Condensation.

[hlessi]

I got a new Sea Clear acrylic tank a few weeks ago, and I'm finding
that there's a lot condensation on the underside of the top. (For those
unfamiliar, the tank comes in one piece, the top cannot be removed, and
instead has smallish openings for therm, filter, etc. and a couple
larger openings where the light/hood rests.) What bugs me about it is
that the top is clear, and I can see the condensation.

I was just wondering whether there's a good way to keep condensation
from forming there. I'm realizing that if I had set up the tank on a
tilt, the condensation would then be able to roll off the top and down
the sides. But at this point, I'd pretty much have to empty the tank to
do that. I suppose I'm curious if there's anything I can do short of
that. Or am I the only aesthetically anal poster here?

Thanks.

[Fishman]

Condensation forms from humidity and temperature differences over a
membrane. In this case, the temperature and humidity under the hood is
higher than the ambient room temp adn humidity.

There are two ways you can remedy this: One, raise the room temp to match
the temp under the hood. (probably not the best option unless you're used to
large heating bills and 80F rooms). Second would be to use a fan and create
a flow of air exchange from under the hood to the room. This would also
mean that the tank itself will cool as well as increase evaporation.

Fishman

"hlessi" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I got a new Sea Clear acrylic tank a few weeks ago, and I'm finding
> that there's a lot condensation on the underside of the top. (For those
> unfamiliar, the tank comes in one piece, the top cannot be removed, and
> instead has smallish openings for therm, filter, etc. and a couple
> larger openings where the light/hood rests.) What bugs me about it is
> that the top is clear, and I can see the condensation.
>
> I was just wondering whether there's a good way to keep condensation
> from forming there. I'm realizing that if I had set up the tank on a
> tilt, the condensation would then be able to roll off the top and down
> the sides. But at this point, I'd pretty much have to empty the tank to
> do that. I suppose I'm curious if there's anything I can do short of
> that. Or am I the only aesthetically anal poster here?
>
> Thanks.
>

[spiral_72]

...... or lower the temperature of the water to room temp, like I did.

[fish lover]

Or put something to cover the top so you don't see it. Most of the
glass tank has a cover for it anyway. Having something cover at the
top will not bother most people.

Setting the tank at kind of tilt is asking for trouble. Unless you
have enough slope, the water at the top is not going away fast enough.
Too much slope, the whole tank may be sliding off the stand. If the
tank is big enough, you may have structure issue too. All the weight
is pushing on one side of the tank, which is not how the tank was
designed for.

Lower the temp will depend on the kind od fish you have. If they are
ok with lower 70s, you are OK. Otherwise, your fish may not be happy
about it. I know for discus, anything under 82F your fish will get
sick easily. Most other tropical fish will require about 77, still be
higer than room temp.
>..... or lower the temperature of the water to room temp, like I did.

[A Man]

Moisture is not just caused by a difference in temperature, it is caused by
bubbles from your airstone bursting when they reach the top of the water.
Some bubbles throw off a tiny drop of water which then sticks to your tank
cover.

Here's how I figured this out. I cut the top off a 2 liter bottle to raise
some daphnia. To increase oxygenation I added an air stone. The next day I
came to the bottle and noticed the table was all wet around it. I sat down
and thought. As I thought I stared at the bottle, and began to notice
droplets of water bouncing up from the 2L bottle. This water was from the
bubbles popping when they reached the surface. Some droplets fell back to the
container, but some fell just outside the bottle.

So I reached for the top half of the 2L and put it on, so when the droplets
hit the top of the 2L, they collected and ran back into the container, not on
my table. Problem solved.

--
Sig: Say no to fixed width HTML tables. They look terrible in most browsers.