Covering Tanks

Greg129 · 05/23/2006, 08:52 AM

I have 4 glass lids that when all put on the tank, cover 100% of the top of tank. I'd like to put at least 2 of the glass lids on the tank so I don't worry as much about the Clowns jumping out. With two lids, the top of the tank is about 50 - 60% covered. Will this still allow good air flow? I heard that if I tank is fully covered, the pH will drop. With 60% of the tank covered, do I need to worry about pH drop? Should I just go with eggcrate?

Greg129 · 05/23/2006, 09:35 AM

bump.

Kaiser Tang · 05/23/2006, 09:55 AM

Don't over cover with glass at all. Glass tops trap in heat and prevent gas exchange. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get "eggcrate" It's in the lighting department. It's what they put under lights. I'll find a pic and post.

Greg129 · 05/23/2006, 10:28 AM

I actually went to Home Depot and bought what I thought was eggcrate. Turns out it wasn't. Pics would help. Thanks.

Kaiser Tang · 05/23/2006, 10:49 AM

If I were at home, I would just take a pic of the panel that I bought the other day and post, but....I'm at work surfing. Anyway, it's hard to find a good pic. Here's a website with the stuff. Basically, it is white plastic grid that comes in a 2'x4' sheet.

eggcrate

Travis L. Stevens · 05/23/2006, 10:54 AM

This is the stuff that you want.

Light Diffuser (AKA Egg Crate)

This is not the stuff you want

:

Foam Padding (AKA Egg Crate)

yoboyjdizz · 05/23/2006, 12:33 PM

I heard of people using the material from a screendoor? anybody have any info on this?

Travis L. Stevens · 05/23/2006, 12:52 PM

Yes. People do use that. But it cuts a lot of light out. The light diffuser has two sides though. one diffuses the light and the other one focuses it.

reefgeek84 · 05/23/2006, 01:03 PM

Fish can still jump through egg crate.

Travis L. Stevens · 05/23/2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefgeek84
Fish can still jump through egg crate.

True. But it beats a closed glass lid.

Benny Z · 05/23/2006, 01:59 PM

i made my canopy to be completely enclosed except for a 1" gap at the top back of the canopy to allow hot air out (i use a fan to blow cool air in). i'm keeping a firefish, a flasher wrasse, and another fairy wrasse...all of which are jumpers.

no problems so far.

beaker5 · 05/29/2006, 01:01 AM

How large are the gaps in the egg crate? I can't picture a fish going through it. Unless it is a small clown goby, or something to that effect.

Mark426 · 05/29/2006, 06:22 AM

5/8"

Nitroq2 · 05/29/2006, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
The light diffuser has two sides though. one diffuses the light and the other one focuses it.

Travis by reading that I am thinking that I should be using one side over the other any way to know which side is better? Looking at mine they look exactly then same.
Thanks
Allen

beefcake · 05/29/2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Greg129
I heard that if I tank is fully covered, the pH will drop. With 60% of the tank covered, do I need to worry about pH drop?

Hmm, I have never heard that. Although it would explain why my Ph is always low since I have about 90% of my top covered in glass. I will be removing the glass top next week when I upgrade my lighting.

goda · 05/29/2006, 12:12 PM

i have my tank covered almost 100 percent ( gap inback to allow pipes and such)

no heat probloms no nothing.
but then again... i have a flow / high turbulance sump that helps keep it cool

Rtankster · 03/21/2007, 05:54 AM

I've seen some using this mesh successfully.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=817485

saltydude · 03/21/2007, 06:01 AM

Does the eggcrate have a light diffuser as well? I just put some on last night because my clown is into xtreme tank jumping AKA carpet surfing etc..

Tang Salad · 03/21/2007, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Greg129
I'd like to put at least 2 of the glass lids on the tank so I don't worry as much about the Clowns jumping out.

Clowns very rarely, if ever, jump. If that's all you're worried about, I'd say forget the cover.

saltydude · 03/21/2007, 07:20 AM

My perc has jumped twice, once I had to get him out of my bio balls which are in my overflow to muffle noice.

pgammon · 03/21/2007, 07:39 AM

My Perc also jumped twice, 2nd time with a not so good outcome.

Tang Salad · 03/21/2007, 11:54 AM

Wow, go figure. You guys must have small, shallow or rowdy tanks, otherwise your two percs were cousins.

There is a list of fish that are known to jump, and clowns aren't near the top, AFAIK.

