Alternatives to a hood?

[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

I've got a 29 gallon tank and am expecting a 175w MH hood anyday now (thanks to blackeyedcat). I live in Texas, so it gets pretty hot (supposed to be 78 degrees tomorrow... in January...).

Anyway the combination of the light and heat has me worried about my tank overheating in the summer. I plan to use a fan blowing across the top to keep the temperature down, but obviously a glass top is out. I have heard about using egg crate as a possible cover, but this seems to have some drawbacks as well. Of course the downside to no cover is that fish jump. So long story short, has anyone ever tried using some sort of netting that lets light in, keeps heat out, but stops fish from committing suicide?

 

[Black Phantom]

It's going to depend what kind of fish you have.
I've only ever had one go over the top and he was sick. The rest are quite content to stay in the water.
If you use egg crate just watch the heat from the halides as it will melt and you get cool formations in your tank.

 

[Avi]

One way or another, whether it's glass or something else, you should keep the tank covered. There are so many kinds of fish that are considered jumpers that it's best to take that precaution. I've used egg-crate and it's fine. Use a keyhole saw for cutting it down to the configuration that you'd need for the top of the tank .

It's best to raise the lighting-fixture up at least a few inches. You can do that with legs that are offered by the manufacturer of the fixture...IF they do offer them like many companied do...or you may be able to fabricate something for it. Otherwise consider elevating it above the tank by a few inches with wire cable set properly into a ceiling-beam. Elevated allow the fan that you'll be using to much more efficiently prevent heat transfer into the tank than if the fixture sits on the frame of the tank.