Frustration

[JTL]

Even if eggcrate kept fish in the tank, which it does not, it really cuts down on the light. That's why, when it is used to cover fluorescent lighting in a ceiling, they call it a defuser. This is made with a Home Depot screen kit and 1/4" mesh. That fella to the left there in my avatar is a young, slim wrasse and he can't make it through the mesh.

Unfortunately screen probably cuts down the light even more. Egg crate defuses it but screen blocks a very large percentage. I am trying to keep my PAR values up and that would probably be an issue. Like I said before I will consider some of the good comments and see if I can reach a compromise. I may just go for more corals and be very limited on the fish. I actually have another tank that I don't mind putting a lid on that can be for fish.

 

[tcmfish]

The screen lets more light through because of the thickness. Most of the diagonal light is blocked by eggcrate, especially when the light is coming from a single source like a metal halide. With the screen it is so thin that most of the diagonal light gets through. I know you hate lids, but screens are the way to go. There is quite a long thread on them somewhere around here.

 

[JTL]

tcmfish,
I agree that that the thread thickness of the screen is a factor, but the smaller the openings the higher the thread count and that cuts light. I am thinking about an idea that a person had (James, I believe) using a frame of clear acrylic and stringing it with fishing line to make a tennis racket pattern. A lot of work, but an interesting idea. My concern is being able to easily remove the frame without it being like a limp noodle. The tank is 44x24, while not big it is not a nano.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for your enlightening contribution to this discussion.

You are certainly most welcome!!

 

[serval]

I have a rimless tank and I agree, any top takes away from the aesthetics. But, I didn't want to lose fish on the floor, so had a mesh top made, using "bird netting" from the hardware store:

Closeup, showing frame is painted stainless steel and innards = inexpensive screen replacement plastic frame with bird netting in it:

Underside:

Here's what it looked like when I first got it, so not terrible in terms of ruining the rimless look:

I tried to make one myself and failed so I took the supplies (bird netting, screen stuff and a design) to a local metal workers place and they did it for $100.

I have had no fish losses in 10 months, so I feel pretty good about this top.

 

[snorvich]

Nice top. Should work well.

 

[JTL]

Serval,
You did good, but it is hard to tell from the pic whether it sits on top or overlaps the edge.

 

[tcmfish]

Thanks for the pics serval, now JTL your telling me that reduces your light more than eggcrate? Psh, no. You can barely see it....

 

[JTL]

tcmfish, I thought you said screen and that is mesh. Screen (like window screen) would definitely reduce the light. Actually, in my post I said screen because the other person was referring to a screen kit and I didn't pick up on the mesh material. No disagreement that mesh is better than egg crate. However, I bet you still lose more light than you think, but it may be as good as it gets. I will check with someone who knows a lot more than me on that subject.

 

[bradleyj]

I use the 1/4 inch mesh, clear. And I'm sure you lose some par from the mesh, but I have no problem growing tons of acros.

IMO It's the BEST option out there for keeping fish in the tank and off the carpet.

 

[Stumped]

I am having a bad time keeping fish in the tank and off the floor. So far in 6 months and in two different tanks I have lost a beautiful orchid dottyback, a clown, and now a very nice midas blenny. The midas is the first one to jump out of my DT. I am getting to the point of wondering what fish to keep in a reef tank that are small and interesting. Well my mandarin probably won't jump since he never leaves the bottom. The midas is really distrubing because they are not known jumpers and there are no aggressive fish the tank, just a coral beauty and a couple of chromies and a tail spot in a 100g tank with perfect conditions.

I've posted this in just about every Midas blenny thread, but they definitely DO jump in my experience. It's one of those fish that I would never put in an uncovered tank. Mine shares a tank with a Helfrich's firefish and a neon goby so definitely no aggression whatsoever and he jumps fairly frequently. You can hear him splash them plop back into the water if it's quiet enough. Just to be clear my tank is covered so he never gets to carpet surf.

 

[NexDog]

Fish jump. We keep them in a habitat where they wouldn't normally mix with the fish they are in with. You can say you have a peaceful tank yet still find fish on the floor. I know it was the case with me. Lost a Heni, 3 Anthias and the final straw was my male Clarki that was mated with the female for 4 years. Have lost others but my memory is pretty bad. I just got some wood, some netting and some U shaped nails and banged something together. Mine is an in-wall setup so doesn't need to be pretty.

If yours isn't in-wall then just do what Serval did and get something built. His looks really sweet.

And always a pleasure to see bradleyj's system.

 

[JTL]

Well, you people have convinced me to put a top on my tank so I have ordered the materials. I am going to make a frame out of clear acrylic and the mesh will be a clear polypropylene material with 65% open area (approx 1/4" square openings). I don't think my Par will suffer much since the material is clear. I like this stuff because it is pretty rigid at 0.085" thickness. I also am converting my T5's to Par 38 LED's. Should be interesting to see how it comes out. Thanks for the comments and the ideas.

 

[SwampyBill]

ALL fish have the propensity to be jumpers. Glad to hear you've decided on putting a top on your tank.

 

[JTL]

ALL fish have the propensity to be jumpers. Glad to hear you've decided on putting a top on your tank.

So true, and especially some of my favs.