Eggcrate over your tank + light question

Madoktopus · 03/27/2006, 01:06 PM

has anyone put eggcrate over their tank to stop fish from jumping? im thinking of doing it over my tank to stop fire gobies from going carpet surfing, any ideas?

will my lights be greatly filtered? i am running a 250w halide with two t8 over 24inch of water but with the possibilty of adding 3 exra t5 at another date.

Also any suggeted light set ups? i was thinking 10k with all blues or 20k with white t8 and using the t5 to adjust and get the look right (maybe more white needed i dont know!)

all help aprreciated madok

Travis L. Stevens · 03/27/2006, 01:21 PM

Adding eggcrate (AKA Light diffuser) is fine. If properly placed, it will wither focus your light, or spread it out. It depends if you put it top down, or bottom down.

As far as the lighting goes. It's your preference. Actinic doesn't do much for coral growth. So, you could go with a 6500K-10,000K for awesome growth and actinics for a little coral color support, or you can go with slightly less growth going 14,000K-20,000K and "White" T5s for growth. The first one would give good growth and little color all the way to the bottom of the tank. The latter would give you great color with decent growth at the bottom of the tank. It's really all how you want your tank.

Madoktopus · 03/27/2006, 03:28 PM

what do you mean by top down or bootom down? is there a top and bottom?

btw folks, here is my light set up

what would you advise to go in each space??

Madoktopus · 03/27/2006, 03:29 PM

whoops didnt realize it would be so small

RichConley · 03/27/2006, 03:30 PM

Its a bunch of squares. Its lighting diffuser. It defuses light. So yeah, you lose light. I think you'd be better with a canopy personally.

Madoktopus · 03/27/2006, 03:30 PM

green lines are t5, pink are t8 and the purple square is the halide. ill try and post agin.

Madoktopus · 03/27/2006, 03:38 PM

what would you advise to go in each space??

trippyl · 03/27/2006, 04:22 PM

I used to use one. It definitely lost a good 10% of the light. And one fish even managed to jump out with the egg crate on.

I eventually built a canopy out of acrylic and got rid of the egg crate, much more happy.

trippyl · 03/27/2006, 04:25 PM

BTW, what he meant about top/bottom is that literally there is a top and bottom to egg crate. The bottom of egg crate, the plastic gets thinner, the top is thicker. But let me assure you, either way you orient the egg crate, there will be a loss of light.

RichConley · 03/27/2006, 04:31 PM

Some light will always reflect off the eggcrate, some will go straight up, and be completely lost, but even the stuff that still goes down, you're losing 10% or so. (reflecting off the plastic, 90% efficient at most).

flyhigh123 · 03/27/2006, 04:47 PM

you can get the chrome plated eggcrate... i like it more than the white one

HowardW · 03/27/2006, 04:57 PM

<<< BTW, what he meant about top/bottom is that literally there is a top and bottom to egg crate. The bottom of egg crate, the plastic gets thinner, the top is thicker. But let me assure you, either way you orient the egg crate, there will be a loss of light. >>>

<<< Some light will always reflect off the eggcrate, some will go straight up, and be completely lost, but even the stuff that still goes down, you're losing 10% or so. (reflecting off the plastic, 90% efficient at most). >>>

......not according to the thread where A. Calfo says the eggcrate actually puts more light into the tank via focusing otherwise lost light into the water, assuming you put the tapered side facing up. He also linked to a scientific study that confirmed this I believe. I believe someone also claimed the eggcrate also acts as a beneficial heatsink and absorbs or reflects some of the heat off the lights which would otherwise heat up the water.

trippyl · 03/27/2006, 05:17 PM

With all due respect to A Calfo (without whose advice my tank would probably suck), I think he is wrong. I had egg crate for months and switched it out because it was actually more light disruptive than my old glass canopy. There is no question that my tank is brighter now.

Of course, I use CF lights. Is it possible that A Calfo was speaking about MH?

