clear plastic mesh?

Spiffyguy

New member
anyone know a good spot to find some clear plastic mesh that can be used to make tank covers? I have egg crate on my tank right now but one of my fish managed to leap through. It was a scissor tail goby. Thin but still at least should ahve bounced off the light fixture. So I want to make some better covers that will cover better than the egg crate and not blind me so much with reflection.
 
I was at lowes yesterday and outside in the section with the hardware cloth and chicken wire they had some black thin plastic stuff

the holes were about the size of egg crate though, so it might not work for you

but it looked like it would not block any light at all...it was really thin stuff

about 13 bucks for a huge roll
 
hmm that might be and option. if it is thin enough it might be able to double up to reduce the hole size. provided it doesn't block too much light. I am totally bummed the fish jumped out. that was the whole reason I put up the eggcrate. I hate it. it is very bright when you look at the tank.
 
oh there is a thought. The frame would need to be worked out. Wonder what could be used? But that would be a neat option.
 
I'm sure you could do it. You've already gone DIY 55 gallon tank, keep it going.

Frame could be the outside of your current eggcrate. Just cut out the "inner squares" of the eggcrate.
 
ok thanks latzayo.

I could do that. maybe just leave on block around the edge for stability. or I can use some thin wood. drill some holes and just sew it up.
 
If you are going to use fishing line, I would probably build it out of a wood frame. (if you have a center brace on your tank I would divide the tank into two halves, that way you can access one side without having to mess with the whole frame at once) Then just tack finishing nails at a tight interval and weave around the nails. Maybe paint it with Kilz before you weave the fishing line.

I'm just thinking that if you cut all of the center squares out of the egg crate that it would loose all of its strength and be to flexible to last very long.
 
One thing about fishing line is that it will stretch a lot. MH or even t5's will heat the stuff so much that it will eventually slag and loose the effect...

1/8th acrylic cut into 1/2 strips(pain in the rear) and then made into something like the egg crate would work best...

BK
 
if i use a wood frame. Drill some holes how ever far apart they need to be. Then tie line at one end and being weaving through. If it loosens up you can untie the end and take the slack out. Shouldn't cost too much. Just a spool of thick line. The wood I probaly have. Might give it a shot. beats the egg crate
 
I think that it will expand too much and then contract too much with your light cycle. The wood frame may not be able to handle the stress... Give it a try you never know...
 
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