eggcrate and lights

[dwsindy]

For some reason my LMB decided to try and comit suicide today and jump out of my tank. This is the second one that has done this. I did not know they were jumpers. Anyway I added eggcrate to the top of my tank and I wonder how much it will affect my lighting. Shoud I lower my fixture a little?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

for me it really took away from the light. I could see the difference, thats how much it was. imo, you're better open top with a canopy thats got gaps all around for airflow and just put the egg-crate over the gaps so fish dont get out there. If you want, i can show you how i built mine...didnt do a good job, but you get the idea

 

[ambaratur]

I think it also depends on the type of lighting you use. I believe point sources (MH) will be diminished slightly with the eggcrate.

However I believe it has been shown that flourescent lights can benefit from the addition of eggcrate over the tank. I have no real data to back this up but I will look for it.

 

[Agu]

Eggcrate is designed for use with fluoro lighting and doesn't cut out much light. With mh the light not directly under the bulb is severly reduced.

But I think eggcrate is ugly and throws off a glare

Here's how I keep my watchman goby from jumping and still have ventilation. Thi light covers the open area.......

 

[dwsindy]

Yes I notice a big difference with he eggcrate, maybe a 15% reduction. I don't have a canopy and really don't want one. I am afraid heat would be an issue besides I like the open look. I may try and lower the fixture a couple of inches to see what effect that has. I have the 72" maristar fixture with three 250w 14k phoenix mh hanging at 8" above the tank now.

I was considering a wrasse anyway so I was going to need the eggcrate sooner or later anyway. I just didn't count on it affecting my lights the way it does.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

However I believe it has been shown that flourescent lights can benefit from the addition of eggcrate over the tank. I have no real data to back this up but I will look for it.

well, i got pcs and i notice a very large difference. You dont want the bulbs so close to the water, so you cant just lay the bulbs right on the egg-crate (plus when i tried that it got the crate really hot and flimsy), and you cant just move the crate up towards the lights, cuz...well...that'd defeat the purpose of having the stuff in the first place.

But most canopies would affect heat, but mine doesnt...i got gaps on the ends covered by egg-crate with a fan blowing into the tank. So i got no heat issues, tho most do. But i'm with you...open top does look better.

 

[Myrphie]

I did not know they were jumpers.

Only dead fish don't jump.
That being said, as I'm sure you now know, blennies and most other "torpedo" shaped fish are prone to jumping.

 

[tkeracer619]

Yup If I had not egg crated the 4 square inches on my QT tank that was open my lineatus wrasse would have made it out twice already.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Is there a translucent type egg crate? I just put white egg crates on my tank and I notice a difference, my tank is definitely gloomier looking. I did this because there's a sweet Flame Anthias I would love to get but they are jumpers so I went with the egg crate but now I'm not so sure if I will leave it on???

 

[sir_dudeguy]

no theres no clean egg-crate that i know of...and i dont really think it would make a difference if it were clear anyways to be honest.

But someone by me made a thing out of fishing line...they basically made a grid patter..pretty much the same pattern as egg-crate, and then pulled it tight and put it over the top. Doesnt block light at all but it keeps fish in. Right now he's got a pvc frame i think...like he made a frame the shape of the tank-top, and then took all the line and pulled it tight from one end to the other...do you get what i mean?

 

[dwsindy]

dudeguy,

The fishing line thing sounds like an excellent idea. I think I will look into it and see what I can come up with.

That's why I like this site lots of good stuff!
Thanks,

 

[thejuggernaut]

I've had the same concern, my problem with egg crate is that it will diffuse that light from your MH bulbs, which will lower the glimmer effect you get from the single point of light. For my new tank ive decided that i will build my canopy with four sides and put egg grate over the overflow. It will have 3-4 fans on the back pushing air in the canopy with vents on both sides. No way for the fish to get out and the fans should supply enough flow to cool the bulbs.

 

[DrBegalke]

You might try some mesh over the top. This will block a lot less light then eggcrate b/c it is not as high as eggcrate.

http://www.aquasonic.com.au/xtras/section13.pdf

Another idea is to low the tank water level, build a barrier up around the edges of the tank. I woudn't think most fish can jump very high from the surface.