versa top vs. egg crate top

doox00 · 06/30/2006, 06:25 PM

Right now I have versa tops on my tank (glass lids) It gets salty and a film on it quickly.. plus the top of the tank is mostly sealed (have sump that is open) I clean the glass weekly to keep it clear, but was wondering if egg crate would be better on top then the glass. I need osmething over the top of the tank as I have lost one clown already who went carpet surfing.

will the egg crate hurt my lighting in the tank, I have 4x65 pc's on my 90g. I will be keeping some corals (ones I can keep with this lighting) in the future.

thanks

clsanchez77 · 06/30/2006, 06:35 PM

I dont think there will be much argument to remove the glass top so go ahead and do that. Best benifits is light will pass thorugh more freely and the tank will be able to 'breathe'.

I personally use egg-crate on mine. There are arguments both wasy about it. It allows the tank to breathe, keeps fish from jumping out and if installed properly (not upside down) will focus light downward. It also bounces light upward and prevents source lighting (MH & LED) from spreading horizontally. With PC lighting, its not an issue. I have MH and its not an issue for me, but it is for others.

I say egg-crate.

Chris

REMF · 06/30/2006, 06:42 PM

Second the EC motion by clsanchez77. Glass tops are a PITA.

crustin · 06/30/2006, 07:22 PM

get that glass outta there, now, lol (eggcrate is what i use)

Gluestick · 06/30/2006, 07:30 PM

Be prepared to top off EVERY day if you make the switch. I recently switched to an egg crate top from the versa top. I have a huge amount of evap every day from mine.

kevensquint · 06/30/2006, 08:16 PM

What does your canopy look like? I build my canopys, that are made so nothing can jump out yet there is lots of room over the water surface for gas exchange, evap. etc.. Maybe after seeing your top we can improve that, instead of wrecking your lighting with egg crate.

REMF · 06/30/2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gluestick
Be prepared to top off EVERY day if you make the switch. I recently switched to an egg crate top from the versa top. I have a huge amount of evap every day from mine.

What do you consider a huge amount? Also doox00 is running PC's, not near the heat as MH.

doox00 · 06/30/2006, 08:24 PM

I have to topoff every 2 days as of right now, lose a gallon a day I would guess.

Mike 1911A1 · 06/30/2006, 08:28 PM

Can someone please show me what eggcrate looks like. I have an open top with canopy and it seems to work fine. However, there is always the chance of someone going carpet surfing. I pic of egg crate would be great.

Mike

kevensquint · 06/30/2006, 08:30 PM

5 gallons a day in my 125. Thank god for the Tunze osmolator

doox00 · 06/30/2006, 08:36 PM

like this

http://www.astechplastics.ca/images/egg_crate.jpg

REMF · 06/30/2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevensquint
5 gallons a day in my 125. Thank god for the Tunze osmolator

WOW

that is indeed a TON. I don't think doox00 will have that prob though.

I loose about 1 gal a day on my 75g with my T-5ho's at about 3" off the water.

clsanchez77 · 06/30/2006, 10:18 PM

I have dual 150W-DE's on a 90 with egg-crate and I loose less than a gallon day, it is close to 5 gallons a week

Chris

clsanchez77 · 06/30/2006, 10:18 PM

BTW, the evaporation helps keep the tank cool, although I do not know how significant a difference it actually makes.

dous · 06/30/2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by REMF
Also doox00 is running PC's, not near the heat as MH.

I'm running PCs and I get about 1.5gal evap/day in my open top 55g. Still pretty considerable, I think.

wav3form · 06/30/2006, 10:55 PM

I have a 75 watt mh setup on my 10 gallon. Not a lot of heat generated. Depends on how close you have it to the water I suppose. Mine is about 6 inches suspended above.

sir_dudeguy · 06/30/2006, 11:05 PM

so do they have egg crate that has bigger square holes? allowing for more light to go thru? And so you guys dont think it affects pc lighting? cuz i just put a clown pair on hold but i got a wide open top...i dont want mine to go carpet surfing (well...tile i should say lol) either...i've got a 4x96 pc on there now.

MegaPods · 06/30/2006, 11:40 PM

i dont think it will reduce lighting at all

groovemcfly · 07/01/2006, 08:00 AM

eggcrate for sure

clsanchez77 · 07/01/2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

i dont think it will reduce lighting at all

There was a study done by/with Anthony Calfo on another board that I am not allowed to link to

What the study found was that with egg-crate, MH lighitng is significantly more intense directly under the fixture, as the egg-crate focues the light, and slightly dimmer in the areas not directly underneath as the egg-crate reduces light scatter. Also, because the egg-crate causes the light to focus downward and reduce scattering, less light 'leaves' the aquarium through the front and side glass. Overall, the light was brighter, but not significantly, or about the same.

Chris

sir_dudeguy · 07/01/2006, 08:37 AM

so would the same be true w/pc's? except they wouldnt be focuses on one spot since since they're long bulbs right? so i'm gonna go to home depot today.

Mike 1911A1 · 07/01/2006, 08:44 AM

The light may be more focused (lens effect of the holes in the eggcrate) but simple reasoning would suggest that the intensity MUST be less if you add anything below the bulbs.