HowardW · 03/27/2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trippyl
With all due respect to A Calfo (without whose advice my tank would probably suck), I think he is wrong. I had egg crate for months and switched it out because it was actually more light disruptive than my old glass canopy. There is no question that my tank is brighter now.

Of course, I use CF lights. Is it possible that A Calfo was speaking about MH?

I don't remember, maybe someone can search out that thread here. I was told however that what we perceive as being more or less bright is not always what benefits the tank and PAR values though.

dnjan · 03/27/2006, 05:31 PM

The light loss from eggcrate directly under a bulb or a parabolic reflector is not very much, because the light is coming straight down and the percentage of area blocked is fairly low.

But, as the angle of the light increases, the amount of blockage from the eggcrate increases as well. So, with the lighting arrangement you have, you would have quite a bit of area with significantly-reduced light intensity.

Gooli · 03/27/2006, 05:33 PM

do this instead...much better - worked for me

Madoktopus · 03/28/2006, 09:29 AM

i cant do that as it is a standalone cube without a canopy, just a neat trim around the top.
but surely if i have a 250w halide 2 t8 and 3 t5, ill still be able to keep nearly any species of coral/clam i want right?
also what would people suggest for choice of lighting i.e colurs of bulbs?

trippyl · 03/28/2006, 10:36 AM

I think with that much wattage, you should be AOK. I am using compacts, so to me any loss of light is undesireable. For you it may not be such a big deal. Proof will be in the pudding (or SPS).

RichConley · 03/28/2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trippyl
With all due respect to A Calfo (without whose advice my tank would probably suck), I think he is wrong. I had egg crate for months and switched it out because it was actually more light disruptive than my old glass canopy. There is no question that my tank is brighter now.

Of course, I use CF lights. Is it possible that A Calfo was speaking about MH?

I agree with this. I tried it for a couple weeks, and had a ton of brownout with my SPS. Its definitely not as bright. I ended up building a canopy.

THis stuff is designed to spread light out for office buildings. It does that by reflecting it off in different directions. Its designed purpose is to spray light everywhere, which is exactly what we dont want in a reef. From the stuff I have, there is NO difference on what side you have. (I have the chrome stuff) My stuff is completely symmetrical.

Madoktopus · 03/28/2006, 12:24 PM

ok well im gonna try it anyway.

bulb and lamp colour choices?

Chrsnwk · 03/28/2006, 12:47 PM

I've done a bit of a compromise in the past, and had a "frame" of eggcrate, a strip about 5" wide across the rear of the tank to prevent jumpers from escaping out of the open back of the hood. New hood is fully enclosed so it's no longer necessary, but it worked well and blocked only minimal light output when it was implimented.

03/27/2006, 01:06 PM	#1
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	Eggcrate over your tank + light question has anyone put eggcrate over their tank to stop fish from jumping? im thinking of doing it over my tank to stop fire gobies from going carpet surfing, any ideas? will my lights be greatly filtered? i am running a 250w halide with two t8 over 24inch of water but with the possibilty of adding 3 exra t5 at another date. Also any suggeted light set ups? i was thinking 10k with all blues or 20k with white t8 and using the t5 to adjust and get the look right (maybe more white needed i dont know!) all help aprreciated madok

03/27/2006, 01:21 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Adding eggcrate (AKA Light diffuser) is fine. If properly placed, it will wither focus your light, or spread it out. It depends if you put it top down, or bottom down. As far as the lighting goes. It's your preference. Actinic doesn't do much for coral growth. So, you could go with a 6500K-10,000K for awesome growth and actinics for a little coral color support, or you can go with slightly less growth going 14,000K-20,000K and "White" T5s for growth. The first one would give good growth and little color all the way to the bottom of the tank. The latter would give you great color with decent growth at the bottom of the tank. It's really all how you want your tank. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

03/27/2006, 03:30 PM	#5
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Its a bunch of squares. Its lighting diffuser. It defuses light. So yeah, you lose light. I think you'd be better with a canopy personally. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

03/27/2006, 04:31 PM	#10
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Some light will always reflect off the eggcrate, some will go straight up, and be completely lost, but even the stuff that still goes down, you're losing 10% or so. (reflecting off the plastic, 90% efficient at most). __________________ NO TANKS!!!