05/23/2006, 08:52 AM	#1
Greg129 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 687	Covering Tanks I have 4 glass lids that when all put on the tank, cover 100% of the top of tank. I'd like to put at least 2 of the glass lids on the tank so I don't worry as much about the Clowns jumping out. With two lids, the top of the tank is about 50 - 60% covered. Will this still allow good air flow? I heard that if I tank is fully covered, the pH will drop. With 60% of the tank covered, do I need to worry about pH drop? Should I just go with eggcrate? __________________ 65 gallon Glass (36" x 18" x 24") -36" 2x96W Coralife Aqualight CF hood -Remora Pro Protein Skimmer -3x Maxijet 1200 Powerheads -2x False Perculas -1x Melanurus Wrasse -1x Coral Beauty Angelfish -1x Yellow Tang -1x Red Firefish -1x Purple Pin Cushion Urchin -1x Leather Coral

05/23/2006, 09:35 AM	#2
Greg129 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 687	bump. __________________ 65 gallon Glass (36" x 18" x 24") -36" 2x96W Coralife Aqualight CF hood -Remora Pro Protein Skimmer -3x Maxijet 1200 Powerheads -2x False Perculas -1x Melanurus Wrasse -1x Coral Beauty Angelfish -1x Yellow Tang -1x Red Firefish -1x Purple Pin Cushion Urchin -1x Leather Coral

05/23/2006, 09:55 AM	#3
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Don't over cover with glass at all. Glass tops trap in heat and prevent gas exchange. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get "eggcrate" It's in the lighting department. It's what they put under lights. I'll find a pic and post. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/23/2006, 10:28 AM	#4
Greg129 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 687	I actually went to Home Depot and bought what I thought was eggcrate. Turns out it wasn't. Pics would help. Thanks. __________________ 65 gallon Glass (36" x 18" x 24") -36" 2x96W Coralife Aqualight CF hood -Remora Pro Protein Skimmer -3x Maxijet 1200 Powerheads -2x False Perculas -1x Melanurus Wrasse -1x Coral Beauty Angelfish -1x Yellow Tang -1x Red Firefish -1x Purple Pin Cushion Urchin -1x Leather Coral

05/23/2006, 10:49 AM	#5
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	If I were at home, I would just take a pic of the panel that I bought the other day and post, but....I'm at work surfing. Anyway, it's hard to find a good pic. Here's a website with the stuff. Basically, it is white plastic grid that comes in a 2'x4' sheet. eggcrate __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/23/2006, 10:54 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	This is the stuff that you want. Light Diffuser (AKA Egg Crate) This is not the stuff you want : Foam Padding (AKA Egg Crate) __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/23/2006, 12:33 PM	#7
yoboyjdizz Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 3,137	I heard of people using the material from a screendoor? anybody have any info on this?

05/23/2006, 12:52 PM	#8
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Yes. People do use that. But it cuts a lot of light out. The light diffuser has two sides though. one diffuses the light and the other one focuses it. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/23/2006, 01:03 PM	#9
reefgeek84 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portlan, OR Posts: 997	Fish can still jump through egg crate.

05/23/2006, 01:59 PM	#11
Benny Z Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: bloomington, il Posts: 2,246	i made my canopy to be completely enclosed except for a 1" gap at the top back of the canopy to allow hot air out (i use a fan to blow cool air in). i'm keeping a firefish, a flasher wrasse, and another fairy wrasse...all of which are jumpers. no problems so far.

05/29/2006, 01:01 AM	#12
beaker5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 67	How large are the gaps in the egg crate? I can't picture a fish going through it. Unless it is a small clown goby, or something to that effect.

05/29/2006, 06:22 AM	#13
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	5/8"

05/29/2006, 12:12 PM	#16
goda Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: fortlauderdale florida area Posts: 1,874	i have my tank covered almost 100 percent ( gap inback to allow pipes and such) no heat probloms no nothing. but then again... i have a flow / high turbulance sump that helps keep it cool

03/21/2007, 05:54 AM	#17
Rtankster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 196	I've seen some using this mesh successfully. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=817485

03/21/2007, 06:01 AM	#18
saltydude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 312	Does the eggcrate have a light diffuser as well? I just put some on last night because my clown is into xtreme tank jumping AKA carpet surfing etc..

03/21/2007, 07:20 AM	#20
saltydude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 312	My perc has jumped twice, once I had to get him out of my bio balls which are in my overflow to muffle noice.

03/21/2007, 07:39 AM	#21
pgammon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Eastover, SC Posts: 282	My Perc also jumped twice, 2nd time with a not so good outcome.

03/21/2007, 11:54 AM	#22
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Wow, go figure. You guys must have small, shallow or rowdy tanks, otherwise your two percs were cousins. There is a list of fish that are known to jump, and clowns aren't near the top, AFAIK. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS