Black Eggcrate
- Thread starter nauti1us
- Start date
mrcrab
In Memoriam
Any particular reason you're looking for black?
I'm looking for acrylic eggcrate as opposed to the syrene purchased at most home stores. The acrylic comes in black and is more expensive than the styrene. I'm having some HA issues in my sump and have read that the styrene might be the cause. Let me know if you find anything especially the acrylic. Maybe we can go in together on an order.
I'm looking for acrylic eggcrate as opposed to the syrene purchased at most home stores. The acrylic comes in black and is more expensive than the styrene. I'm having some HA issues in my sump and have read that the styrene might be the cause. Let me know if you find anything especially the acrylic. Maybe we can go in together on an order.
tricky
New member
I found a small shop on Acme Street just west of Rio Grand, just south of the Citrus Bowl that supplies lighting diffusers exclusively. It has been a few years ago, but I bought the white acrylic eggcrate for about $20. I am sure he can get black if it is available.
I agree with mrcrab that acrylic is far superior for what we use it for. It is much stronger and cuts easier than styrene. One thing I liked about it when we used the sprinkler strainers for frag mounts is that the holes are slightly smaller and held the strainers without falling through.
Rick
I agree with mrcrab that acrylic is far superior for what we use it for. It is much stronger and cuts easier than styrene. One thing I liked about it when we used the sprinkler strainers for frag mounts is that the holes are slightly smaller and held the strainers without falling through.
Rick
nauti1us
ORCA President 2007~2008
Oddly, I'm actually going to use it as a light diffusor as opposed to "wet" filter media... I have white egg crate on top of a 40 L that has bright T5 lights on top. The crate keeps fish from jumping out. It's a very shallow tank. I'd like to minimize the light reflection bouncing off the top of the egg crate and further illuminating the room.
Rick, do you remember the name of the store..?
Hey Matt, have you considered a lid from the plastic quarter round covered with veil mesh? I made one for my 29 and it worked outstanding....I am going to do different ones for my 75 when I set it up....They allow perfect unobstructed light and air flow, but nip the flying fish in the bud.....The eggcrate tends to channel the light and actually shade a portion of it just by the nature of the "blades" making it up being perpendicular to the water surface. The mesh doesn't do that....
mrcrab
In Memoriam
I didn't even think of that but I've seen folks do what Dave suggested. You can buy the frames, powder coated aluminum, for screened windows and cut them to size at any HD or Lowes. They have plastic pieces that slide into the ends for corner pieces then just put the screen in. That way you won't be reflecting any light away from the tank.
Now the Powder coated screen frame is a GREAT idea. The Quarter Round I was talking about is the regular quarter round molding that is often set at the edge of floor to wall in your house. The "primed" or "pre finished" ones are actually made of plastic and covered with a paper for the primed nature. It is simply water soaked for a couple days to get the paper covering off, mitre cut to fit, epoxied together and boom....there is a frame that fits down into te tank top molding....for pennies!!!
I can dig up a pic of mine if you would like....I posted it up on the SITC site back when I made it....my 3 fish are all so tame now that I don't even have it on any more. They know where the food comes from!
I can dig up a pic of mine if you would like....I posted it up on the SITC site back when I made it....my 3 fish are all so tame now that I don't even have it on any more. They know where the food comes from!
Cool.....that's good to know.....I will have to look at the price of the aluminum screen frames when I do my next ones....I'm kind of afraid of aluminum in the spray though....a little salt and that's it....even the powder coated or anodized ones will have cut ends....I just don't like the idea of aluminum salts in my reef....I will probably just go back to my trusty quarter round....it ends up looking so very good....hey davy, where do you get clear screen fabric?
tricky
New member
Hey, guys, I finally got around to driving down Acme Street and fond Randy, the owner of PLAST D FUSERS SOUTHEAST. He is located at 1809 Acme Street, Orlando, FL 32805, almost the last little indescript warehouse storefront on the right at the end of Acme Street. If you go south on Rio Grand jfrom the the Citrius Bowl, Acme is about the third righ-hand turn on the right. You will think you are lost, as there are no names on the shops, but when you get to nearly the end of the street, there is a sign that gives you a clue. The owner is Randy. He used to be a worker bee and boutght the shop, then fired the boss. Great guy, very local.
He has almost every kind of plastic for flurorescent lighting diffuesers either in stock or can order. He has the black that Matt was looking for. He also has chrome or white and can order about anything that is made if you prefer.
The stuff you buy in HD or Lowe's is styrene whichi is thinner, more brittle and cheaper than acrylic. You want acrylic if it is a shelf for frags, but you can get by with styrene if you don't need the strength like for a top. Acrylic is a little more expensive than polystyrene, I paid $20 cash for a 4x0 of white acrylic 1/2". He does stock 1/2" black, but it is in styrene only, and he can order acrylic.
I really like dealing with the local guys in person, but if you are out of town he can ship. Give Randy a call at (407) 4232-0132 or (800) 992-0132 and he will fix you up.
He has almost every kind of plastic for flurorescent lighting diffuesers either in stock or can order. He has the black that Matt was looking for. He also has chrome or white and can order about anything that is made if you prefer.
The stuff you buy in HD or Lowe's is styrene whichi is thinner, more brittle and cheaper than acrylic. You want acrylic if it is a shelf for frags, but you can get by with styrene if you don't need the strength like for a top. Acrylic is a little more expensive than polystyrene, I paid $20 cash for a 4x0 of white acrylic 1/2". He does stock 1/2" black, but it is in styrene only, and he can order acrylic.
I really like dealing with the local guys in person, but if you are out of town he can ship. Give Randy a call at (407) 4232-0132 or (800) 992-0132 and he will fix you up.
