep hatchets. Floating plants make them feel secure. But i also have only 3 tanks
LEDs are eye burners try a fluorescent plant spectrum bulb over your open-top 50 gal you can use a shop light.
With the adjustable LEDs the problem is reduced and I see that feature creeping into even the middle price-point lights. I just can't go back to the fluorescents after the simplicity of LEDs (lower power consumption, low profile, longer lasting).
my 40gal angelfish tank has no lid and have never had a jumper also rasbora loaches and Cory's. however before water change my tds is about 300 and my tanks with lids are about 180/200 tds
have a question about a betta sorority tank. i have a 60g that im turning into a sorority would a female bolivian ram be ok to add to this and what would be the correct amount of bettas to put in the tank. Thanks
I haven’t had lids since the eighties. With a few exceptions hatchets , ropefish, arrowana, never had a issue.
Living in Denver where we don’t have humidity, just a little humidity it noticeable. When I had 35 tanks set up the humidity was terrible, partly because a couple larger tanks weren’t covered. I think that having filters that require air or having air stones in your tanks will also increase the amount of humidity. Use HOB filters to help cut down on humidity. The Dehumidifier I used didn’t do much good. If you only have one or two tanks 55 gallon or smaller and they don’t have a lid the humidity will probably be tolerable. The more exposed water surface, the more you’ll have humidity. My 150 without a lit was not tolerable. I live in Denver because I can’t handle humidity.
Thanks for sharing!
When it comes to the water change, remember that the water you take out will also be more concentrated and therefore, doesn't that balance out? Assuming you are taking the same percentage and the mineral content is evenly distributed throughout the tank... Be interesting to see the math on that.
It wouldn’t be the same because evaporation would create higher concentrations of solutes.
Nice
About the whole TDS thing: I recently watched one of aquarium co-op's videos from a few years ago where he was doing a tour of a fish breeding greenhouse and the breeder had a really cool system where all of the tubs of fish were run off of one big sump type system but he didn't use any kind of bio media. Instead he had a couple different kinds of big bush type things that he relied on to keep ammonia and nitrate levels down. He also never changed the water in the system and it's a big system, so there would be a lot of water evaporation. He claimed that the minerals in the water evaporated along with the water. So I guess what I'm trying to ask is this : Is there actually proof that minerals DON'T evaporate with the water? Or is it possible that the plants actually consume those solids? Sorry for the long comment, I'm just very curiuos about it.
Minerals do not evaporate with water. However, they most certainly could be used by the plants.
I keep on saying to my older sister amd my young nephew and nieces to stop using humidifier with chemicals on it but they don't listen. My dad's arowana get a little bit sick right.I think , I need to put lid on it.
Couldn't you use distilled water to make up for evaporation?
COver ur tanks! Don't be like me and battle humidity daily
Sooo, just cover YOUR tanks, lady :-)
I had a Betta jump out of a tank sitting on a shelf 2 days ago, he's ok, lid always on now.
As I have unfortunately discovered over the past couple of weeks you have to cover your Rosy Barb and Cherry Barb tanks lest you find Barbs on your fish room floor ejected from your tanks/ponds during fervent unexpected spontaneous breeding behaviour.
Barbs are great jumpers!
What difference does evaporation make if your replacing the lost water with pure RO water (not remineralized), it would be the same water with similar mineral content.
It wouldn’t matter as much unless you have plants removing minerals from the water.
When my little tank was uncovered, the water evaporation was ridic! And that led to horrible water Mark's on the glass.
Solution? I got myself some Clown Killifish and so I was forced to fashion out a lid. I still have a little gap where pothos and the peace lily live but other than that, problem solved.
As you say, unless you have an above water structure, I'd cover that tank.
So true - killies are some of the worst jumpers!
hae a rimless tank and i have to add water because water eaperates
I have a betta and it's not my first one my first betta usto jump out of his tank so I have a lid on my tank
I decided against a lid for aesthetics and the plastic clip holding my light broke! Walked in to find it in the water and my fish freaking out. Thankfully he’s alright! But the light was totaled. Bought a lid the next day.
Another good reason to have a lid! Thanks for sharing!
