I Made a Screen Top, and Probably So Can You

[CStrickland]

I bought this for $12 on Amazon, but Walmart and Home Depot had them too.

This pack has 2 screens in it because they slide next to each other to fit different windows. That was good for me because I have a 55g so I needed 2 smaller panels. The panels were too tall though, so they needed to be trimmed to fit on the ledge of my rim.

The frame has a channel in it that a piece of plastic rope stuff fits into. If you find the end of the rope you can pull it out of its slot, and then the screen just lifts out.

I just pulled it back where I needed to so I could cut the frame, that made it easy to put back together than if you took the whole screen out.

It was easy to get the frame apart once the screen isn't holding it in a square shape, you just pull this little plastic tab out of the metal frame.

I cut a couple inches off each of the shorter sides. I used a little handsaw with a hack blade but I think tin snips or something like that would work too as long as you didn't crush the metal because you need to be able to get the plastic corner part back in there afterwards. The aluminum frame was just a little stronger than a soda can if that helps.

After I jammed the frame back together, I laid the screen over it and used the back of a spoon to press the rope into its slot. You don't have to fuss much cause the screen pulls itself tight when you push the rope down, I went back over the rope a second time with a pokier thing to really push it in there. Then I trimmed off the extra screen, and pulled out a corner for the wires to come through.

Black woulda been cooler, but you only see it from above.

I got screens that were a little short and used the extra mesh as a flap door so I can get in the middle easy to feed and mess with my U-tube, but you could totes make it rest in the ledge all the way around if you dodn't have a ghetto overflow
It's been working great for a week or so, thought it might help you guys keep your fish in the box, but it's also totes possible that it will explode tomorrow cause I don't know what I'm doing at all

[MondoBongo]

i'm a big fan of these. have one myself on my main display.

BRS also sells clear netting that has great light penetration.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/clear-netting.html

[Ixodes]

Nice! I've been wondering what the best way to do this was!

[d2mini]

Yeah, BRS has the whole kit on their website or buy the pieces you need. The clear netting is better. There is a video, too.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aq...4-netting.html

Buy the kit, or just the netting and then buy the rest of the supplies at home depot in the window/door department.

[IowaJeeping]

i bought the whole set up from home depot with fiberglass screen, trim and corners for my 180g for about $25ish

[CStrickland]

Originally Posted by IowaJeeping

i bought the whole set up from home depot with fiberglass screen, trim and corners for my 180g for about $25ish

Did they have the clear screen like BRS sells? I wondered how much more light I'd get with the clear stuff, but I didn't want to bother putting in a mesh from scratch right now, like it was less intimidating to just peel the screen back a little and cut 2 sides instead of making a square (I guess I'm easily intimidated?). I only run my lights at 50% anyway, but down the road I might want more.

There was no way I was gonna pay $83 for the BRS kit and still have to do all the work, lol.

[IowaJeeping]

I did find some bird netting that was clear but I went with this

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-36...ct_description

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-48...ct_description

i bet the clear stuff might work alittle better but probably not much more to off set the cost they are asking.

The stuff said it don't block much for light and its fiberglass. Check them out at your local store and see if it fits the bill

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by IowaJeeping

I did find some bird netting that was clear but I went with this

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-36...ct_description

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-48...ct_description

i bet the clear stuff might work alittle better but probably not much more to off set the cost they are asking.

It's a $3.50 difference for the exact same amount of screen, and the BRS stuff is translucent plastic, blocking a minimum amount of light.

There's good places to save money in this hobby but this is not really worth it.

[IowaJeeping]

Figure in shipping also usually about $8, but I know what your saying

[billdogg]

Standard window screening is designed to block at least some light. In fact I use it On top of my clear screening when I have a new coral to acclimate. It casts a great shadow.

[CStrickland]

I was surprised it's only $8 to ship the brs screen by itself, that's a pretty good deal if you want to make one from scratch.

