Which way to set egg crate?

cracker · 03-19-2008, 03:38 PM

I understand eggcrate is designed to concentrate light or diffuse light depending on which side is set up or down. You can see where it's thinner on one side & thicker on the other. I have tried it both ways & personally can't see any difference. Which side up?

framerguy · 03-19-2008, 04:07 PM

Hmmm, that's a new one on me! I can't imagine it would make enough difference to worry about but am interested in other answers here.

vdituri · 03-19-2008, 04:11 PM

I would say narrow side up if it would make much of a difference at all.
If each square is slightly funnel shaped this should help funnel the light down into the tank and offer the smallest surface area to reflect the light.

. ||||||| <- light waves

. |||||||

. / \ / \ <- over exaggerated eggrate cross section.

CREEPIN · 03-19-2008, 04:18 PM

i think it should be like this....no?
|||||||||||
|||||||||||

VVVVVVVV

i donno i'm a noob!

naperenterprise · 03-19-2008, 04:24 PM

-------
-------

<><><>

Its like this...

Just kiddin.
This is an interesting point, I was wondering if the egg crate would be a problem for coral life living underneath myself.

Interesting question... Glad you brought it up before I built mine.

cracker · 03-19-2008, 04:41 PM

Thanks for the opinions everybody. It really can't make that BIG of a difference. It's easy for me to put too much thought into some things! LOL

CREEPIN · 03-19-2008, 04:42 PM

dont put it?

cracker · 03-19-2008, 05:04 PM

I think, no matter which side up, eggcrate will cut back on the lighting. I just wondered which was less. A little loss of intensity is a small tradeoff compared to finding a fish stuck to the floor. Now Woodstock's "Cage over the hood" is the best alternative I've seen but not practical for my setup. So eggcrate it is for the time being! Ok I've heard of fish actually managing to jump thru the tiny 1/2" squares of eggcrate. I for one am sceptical of this!

proverbs308 · 03-24-2008, 08:17 PM

I have two firefish in my tank that have managed to jump thru my egg crates but have been unsuccessful in staying out. They just fall back in. My guess is that they hit enough of the crate on their jump that they don't make it far. It does help.

Dentoid · 03-24-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cracker

I think, no matter which side up, eggcrate will cut back on the lighting. I just wondered which was less. A little loss of intensity is a small tradeoff compared to finding a fish stuck to the floor. Now Woodstock's "Cage over the hood" is the best alternative I've seen but not practical for my setup. So eggcrate it is for the time being! Ok I've heard of fish actually managing to jump thru the tiny 1/2" squares of eggcrate. I for one am sceptical of this!

I really don't think it matters which side is up. However, I'm here to tell you that fish can and will jump through the egg crate. I witnessed my BS jawfish jump through and end up on the floor.

Varga · 03-24-2008, 08:44 PM

supposedly, narrow side up will spread the light beams, narrow side down does the opposite.

slakker · 03-24-2008, 10:19 PM

I think this type of "egg crate" is called a shallow dish parabolic lens. Not very common for the cheap stuff you get from HD and other box stores, and the thin side goes down.

03-19-2008, 03:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Which way to set egg crate? I understand eggcrate is designed to concentrate light or diffuse light depending on which side is set up or down. You can see where it's thinner on one side & thicker on the other. I have tried it both ways & personally can't see any difference. Which side up?

03-19-2008, 04:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Which way to set egg crate? Hmmm, that's a new one on me! I can't imagine it would make enough difference to worry about but am interested in other answers here. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 390gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 150g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

03-19-2008, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,641 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Which way to set egg crate? I would say narrow side up if it would make much of a difference at all. If each square is slightly funnel shaped this should help funnel the light down into the tank and offer the smallest surface area to reflect the light. . \|\|\|\|\|\|\| <- light waves . \|\|\|\|\|\|\| . / \ / \ <- over exaggerated eggrate cross section. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

03-19-2008, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
CREEPIN Cabbage Leather Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami FL Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? i think it should be like this....no? \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\| \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\| VVVVVVVV i donno i'm a noob! __________________ Bio-Cube 14gal +Oceanic Protien Skimmer +36w 50/50 +hydro 1 power head +small Heater +chaeto -filter cartridge starting my 65 build (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination.

03-19-2008, 04:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
naperenterprise Plate Coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 795 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Which way to set egg crate? ------- ------- <><><> Its like this... Just kiddin. This is an interesting point, I was wondering if the egg crate would be a problem for coral life living underneath myself. Interesting question... Glad you brought it up before I built mine. __________________ ~~~Jason~~~ Go check out My Chronicle

03-19-2008, 04:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? Thanks for the opinions everybody. It really can't make that BIG of a difference. It's easy for me to put too much thought into some things! LOL

03-19-2008, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
CREEPIN Cabbage Leather Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami FL Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? dont put it? __________________ Bio-Cube 14gal +Oceanic Protien Skimmer +36w 50/50 +hydro 1 power head +small Heater +chaeto -filter cartridge starting my 65 build (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination.

03-19-2008, 05:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? I think, no matter which side up, eggcrate will cut back on the lighting. I just wondered which was less. A little loss of intensity is a small tradeoff compared to finding a fish stuck to the floor. Now Woodstock's "Cage over the hood" is the best alternative I've seen but not practical for my setup. So eggcrate it is for the time being! Ok I've heard of fish actually managing to jump thru the tiny 1/2" squares of eggcrate. I for one am sceptical of this!

03-24-2008, 08:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
proverbs308 Tunicate Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Springfield, OR Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? I have two firefish in my tank that have managed to jump thru my egg crates but have been unsuccessful in staying out. They just fall back in. My guess is that they hit enough of the crate on their jump that they don't make it far. It does help. __________________ Joel ---------------------------------------------------- 55 gallon Tank 15 gallon Sump 50 lb Live Rock 45 lb Aragonite Sand Livestock: Hermit crabs 2x clowns 2x firefish 1x Royal Gramma 1x Orange spotted goby 1x Lawnmower blenny

03-24-2008, 08:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Varga Acropora Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,710 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Which way to set egg crate? supposedly, narrow side up will spread the light beams, narrow side down does the opposite.

03-24-2008, 10:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
slakker Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Which way to set egg crate? I think this type of "egg crate" is called a shallow dish parabolic lens. Not very common for the cheap stuff you get from HD and other box stores, and the thin side goes down.

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