Opinion on Egg Crate.

[SWaquariast]

I am buying some egg crate from Menards. I am using it for a gaurd for my open top so my fish don'y jump out.

Should I get the plastic ones or the metal ones.

[discocarp]

Plastic absolutely. However, you should be aware that eggcrate alone won't stop some fish. Smaller fish will jump right through the holes.

[areze]

come on now, metal wont work lol

weigh it down if you have big fish.

[SWaquariast]

Thanks.
I have 2 ocellaris clowns, and a 6 line wrasse.

[cd77]

Six-line wrasses can be sneaky little devils. If this is for one of your 20G tanks and heat isn't an issue, you may want to consider just throwing a standard glass cover on it.

[SWaquariast]

I all ready have a glass cover but the salt stained it white. Plus my LFS said something about my aquarium not getting enough gas exchange. But the egg crate allows more light through.

[cd77]

Nylon mesh would be another suggestion then. I think many reptile covers use this; though I believe most are framed using a metal such as aluminum -- I'm sure over time it will probably rust, and I have no clue if it will block a significant amount of light. Keep researching though; hopefully others will have suggestions. My first six line wrasse got out of a glass cover -- apparently I left too much wiggle room when I made cuts in the plastic guard to accommodate cords.

[davocean]

I'm sure the eggcrate openings are small enough to contain a sixline, and yes, better temp and gas exchange.
Plastic.

[Tswifty]

There's a thread on here where a reefer made one out of mesh netting I think. Used 2 layers to offset the holes, and it didn't block light or cast shadows.

Hopefully someone can provide you with the link.

[sk8rreefgeek]

Seems like I'm the only one, but when I tried the eggcrate, the square shadows from the LEDs at night really bugged me. I love looking at my tank at night in the peace and quiet.
So, I built a canopy. there are walls, and my light, blocking jumpers
plus you have to fool around with the crate all the time for feeding and whatnot.
So.. my opinion on the stuff is not that great. Great for frag shelves and other uses. and before anyone asks, the thinner side should face up lol

[will16]

Egg crate will not stop jumpers. I have had fish that I swear could not fit jump out.

[Sk8r]

Bird netting from the garden shop---fixed to frame.

If you want to go whole hog, make a lightweight hollow, open top box of the same dimensions of the OUTside of your tank rim, with 1x1's glued downward like interior legs, so the box sits down over your rim and the legs, 1" shorter than box, rest on the rim top. Make it 9" wide, open topped, and your light kit can sit atop at perfect spacing from water surface. Paint to match tank. I have yet to meet the fish that can clear a 9" barrier.

[will16]

Originally posted by Sk8r
Bird netting from the garden shop---fixed to frame.

Actually that is what I am doing now after the egg crate. Unfortunately, does not stop them either. Just had one jump through yesterday If you double up the netting would probably work but would block more light than i would want.

[discocarp]

Eggcrate will not stop a 6 line wrasse from jumping out.

This is what I am going to run along the back of my canopy soon (the 1/8"):

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...less/netting/0

I don't think its a good solution for an open top tank though. I imagine it would block a lot of light.

[Otto2]

Has anyone tried fiberglass window screen? I know nothing would be able to jump through that, but I wonder how much light it would block.

[discocarp]

It would be easily attached to eggcrate as a top, but would block a lot of light.

[livingstone]

Originally posted by will16
Actually that is what I am doing now after the egg crate. Unfortunately, does not stop them either. Just had one jump through yesterday If you double up the netting would probably work but would block more light than i would want.

How does light get blocked from around the outside rim of the tank?

[will16]

Originally posted by livingstone
How does light get blocked from around the outside rim of the tank?

Not sure I understand your question. I meant that if you make a screen with 2 layers of the birdnetting offset a little bit and place that on top of your tank opening, that would block more light.

[livingstone]

Originally posted by will16
Not sure I understand your question. I meant that if you make a screen with 2 layers of the birdnetting offset a little bit and place that on top of your tank opening, that would block more light.

Yes, I'm sure it would. It appeared, though, that you were quoting Sk8r who was advocating kind of a netting fence that wouldn't block the light at all.

[will16]

Originally posted by livingstone
Yes, I'm sure it would. It appeared, though, that you were quoting Sk8r who was advocating kind of a netting fence that wouldn't block the light at all.

Oh I was quoting just the first part of his post before the netting fence. Sorry for the confusion.

[sk8rreefgeek]

mo-fos on lockdown

[reefergeorge]

Originally posted by sk8rreefgeek
and before anyone asks, the thinner side should face up lol

There's a thin side???

[Slakker]

I thought the thin side went down...

I can't tell the difference on mine anyways.

[sk8rreefgeek]

they're made for spreading light out. but if you wanted to focus the light in, the thinner side would be up.

Personally, I don't think it's going to matter, just an ongoing thing lol

[snorvich]

Well egg crate will NOT keep very many fish in. Most wrasses, including a six line, will go right through it without even working hard. Bradleyj had an elegant solution that will work.