Mike

sir_dudeguy · 07/01/2006, 09:23 AM

true true. Would it be significantly less? i've got 384 watts of pc over it, so would it only lower the intensity to the equivelent of say 370? Or would it be a more significant drop?

rickh · 07/01/2006, 02:54 PM

The egg crate is acting as an optical element to limit the illuminated area that is not directly below the source. You are taking a MH bulb that already has trouble covering an area wider than 24" and make the problem worse with the egg crate. Light drop off at the ends of the tank is even greater. R

sir_dudeguy · 07/01/2006, 06:16 PM

i'm guessing that wasnt directed to me since i have pc's, but how much does eggcrate usually cost by the way?

06/30/2006, 06:25 PM	#1
doox00 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 928	versa top vs. egg crate top Right now I have versa tops on my tank (glass lids) It gets salty and a film on it quickly.. plus the top of the tank is mostly sealed (have sump that is open) I clean the glass weekly to keep it clear, but was wondering if egg crate would be better on top then the glass. I need osmething over the top of the tank as I have lost one clown already who went carpet surfing. will the egg crate hurt my lighting in the tank, I have 4x65 pc's on my 90g. I will be keeping some corals (ones I can keep with this lighting) in the future. thanks

06/30/2006, 06:42 PM	#3
REMF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 669	Second the EC motion by clsanchez77. Glass tops are a PITA. __________________ Really honey, this will be the last thing I need for my reef. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, T5ho. 46 Gal bow FOWLR, 20 Gal L 250w mh reef.

06/30/2006, 07:22 PM	#4
crustin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ga. Posts: 470	get that glass outta there, now, lol (eggcrate is what i use) __________________ never give up Current Tank Info: 90g semi- reef

06/30/2006, 07:30 PM	#5
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Be prepared to top off EVERY day if you make the switch. I recently switched to an egg crate top from the versa top. I have a huge amount of evap every day from mine. __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

06/30/2006, 11:05 PM	#17
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	so do they have egg crate that has bigger square holes? allowing for more light to go thru? And so you guys dont think it affects pc lighting? cuz i just put a clown pair on hold but i got a wide open top...i dont want mine to go carpet surfing (well...tile i should say lol) either...i've got a 4x96 pc on there now. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

06/30/2006, 06:35 PM	#2
clsanchez77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 822	I dont think there will be much argument to remove the glass top so go ahead and do that. Best benifits is light will pass thorugh more freely and the tank will be able to 'breathe'. I personally use egg-crate on mine. There are arguments both wasy about it. It allows the tank to breathe, keeps fish from jumping out and if installed properly (not upside down) will focus light downward. It also bounces light upward and prevents source lighting (MH & LED) from spreading horizontally. With PC lighting, its not an issue. I have MH and its not an issue for me, but it is for others. I say egg-crate. Chris

06/30/2006, 08:16 PM	#6
kevensquint Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: new york Posts: 2,277	What does your canopy look like? I build my canopys, that are made so nothing can jump out yet there is lots of room over the water surface for gas exchange, evap. etc.. Maybe after seeing your top we can improve that, instead of wrecking your lighting with egg crate.

06/30/2006, 08:24 PM	#8
doox00 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 928	I have to topoff every 2 days as of right now, lose a gallon a day I would guess.

06/30/2006, 08:28 PM	#9
Mike 1911A1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 324	Can someone please show me what eggcrate looks like. I have an open top with canopy and it seems to work fine. However, there is always the chance of someone going carpet surfing. I pic of egg crate would be great. Mike

06/30/2006, 08:30 PM	#10
kevensquint Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: new york Posts: 2,277	5 gallons a day in my 125. Thank god for the Tunze osmolator

06/30/2006, 08:36 PM	#11
doox00 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 928	like this http://www.astechplastics.ca/images/egg_crate.jpg

06/30/2006, 10:18 PM	#13
clsanchez77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 822	I have dual 150W-DE's on a 90 with egg-crate and I loose less than a gallon day, it is close to 5 gallons a week Chris

06/30/2006, 10:55 PM	#16
wav3form Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 288	I have a 75 watt mh setup on my 10 gallon. Not a lot of heat generated. Depends on how close you have it to the water I suppose. Mine is about 6 inches suspended above.

06/30/2006, 11:40 PM	#18
MegaPods Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nitro WV Posts: 51	i dont think it will reduce lighting at all

07/01/2006, 08:00 AM	#19
groovemcfly Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 225	eggcrate for sure

07/01/2006, 08:37 AM	#21
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	so would the same be true w/pc's? except they wouldnt be focuses on one spot since since they're long bulbs right? so i'm gonna go to home depot today. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/01/2006, 08:44 AM	#22
Mike 1911A1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 324	The light may be more focused (lens effect of the holes in the eggcrate) but simple reasoning would suggest that the intensity MUST be less if you add anything below the bulbs. Mike

07/01/2006, 09:23 AM	#23
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	true true. Would it be significantly less? i've got 384 watts of pc over it, so would it only lower the intensity to the equivelent of say 370? Or would it be a more significant drop? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/01/2006, 02:54 PM	#24
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	The egg crate is acting as an optical element to limit the illuminated area that is not directly below the source. You are taking a MH bulb that already has trouble covering an area wider than 24" and make the problem worse with the egg crate. Light drop off at the ends of the tank is even greater. R

07/01/2006, 06:16 PM	#25
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	i'm guessing that wasnt directed to me since i have pc's, but how much does eggcrate usually cost by the way? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!