Stay safe and keep it covered guys! 😜😁👍
I have 5 aquarium and lilies and pathos and bamboo is in all of the halfway in and leafs out now I am worried 🤔
Some fish jump more than others - just keep an eye on them. :-)
I didn’t think about the water parameters changing. Should I do a larger water change more frequently? I start with very hard water and a high ph.
I actually like to do smaller water changes more frequently. : -)
How do I get my lid on around my filter
Plastic ones usually have places where you can cut out sections. Glass lids usually don't cover the entire width.
Does having a tight fitting lid reduce or stop the oxygen gas exchange at the surface?
It could if your filtration is not air-driven or doesn't allow the water to come into contact with the air (like a canister).
I have my discus tank for years with no lid not one jump out ever
I have full covers on all my tanks and am concerned about oxygen for the fish and plants. I have complete filtration and water agitation but totally covering it won’t hamper the exchange? Thank you
Most likely not if you have enough surface agitation. Even small gaps in a covering often provide enough space for gas exchange.
After 5/6 forktail rainbow fish jumped out the first night, I put a lid on my 20 gallon.
Rainbows are great jumpers! Killies are the WORST! Somehow they find every tiny space and JUMP!
Haha, tell me about it. Bought 6 forktails last week. I found 2 of them on the floor the following day. Managed to at least save one of the two since it was still alive when I saw them. Put a lid on the tank immediately after that.
my problem is that i want to use a lid because of my cat, but at the same time want as much water to evaporate as possible to reduce the temperature of the aquarium
If you can find a metal lizard top that will give you what you want!
I want to get a tank with snails and known jumpy fish so I need a lid, but I'd also like to grow frogbit to offer some shade in the environment. Any tips on how to keep the gathered humidity from dripping onto the floating plants?
You could try to angle the lids even slightly and have it run towards one side.
Good tip!! Thanks
You mention salt and this makes me thought about a video on how and when using salt in freshwater aquarium. There are some around but I´m sure your will be the best! Ah and please, if you do the video, don´t say "one tea spoon per gallon" please.. the spoon is not a measure unit! But you are a scientist, you know this already :)
I do an ich video where I present it as concentration and table spoons so people can relate to both.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics right, I missed that part. 1 part per thousand will be 1g per liter. Btw, it will be nice if you can subtitle measuring unit in case like that, it will help all your non anglo-saxon follower and will reduce math :)
Algae growth on lid is nothing. The calcium buildup is a lot harder to clean.
You speak true words. : -)
the climate in my country is quite high how do i lid an aquarium when i need a fan on it?
That is considerably more tricky. I would try to keep it out of direct sunlight if possible. If not - providing shade my also help.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics even when i have 2 computer fans, had kept it out of direct sunlight and kept it in the shade the temperature still touches the 78-79 degrees (26-28c) on hot days
Question.
I have a lid, but its like a reptile type lid, it fits on the tank though and stops jumpers. If i just put a towel over most of it (ill leave a oxygen hole!) would that work?
Will it keep the tempatures right, and keep the minerals and stuff right..? And the water trapped?
Buying a "proper" tank lid sounds expensive, but the humidity levels in my room are going to kill me.
I dont really mind topping off water at all, but i heard no lids/topping off can mess up the water parameters, and temp.
I wonder if the towel will start to smell after a while?
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I want to use glass lids but I'm worried about a fish jumping into it, gas exchange, and heat. I might have to just go and try it. I feel like if I just drill holes ill be fine, and I doubt the heat will be that insane? and a Betta smashing into the glass lid and dying doesn't sound super common.. I would use mesh but topping off has its own issues, and humidity is nuts.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I have been reading comments on your channel, and watching videos though. Glass doesn't seem that bad. I have adjustable heaters, I'm willing to clean it, I'll drill a few holes, I have a filter and airstone, and I kinda doubt if the water is up near the top of the tank, a fish would smash into it and die. I'm only getting Betta's and Ember Tetra's, but a jump that hard sounds rare. Better than the floor too. I'll have to risk it for the evaporation. Thanks! If you have any advice though, I would appreciate it.
Will glass lids help muffle noise?
