**Clear** Mesh Top

[Sparkss]

Very nice job heuefan, it looks commerically bought, you really did a great job

Exactly what mesh did you use and where did you get it from ?

Plankton, if you decide to get a bunch of the "left over" from jimsflies let me know and perhaps we can go in on a larger amount (to cover our tank also). We are going to need a bunch though, to cover a 4' x 6.5' tank opening. Also, I am wondering if 1/2" is small enough for some of the fairy wrasses ? I have heard stories of them jumping through very small openeing in canopies/tops, almost to the point of unbelievable. Any thoughts on the 1/4" mesh ?

 

[GreshamH]

I have some clear notless1/4" netting (for actual fish collections ) for you Tom

 

[GreshamH]

This stuff:

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7170141#post7170141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcegelsk
This looks good too: http://www.internetmesh.net/plastic_poly.htm ~Matt

You happenned to have come across where the MO industry gets a large portion of thier fish collection netting material Gotta love the internet, er, InterNet :lol:

 

[heuerfan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8375085#post8375085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
Very nice job heuefan, it looks commerically bought, you really did a great job

I got it from jimsflies and the rest of the parts can be bought at lowes or home depot. I heard that they also sell this mesh but not clear. 1/2 inch is perfect for fairy wrasse not big at all.

Good luck and thanks for the compliment!

 

[Sparkss]

Gresham,

Fantastic, thanks, I can pick it up from you at the swap in 2 weeks, we can work out what I will owe ya for it then

heurfan,

I know that you got the general idea from this thread, but I was commenting on how you made the frame fit your bowfront tank so perfectly. From the picture it looked like a commercial top, props


One general note that occurred to me as I was checking the other posted net resource link was that not all were UV coated, which means that if you were using MH lighting it would eventually break down the non-UV coated net material. How long that would take is hard to say, but getting UV coated would seem to be the best route, if it is an option

 

[GreshamH]

This stuff should last a year or two in this use, if not more. One of our divers found a net they lost like 10 years prior (@ ~30' down), everything was fine, except the wooden handle was rotted out, and there was like 2" of coraline coverring the (ex) handle. They saved the metal and the netting, and against my wishes of wanting the thing, they put it back to use Man that would have made a great conversation piece :lol:

No worries on the cost, it's yours Tom. I should have some money for you by then as well

 

[dfleary]

What size spine material did you use? (I didn't realize it comes in different sizes until I went to buy some yesterday.)

 

[Sparkss]

I personally have not built the top yet (the tank that it will be used on is not yet setup), but I would guess that the spline size would depend on the frame groove and the netting size. (IE: groove size - (netting size X 2) - enough to get it to hold)

 

[dfleary]

I just completed my mesh covers and they look pretty good (pictures below), I must admit.

Thanks, Jim, for your instructions and for providing the mesh!

 

[heuerfan]

Great job, are those 150 watt hqi fixtures?

 

[dfleary]

No, they're 175-watt Odyssea fixtures. Got them used with the tank. I'm not impressed with them, I can honestly say.

 

[hahnmeister]

dfleary, I think there are aliens trying to steal your reef tank!

 

[Sparkss]

dfleary, those frames almost look plastic, did you use the stock aluminum ones from Lowes/HD ? or did you find plastic ones somewhere ?

 

[dfleary]

Yeah, I've heard that before. Like the Tripods from War of the Worlds, or something. I've also heard that it looks like I'm about to blast the tank off into space!

 

[dfleary]

Sparkss,

No they're not plastic, though that would have been ideal. No, they're the standard stock, 3/4" aluminum ones from Home Depot.

 

[Sparkss]

EDIT : I need to read before I type


Thanks dfleary

 

[H20ENG]

It'd be easy to use heavy acrylic and rip a groove in it for the rubber bead.

 

[dfleary]

How would you "rip" a groove in it for the spline? (I have no knowledge of working with acrylic at all.)

 

[Sparkss]

but even heavy acrylic has more of a tendency to warp with the heat from a reef tank than the aluminum frame does. So long as the aluminum doesn't come in direct contact with the tank water I don't see the problem, outside of maybe having to replace it every 10 years or so (if that). Think about how many aluminum window screens and doors there are on houses on the beach/next to the ocean. Ture, they are much further away than the frame is from the tank water, but those windows screens on the houses take a bit more environmental abuse from the wind, rain, longer UV exposure, etc, and they still hold up.

Just my thoughts and observations