I broke my glass lid, should I replace it or go naked?

My tank setup came with a nifty hinged glass lid. I just broke it. I see lots of YouTube videos of people sporting tanks with no lid. So, should I replace it or go naked?

 

Depends on what fish you have. Regardless, I wouldn't risk it.

 

If you want possible moisture damage to your equipment and fish jumping out of the tank, then don't replace the lid. I don't think that's a good idea personally.

 

If you have a rig with lights above and away and fish that won't find that rim, then go for it.

 

Most of mine are open air. I had bought glass lids for them all but they would fall out of the hinge or I would break them so I just use half over the back to catch the splash of the sponge filters.

 

I think I'm more worried about the LED than jumpers. I used to fold the back half of the glass up against the hooded fluorescent lamp, but te new LED is so low profile they folded way way over and one slipped out of the hinge and fell to the floor. The new lamp isn't waterproof, from what I have read about it in reviews, so I'm a little worried condensation and splashing will ruin it. For fish, I only have julI cories, a bristlenose pleco, some neon tetras and a sword tail. I plan on getting more stock, just not sure what/when. The jullI cories sometimes make a dart to the surface, but I don' think they actually jump?

 

Condensation will only occur in a semI closed environment where there is a difference between temperature and humidity.

The biggest thing you will notice is you will have a lot more evaporation because the lid insulates the air above your water.

 

I accidentally broke a few of mine. They're all taped up until I can afford to buy new ones.

 

I would replace it if possible. You could also use plastic wrap to cover the tank but that looks kinda ugly :/

 

Swordtails are know jumpers, I would replace it. Alison

 

I would replace it, as well as the formentioned condensation and moisture issues, you could lose heat as it wouldnt be trapped under the hood, and dust etc could float onto the surface water!

I have 2 cats so I always have a lid on, no free dinner for them!

 

You could always make your own lid out of an unbreakable (or less breakable) material.

 

I ordered a replacement kit from Drs foster and Smith, the force field generator was a touch too expensive.

 

I bought a glass lid and found out a few days later that the center plastic strip was cutting out my light... My tank is open for now

 

I bought a glass lid and found out a few days later that the center plastic strip was cutting out my light... My tank is open for now

Just remove the center strip and keep the glass panes. That's how I use it on my planted tank. I don't need a "hinge," which is what the center plastic strip gives you.

 

I actually really like the hinge specifically for the light. The stock light hood pushed up right against the back of the hinge and gave the top a really clean look. I've since switched to a current USA led and while it doesn't butt up against the hinge like the last one, I still use the hinge to center it.