Types of Aquarium Covers

 Aquarium top covers are under-appreciated, yet an essential, part of your tank setup. Perhaps you must have heard the terms hood, lid, and canopy and wondered if they are all words referring to the same thing. If they are not the same, then which one do you need, and does it suit your aquarium? Let’s see what makes the three different from each other and also what are the key uses of each.


  1. Glass Lids

  Glass water box lids are generally the most effective, durable, and versatile types of aquarium covers. They fit snugly for preventing evaporation and are easy to clean, and they are even more durable than plastic. Glass covers may fall on a bit more expensive side than plastic hoods, but they are well worth the additional expense.

  While purchasing a glass lid, you need to assure that it comes with a back strip that allowing you to make custom cutouts for adding a filter along with some other accessories. They are typically vinyl and can be cut with scissors or even with a utility knife.

  Most glass lids comprise two glass panes connected in the middle through a plastic hinge. They don’t include lighting. If you want to add lighting, it will require a separate strip light to be installed or another type of fixture that is compatible with the glass cover.

  2. Hood

  The part covering the lighting fixture is the hood. It may also incorporate a plastic lid to cover the aquarium top. The singlehood covering the aquarium and housing a light usually is on the cheaper side than a separate lid and a separate lighting unit.

  Plastic fish tank lids come with a few drawbacks. They generally don’t fit as tightly as the glass lids and therefore allow more and more water to get evaporated from the tank. Plastic lids also get brittle over time and are not as durable as their glass counterpart.

  While making a purchase of a hood, simply pay close attention to the specifications and quality of the light fixture. Cheaper hoods generally have low-quality lights. Don’t forget to make sure that you are getting the light wattage and the light type that you require before purchasing a hood.

  3. Canopy

  While some vendors and manufacturers refer to the glass lids as canopies, most aquarium enthusiasts consider a canopy to be just a decorative top providing a cover for the tank as well as solving the purpose of housing one or more lights.

  Canopies are often made of wood matching the material on the aquarium stand you use. They are not a necessity and can fall on the expensive side, but they can add a finished and built-in look that making your aquarium blend well with the room décor.

 

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