It will for sponge filters a little.
Is it true well seasoned tanks have less problems with algae? I’ve had a 40 breeder running for years and was constantly getting algae at the beginning. I’ve had the same light since the setup and now it’s like all of a sudden. Boom 🤯 I don’t have an insane amount of algae growth on the front and sides of glass. No new fish and same feeding schedule. And one fish just a 6” flowerhorn
I think it depends on the bioload, light and water change schedule. Once that's all in order tanks tend to have less algae.
Maybe I’m tripping but I kept the tank open and it reduced water hardness… at least that’s what TDS meter is showing…
If you are going to top off your tank due to evaporation RO water is the only way to go. What you lose through evaporation is pure water, nothing else. The only thing to replace it with is pure water, it's the only way to maintain water parameters.
Wonderful suggestion!
Great suggestion, though you will still have to do outright water changes with tap water, as some minerals will get depleted as the livestock & plants use them to build tissue.
Do you just top up with straight RO water? 😀
@@jstorey8905 Yes, straight RO/DI water for top offs. The only thing that evaporates is pure water so straight RO water brings it back to where it originally was (ignoring what has changed by plants and fish using the minerals and nutrients in the meantime). When it comes to water changes I use tap water because you are now removing not just the pure water but also all the minerals etc mixed in with it. If you use straight RO water every time you do a water change you are constantly reducing the minerals in the water unless to use something to remineralise it. If you keep dropping the mineral content of the water you will reach a point where very few fish will be able to survive.
What is to water?
What do you think about the lids with lights under it?
The major downside is when you have to clean the tank and the lights come off with the lid.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics wouldn’t that happen with every type of light/lid?
The prices of Versa-Top and other brands' glass lids are getting ridiculous. I was floored when I researched the cost of a 36-gallon bowfront lid ($80 eBay🤬, when last checked). Eventually, I purchased new from my lfs for less than half that. I was quite shocked at their in-store availability and price where merchandise is usually more expensive.
Ya, the prices are a little too high. That's why we have been using polycarbonate lids on most of our tanks.
Could very well be because of the fragility of the lids in shipping; in Canada at least, the online vendor prices on a few things (like tanks & glass lids) are significantly more expensive than if you can find in store. And having had a tank shipped to me arriving absolutely smashed (Amazon didn’t even mark it “handle with care”), I can see they have to factor that in to their sale prices...
Yup. Lids are important. I just found a Danio on the floor.
I've found of few of those outside the tank in my life time too.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Yup, It's worse when you find them a few days later and their all tried up. Nothing you can do but learn from the experience.
Listening to you talk about minerals and stuff makes me understand when joe rogan says Elon musk makes him feel dumb when he is around him.
Everyone is at a different point in their path to understanding certain concepts. My guess is there's a bunch of stuff you probably know that I am fairly clueless about. : -)
My guppy jumped out and I found it lying dead n dried on the platform. So disheartening 😔getting a lid
I'm sorry that happened :-(
What you see in a photo or video shoot isn’t what it is day to day
Just lost a dragon blood, left the lid open about 1 inch and he jumped out
Sorry to hear that. : -(
I don't care what people say but all fish jumps. I use a lid on every tank ever since I first got my fish tank at 11 years old and learned that the hard way.
I agree - I have seen some fish you would never think could jump laying on the floor.
I need 2 lids. Can I find one that fit ? No.
Can I afford them if I could rn? Also no.
Diapers are expensive. I use press & seal
What fish have you kept in your open top aquarium that haven't jumped and could fit in a 20 gallon aquarium?
I assume almost all fish can jump. Our tanks are usually covered when not filming. I've even found plecos and cory cats on the ground before.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Cory's and Plecos are known for getting out tho. I mean your 50 gallon in this video.
Listen this comment has nothing to do with fish. I cant stop starting at your beard man. Its so full and bushy. Lol I like it. Be proud most men do have have such full beards.
My beard said thank you! : -)
Lids on all the time, except when I'm showing it off to friends/family.
I often do the same!
Cover the tanks. They jump.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie cię kolego łapka w górę
Remember that fish like loaches, Baka sharks etc can jump out of your tank !