**Clear** Mesh Top
- Thread starter jimsflies
- Start date
Lowredranger
New member
Yea your tank looks really good i have my solana posted on the other page i sent you a pm looking for some more info especially on your skimmer. thanks
I know that this is an old thread, but I've only recently stumbled across it.
I just got off the phone with Jennifer @ Industrial Netting and was about to order the mesh netting that jimflies used/similar (part # ON 1581). It is the only one with a UV protection on it (to help reduce risk of MH melting. But the minimum order was $50.00, which would be a 14' x 30' roll. Way too much for my 220gal. DT. So, she suggested that she could just send me a "Sample" (FOR FREE) that was 3' x 14'!!! PERFECT! She sent it out today by UPS, and it only cost me 2 minutes on the phone with her!
I just got off the phone with Jennifer @ Industrial Netting and was about to order the mesh netting that jimflies used/similar (part # ON 1581). It is the only one with a UV protection on it (to help reduce risk of MH melting. But the minimum order was $50.00, which would be a 14' x 30' roll. Way too much for my 220gal. DT. So, she suggested that she could just send me a "Sample" (FOR FREE) that was 3' x 14'!!! PERFECT! She sent it out today by UPS, and it only cost me 2 minutes on the phone with her!
Lowredranger
New member
The Solana rimless comes with those plastic tabs to hold the original glass top on. I am not sure where you could buy them or just make the top big enough to sit on the rim that is what i have b/c i took the plastic tabs off.
Well, I bought a piece fo our tank from Jim, and I don't remember the exact $$, but $50 for that size roll sounds like a great deal. You have to remember that you will need to replace it yearly (something I had not factored in, and it cost us several fish before I figured out what had happened). We have 2 MH almost a foot off of the top of the mesh (don't remember exact height, but plenty of room between the bottom of the reflector and top of the mesh). The mesh under the reflectors is brittle and falling apart. Over the course of a week we had several fish jump through the brittle section and get caught on the rest of the mesh, unable to make it back into the water. The one that broke my heart was our 3 yr old red tailed tamarin that would eat just about anything. Right now there is nothing on our tank since it is safer for our fish to give them a chance to make it back into the tank if they jump "up". i am working on more of a "mesh net" to hang down over the tank from above and around the lighting, but haven't worked out alot of the details yet. Then again having an in-wall tank we have some options in this area that aren't available to everyone.
coralnut99
New member
That mesh isn't UV resistant. It's made to retain loose-fill insulation. It's made to never see the light of day. I'm not surprised, but I'm sorry for your loss. I know how it feels. I just had the male of my squampinnis anthias harem somehow squeeze through my doubled up fruit tree netting. The fruit tree netting is UV resistant, but since the mesh is bigger you have to install two layers overlapping. I has a good bit of stretch to it, and it's therefore difficult to be consistant with the overlap. The new peninsula tank that I'm making for the den will absolutely go to 3 layers.
jimsflies
Member
I have only had two people in three years mention a problem. Both were running 400 watt halides.
I suspect others also are running 400 watt bulbs that have tried the mesh. I don't think it has as much to do with UV as it does with heat, i.e., bulb too close to mesh or not ventilated enough for the mesh to hold up. I'm running a 250 double end halide on an IC ballast and haven't had the mesh become brittle yet.
One thing to keep in mind, is the mesh may not last forever, just like bulbs, impellers, etc., may need to be occasionally replaced. As part of routine maintenance, take note of whether the mesh looks like it is breaking down. If it is work on replacing the mesh before a hole develops. You may even be able to make a temporary patch using some left over scrape and a few plastic zip ties.
It takes less than 20 minutes to put a new piece of mesh in most frames. As for cost, there have been plenty of places listed here in this thread to pic the mesh up from. In the end, I still think this is the best solution to allow light into one's tank, and drastically minimize the chance for fish to jump out.
I suspect others also are running 400 watt bulbs that have tried the mesh. I don't think it has as much to do with UV as it does with heat, i.e., bulb too close to mesh or not ventilated enough for the mesh to hold up. I'm running a 250 double end halide on an IC ballast and haven't had the mesh become brittle yet.
One thing to keep in mind, is the mesh may not last forever, just like bulbs, impellers, etc., may need to be occasionally replaced. As part of routine maintenance, take note of whether the mesh looks like it is breaking down. If it is work on replacing the mesh before a hole develops. You may even be able to make a temporary patch using some left over scrape and a few plastic zip ties.
It takes less than 20 minutes to put a new piece of mesh in most frames. As for cost, there have been plenty of places listed here in this thread to pic the mesh up from. In the end, I still think this is the best solution to allow light into one's tank, and drastically minimize the chance for fish to jump out.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Here are a few pictures of the cover I finished today! 
Tell me what you think!
Tell me what you think!
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Yeah, I'm going to cover it.
Harry_Fish
In Memoriam
I run completely open top and have Never had a fish jump out.
And some are even jumpers.
Just don't give them a reason to jump
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Reason to jump?
Harry, some species of fish are prone to jumping. They don't need a "reason". Your luck does not translate well into good advice for those who have fish prone to carpet surfing.