03/27/2006, 04:57 PM	#12
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	<<< BTW, what he meant about top/bottom is that literally there is a top and bottom to egg crate. The bottom of egg crate, the plastic gets thinner, the top is thicker. But let me assure you, either way you orient the egg crate, there will be a loss of light. >>> <<< Some light will always reflect off the eggcrate, some will go straight up, and be completely lost, but even the stuff that still goes down, you're losing 10% or so. (reflecting off the plastic, 90% efficient at most). >>> ......not according to the thread where A. Calfo says the eggcrate actually puts more light into the tank via focusing otherwise lost light into the water, assuming you put the tapered side facing up. He also linked to a scientific study that confirmed this I believe. I believe someone also claimed the eggcrate also acts as a beneficial heatsink and absorbs or reflects some of the heat off the lights which would otherwise heat up the water. __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/27/2006, 03:28 PM	#3
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	what do you mean by top down or bootom down? is there a top and bottom? btw folks, here is my light set up what would you advise to go in each space??

03/27/2006, 03:29 PM	#4
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	whoops didnt realize it would be so small

03/27/2006, 03:38 PM	#7
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	what would you advise to go in each space??

03/27/2006, 04:22 PM	#8
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	I used to use one. It definitely lost a good 10% of the light. And one fish even managed to jump out with the egg crate on. I eventually built a canopy out of acrylic and got rid of the egg crate, much more happy.

03/27/2006, 04:25 PM	#9
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	BTW, what he meant about top/bottom is that literally there is a top and bottom to egg crate. The bottom of egg crate, the plastic gets thinner, the top is thicker. But let me assure you, either way you orient the egg crate, there will be a loss of light.

03/27/2006, 04:47 PM	#11
flyhigh123 funky member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights (605 and 60 fwy) Posts: 1,893	you can get the chrome plated eggcrate... i like it more than the white one

03/27/2006, 05:17 PM	#13
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	With all due respect to A Calfo (without whose advice my tank would probably suck), I think he is wrong. I had egg crate for months and switched it out because it was actually more light disruptive than my old glass canopy. There is no question that my tank is brighter now. Of course, I use CF lights. Is it possible that A Calfo was speaking about MH?

03/27/2006, 05:31 PM	#15
dnjan Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 1,707	The light loss from eggcrate directly under a bulb or a parabolic reflector is not very much, because the light is coming straight down and the percentage of area blocked is fairly low. But, as the angle of the light increases, the amount of blockage from the eggcrate increases as well. So, with the lighting arrangement you have, you would have quite a bit of area with significantly-reduced light intensity. __________________ Don

03/27/2006, 05:33 PM	#16
Gooli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 3,746	do this instead...much better - worked for me __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. " - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 180g SPS

03/28/2006, 09:29 AM	#17
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	i cant do that as it is a standalone cube without a canopy, just a neat trim around the top. but surely if i have a 250w halide 2 t8 and 3 t5, ill still be able to keep nearly any species of coral/clam i want right? also what would people suggest for choice of lighting i.e colurs of bulbs?

03/28/2006, 10:36 AM	#18
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	I think with that much wattage, you should be AOK. I am using compacts, so to me any loss of light is undesireable. For you it may not be such a big deal. Proof will be in the pudding (or SPS).

03/28/2006, 12:24 PM	#20
Madoktopus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 462	ok well im gonna try it anyway. bulb and lamp colour choices?

03/28/2006, 12:47 PM	#21
Chrsnwk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 629	I've done a bit of a compromise in the past, and had a "frame" of eggcrate, a strip about 5" wide across the rear of the tank to prevent jumpers from escaping out of the open back of the hood. New hood is fully enclosed so it's no longer necessary, but it worked well and blocked only minimal light output when it was implimented.