@bill - have you tried egg crate too? I'm curious how that would compare light-wise to what I've got since I went back and forth on which to do

[glweek]

This is much cheaper than BRS and the same stuff as far as I can tell. http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Mesh-Net.../dp/B00OABXY9O

Egg crate blocks a ton of light. Its designed as a light diffuser.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by glweek

This is much cheaper than BRS and the same stuff as far as I can tell. http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Mesh-Net.../dp/B00OABXY9O

Egg crate blocks a ton of light. Its designed as a light diffuser.

It's basically the same price per sq/ft, just the shipping costs more.
Actually, the amazon stuff costs $.01 per sq/ft more.
But order it with a bunch of other stuff and you get free shipping from BRS anyway.

Really guys... BRS is not ripping you off. It's obviously a fair price.

[PhaneSoul]

there is a thread floating around here somewhere, a member did some testing. the brs clear netting blocks around 3% light, regular window screen like shown as the subject of this thread is like 5-7% and eggcrate is up twords the 10-15%, sorry don't remember exact percentages but those are pretty close

[CStrickland]

Originally Posted by PhaneSoul

there is a thread floating around here somewhere, a member did some testing. the brs clear netting blocks around 3% light, regular window screen like shown as the subject of this thread is like 5-7% and eggcrate is up twords the 10-15%, sorry don't remember exact percentages but those are pretty close

Sounds about right, bumping up my lights by ~10% seems to put me where I was before. Not bad for $12 and 10 minutes

[BigJohnny]

[mets17127]

I bought the clear netting on eBay for $15, and spent like $15 on screen frame parts at hd

[kmbyrnes]

+1 on BRS netting and Big Box frames.

[CuzzA]

I'm pretty sure standard window/patio screen blocks approximately 30% of light. I would replace the screen with 1/4" clear netting and increase your light intensity (led) or slightly lower your lights (T5/Halide) to compensate for the reduction in lighting. Although it may not be necessary, only a par meter would be able to confirm how much light is lost. Judging by the naked eye is not going to tell you much. I'm sure you could still use the frame and spline with the netting.

Eggcrate , aka "light diffusing panels" would be a poor choice as well. They were designed to diffuse light. Not something we want under our lights. In fact in the past I would place egg crate over corals, chalices for example, that like less light, but I wanted mounted higher up in my aquascape.

[lviva003]

Im trying to make a screen top, but i have a bowfront tank. Do you have any ideas on how to make one for a curved tank? Thanks

[MondoBongo]

Originally Posted by CuzzA

I'm pretty sure standard window/patio screen blocks approximately 30% of light. I would replace the screen with 1/4" clear netting and increase your light intensity (led) or slightly lower your lights (T5/Halide) to compensate for the reduction in lighting. Although it may not be necessary, only a par meter would be able to confirm how much light is lost. Judging by the naked eye is not going to tell you much. I'm sure you could still use the frame and spline with the netting.

Eggcrate , aka "light diffusing panels" would be a poor choice as well. They were designed to diffuse light. Not something we want under our lights. In fact in the past I would place egg crate over corals, chalices for example, that like less light, but I wanted mounted higher up in my aquascape.

i can confirm that the BRS netting works just fine with the frame and spline. this is actually the same kit i bought from lowe's and used with brs netting to make my tops.

i had an egg crate top before i made this (any port in a storm) and to my eyes there was an appreciable increase in light intensity when i switched to the clear netting.

[gone fishin]

I used the Lowes frames and BRS netting as well. That was quite a few years ago.

[rolyguy7]

I second the question on bowfront tanks. I have two of them. A 175 gal oceanic and a 46 gal all-glass. Would be nice to make these for my tanks. Anyone have any guidance for doing curves?

[CuzzA]

Originally Posted by lviva003

Im trying to make a screen top, but i have a bowfront tank. Do you have any ideas on how to make one for a curved tank? Thanks

Originally Posted by rolyguy7

I second the question on bowfront tanks. I have two of them. A 175 gal oceanic and a 46 gal all-glass. Would be nice to make these for my tanks. Anyone have any guidance for doing curves?

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/di...l#.VVy8vrlViko

[nuxx]

Yeah it's pretty easy, we used the Home Depot kit with BRS screen.