Eggcrate on top of tank, effect on lighting

chevegan · 09/13/2008, 04:46 PM

I want to be rid of the glass on top of my tank to let in more light. Plus I'm Oh so tired of keeping them clean. Eggcrate is he best way to do that. I just wanted input as to whether or not it has any effect on par ratings. There is also the mirror finished eggcrate which in an office will actually increase light substantially. Any thoughts?

aninjaatemyshoe · 09/13/2008, 04:56 PM

First of all, eggcrate is only appropriate with fluorescent (ie long-tube) lighting. It will not work well if you are using metal halide. I've used eggcrating with a t-5 fixture before. While I did not have a way to measure the effect on par, I would say that the light levels did not go down in the tank appreciably. I would guess that the effect on PAR is minimal. When comparing using glass tops with using eggcrating, I would definitely say that more light gets in with the eggcrating (especially when you factor in how quickly the glass gets dirty).

Stay away from the mirror finished eggcrate. The mirror-finish paint is likely to flake off into your tank. Who knows what it will do then.

Runfrumu · 09/13/2008, 04:59 PM

Eggcrate blocked a ton of light with my 150 HQI's. Try making the one with the screen door kit and hardware mesh. Theres a DIY thread somewhere. I made one last week and it blocks no light at all and will keep things from jumping out of your tank.

chevegan · 09/13/2008, 05:01 PM

I should have mentioned, I have a 6xT5 light setup.

reefergeorge · 09/13/2008, 06:01 PM

I don't know for par, but with the egg crate on my tank it lights up the entire room. When you take it off the room is much darker. I have the nova 4x54 t5.

nikon187 · 09/13/2008, 07:39 PM

+1 for the bird net window screen top. Its great and doesn't let light spill into the entire room, doesn't block any light and keeps fish in if small enough netting is used

jtma508 · 09/14/2008, 07:44 AM

I use eggcrate on the top of my tank and am only using PC lights at the moment. I don't notice any appeciable lessening of light into the tank.

chevegan · 09/14/2008, 09:37 AM

i placed it on last night. I see a very slight difference in the light to the very front and back of the tank. But nothing that will seem to matter. Especially considering the fact that before it was trying to penetrate through glass that gets stained consistently.

chadfarmer · 09/14/2008, 11:34 AM

flip it over and see if you like it better

Alastair · 09/14/2008, 04:44 PM

I used black koi filter grid as a cover on my tank for a while.. I used some thin clear acrylic whilst I had T5s but when I switch to the halides this couldn't take the heat.

There were two effects.

1. The overall illumination in the tank was vissibly reduced.
2. The shadows were dramatically increased, the ends of the tank received almost no light. It was very dramatic, but not beneficial for coral husbandary.

I switched to a glass top as soon as I could get it cut. To save hassle I had feeding holes drilled in the glass. To reduce salt creep I mounted the glass on dozens of rubber bumpers (the 2-3mm rubber feet sold for computer cases) to leave an air gap. Once every couple of weeks I rinse the glass in the shower.

This is the tank with the grid fitted.

As a halide it's a point light source, with T5 tubes ther shaddow effect will be less.

This is now quite an old pictures and my tank has moved on quite a bit since.

09/13/2008, 04:46 PM	#1
chevegan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado springs, co Posts: 1,614	Eggcrate on top of tank, effect on lighting I want to be rid of the glass on top of my tank to let in more light. Plus I'm Oh so tired of keeping them clean. Eggcrate is he best way to do that. I just wanted input as to whether or not it has any effect on par ratings. There is also the mirror finished eggcrate which in an office will actually increase light substantially. Any thoughts? __________________ Everything is copasetic. Reefing on a budget Current Tank Info: Do it right the first time, save up, spend where it counts OR end up another craigslist ad of money lost.--------Why is this hobby so damn expensive??!-------

09/13/2008, 04:56 PM	#2
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	First of all, eggcrate is only appropriate with fluorescent (ie long-tube) lighting. It will not work well if you are using metal halide. I've used eggcrating with a t-5 fixture before. While I did not have a way to measure the effect on par, I would say that the light levels did not go down in the tank appreciably. I would guess that the effect on PAR is minimal. When comparing using glass tops with using eggcrating, I would definitely say that more light gets in with the eggcrating (especially when you factor in how quickly the glass gets dirty). Stay away from the mirror finished eggcrate. The mirror-finish paint is likely to flake off into your tank. Who knows what it will do then. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

09/13/2008, 04:59 PM	#3
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	Eggcrate blocked a ton of light with my 150 HQI's. Try making the one with the screen door kit and hardware mesh. Theres a DIY thread somewhere. I made one last week and it blocks no light at all and will keep things from jumping out of your tank. __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

09/13/2008, 05:01 PM	#4
chevegan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado springs, co Posts: 1,614	I should have mentioned, I have a 6xT5 light setup. __________________ Everything is copasetic. Reefing on a budget Current Tank Info: Do it right the first time, save up, spend where it counts OR end up another craigslist ad of money lost.--------Why is this hobby so damn expensive??!-------

09/13/2008, 06:01 PM	#5
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I don't know for par, but with the egg crate on my tank it lights up the entire room. When you take it off the room is much darker. I have the nova 4x54 t5. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

09/13/2008, 07:39 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	+1 for the bird net window screen top. Its great and doesn't let light spill into the entire room, doesn't block any light and keeps fish in if small enough netting is used __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

09/14/2008, 07:44 AM	#7
jtma508 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,232	I use eggcrate on the top of my tank and am only using PC lights at the moment. I don't notice any appeciable lessening of light into the tank.

09/14/2008, 09:37 AM	#8
chevegan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado springs, co Posts: 1,614	i placed it on last night. I see a very slight difference in the light to the very front and back of the tank. But nothing that will seem to matter. Especially considering the fact that before it was trying to penetrate through glass that gets stained consistently. __________________ Everything is copasetic. Reefing on a budget Current Tank Info: Do it right the first time, save up, spend where it counts OR end up another craigslist ad of money lost.--------Why is this hobby so damn expensive??!-------

09/14/2008, 11:34 AM	#9
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	flip it over and see if you like it better __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

09/14/2008, 04:44 PM	#10
Alastair Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	I used black koi filter grid as a cover on my tank for a while.. I used some thin clear acrylic whilst I had T5s but when I switch to the halides this couldn't take the heat. There were two effects. 1. The overall illumination in the tank was vissibly reduced. 2. The shadows were dramatically increased, the ends of the tank received almost no light. It was very dramatic, but not beneficial for coral husbandary. I switched to a glass top as soon as I could get it cut. To save hassle I had feeding holes drilled in the glass. To reduce salt creep I mounted the glass on dozens of rubber bumpers (the 2-3mm rubber feet sold for computer cases) to leave an air gap. Once every couple of weeks I rinse the glass in the shower. This is the tank with the grid fitted. As a halide it's a point light source, with T5 tubes ther shaddow effect will be less. This is now quite an old pictures and my tank has moved on quite a bit since.