Aquarium vent question?

[dave_the_nerd]

Housemate and I had tanks when we were kids but it's been a while. Trying to get a decent setup before we put fish in it, put water in yesterday and tried to start a nitrogen cycle. Because we went the Craigslist route instead of a full kit, there was some improvising - I cut two pieces of plexiglass to 11x23 to make a lid (just sits in place), with notches for filters, wires, air hose, etc.

I know I need to cut some vents in the top to prevent condensation, but am wondering how big the vents should be? (My plan is to just 3-D print a bezel/grille and glue it into a cutout in the panel.)

TIA

 

[Iron Woode]

perhaps a hinged lid would negate the need for venting due to it not sealing tight?

 

[jtvang125]

I don't really think there is a defined rule on how big a vent should be or if one is even needed. Many of the older tanks were pretty well sealed up while modern ones now tend to be wide or only partially closed. Just remember that the more open the more evaporation you'll have.

 

[Raduque]

Eh, if there's a spot for the filters and wires to fit, as long as there's a little margin, you've got enough of a vent.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Eh, if there's a spot for the filters and wires to fit, as long as there's a little margin, you've got enough of a vent.

I've got gaps for those, but the undersides of the lids are still covered in droplets/fog.

But then maybe I want that, so that the evaporation condenses back into the tank and I don't get mineral buildup...?

 

[Raduque]

Ive never had a problem without vents. Or mineral buildup. The condensation on the underside of the lid I've noticed is from a bubbler. Before I had a bubble wall, I didn't get much water under the lids.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I don't have a bubble wall running right now (we're still arguing about pumps and how loud they should be.) The majority of the moisture is right above the two filters, with another smaller concentration near where the heater is.)

Maybe it's because we keep it relatively cool in the house? (65 right now, with the water temp at 70 and climbing, up from 46 when I filled it yesterday.)

 

[Raduque]

Ah, it's the surface agitation. Do your filters waterfall onto the surface? I've had luck reducing that by filling the tank high enough to cover the filter outputs. I'm not sure how well it would work with other brands, but the Penguin biowheel power filters cause nice agitation when you put the output under the water.

 

[paperfist]

You'll loose a lot of water the more vents you have.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Ah, it's the surface agitation. Do your filters waterfall onto the surface? I've had luck reducing that by filling the tank high enough to cover the filter outputs. I'm not sure how well it would work with other brands, but the Penguin biowheel power filters cause nice agitation when you put the output under the water.

Ah. Yeah, okay - it's a good 4-5" drop from the filter output to the surface of the water. We still need to put in rocks and decorations, though. The intent is to get and keep that at around 1-2".