Lid/Canopy for Aquarium

F355GTB · 11-20-2003, 02:15 PM

Hi everyone, I was wondering what is most commonly used for the top of the aquarium, one of those glass, hinged lids or egg crate? I have a MH & PC pendant for the aquarium I am in the process of setting up and want to know if egg crate will cast any shadows or not allow enough light through to the tank. Thanks for any input!

John

Scooterman · 11-20-2003, 02:38 PM

One day I'm going to have to take a photo of my top!
I got eggcrate from HD and I sat in a chair over a basket & cut out the centers of each square, leaving room for light to shine through & still enough to keep fish inside! With eggcrate like it is, I saw lots of light being blocked.

wooddood · 11-20-2003, 02:39 PM

alot of people use egg crate with no problems,mine is topless now but i might be using it soon.i found 1 of my barred gobys thats been missing on the floor behind my tank yesterday.hth.

Icebox · 11-20-2003, 02:41 PM

Most of the tanks I haev seen only have the canopy sitting on top of the edges of the tank. there is nothing seperating the water from the bulbs. for this reason you want to make sure that there is 4-6 inches between the water and VHO lamps and closer to 8 inches for MH bulbs.

Eggcrate will hlp keep fish in. Not sure if it would cast shadows, but it will keep light from going diagonally, and will therefore make the corners darker.

F355GTB · 11-20-2003, 02:43 PM

Thanks for the reply. I really don't want to keep it open & I don't want a fish to get out either. I will use the eggcrate.

John

F355GTB · 11-20-2003, 02:45 PM

Thanks Icebox. I really don't like the idea of it being completely open, but I also want as much light to get in as possible... Hmm this is a dilemma.

Scooterman · 11-20-2003, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Icebox
. Not sure if it would cast shadows, but it will keep light from going diagonally, and will therefore make the corners darker.

Not so true if you cut the crate like I said.

Icebox · 11-20-2003, 02:52 PM

i lost a sandsifting goby at one point through my hood. I had left 3 inches in the back for Misc pipes, cords... Well he found his way through it. who would have thought that a sand sifting fish was a jumper. My plans for my second hood was to build a bit more of a lip and make sure that the hood enclosed the whole tank. An opening of a tank could be modified velcroing or glueing a piece of plastic onto the hood and connecting it to the tank which should keep any jumpers from getting out.

Anythought on a suicide hotline? Maybe that would keep any fish who is thinking about it from jumping?

F355GTB · 11-20-2003, 02:54 PM

Not sure if I follow you Scooterman... after you cut out the centers, did it just make the squares larger? If that's what you mean, then I understand & it makes perfect sense. Thanks for all of your help!

John

Icebox · 11-20-2003, 02:54 PM

Hey scooterman,

When you cut it did you just make the holes go longways. So you have big long rectangles going the length of the tank?

If you do not modify it in some way it would effect your light. With modifications you can get it to minimize the neg effect.

Scooterman · 11-20-2003, 02:55 PM

Every Wrasse I've had at one time or another Jumped!
Even through the cut eggcrate it has happened once but it still works for the most part! Usually fish jump when frightened like something at night wakes them.

Icebox · 11-20-2003, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooterman
Usually fish jump when frightened like something at night wakes them.

Interesting... Thanks for the info.

All I knew was that I had him and then I did not. 3 weeks later I found him while I was cleaning.

Scooterman · 11-20-2003, 03:05 PM

Like this

F355GTB · 11-20-2003, 03:09 PM

Gotcha... I figured that's what you meant... looks like I have some work to do

Scooterman · 11-20-2003, 03:17 PM

Autocad helps asides work sometimes lol!

Light will be to some degree blocked but I spent time checking it out & the little I saw wasn't enough to not use it. Now if I had a higher lip all around, then yes I'd take it off. I usually leave the hood open all day when I'm not there, helps cool things down!

11-20-2003, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Lid/Canopy for Aquarium Hi everyone, I was wondering what is most commonly used for the top of the aquarium, one of those glass, hinged lids or egg crate? I have a MH & PC pendant for the aquarium I am in the process of setting up and want to know if egg crate will cast any shadows or not allow enough light through to the tank. Thanks for any input! John

11-20-2003, 02:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,184 View Gallery Karma Komment	One day I'm going to have to take a photo of my top! I got eggcrate from HD and I sat in a chair over a basket & cut out the centers of each square, leaving room for light to shine through & still enough to keep fish inside! With eggcrate like it is, I saw lots of light being blocked. __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

11-20-2003, 02:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	alot of people use egg crate with no problems,mine is topless now but i might be using it soon.i found 1 of my barred gobys thats been missing on the floor behind my tank yesterday.hth. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

11-20-2003, 02:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	Most of the tanks I haev seen only have the canopy sitting on top of the edges of the tank. there is nothing seperating the water from the bulbs. for this reason you want to make sure that there is 4-6 inches between the water and VHO lamps and closer to 8 inches for MH bulbs. Eggcrate will hlp keep fish in. Not sure if it would cast shadows, but it will keep light from going diagonally, and will therefore make the corners darker. __________________ Mike

11-20-2003, 02:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	i lost a sandsifting goby at one point through my hood. I had left 3 inches in the back for Misc pipes, cords... Well he found his way through it. who would have thought that a sand sifting fish was a jumper. My plans for my second hood was to build a bit more of a lip and make sure that the hood enclosed the whole tank. An opening of a tank could be modified velcroing or glueing a piece of plastic onto the hood and connecting it to the tank which should keep any jumpers from getting out. Anythought on a suicide hotline? Maybe that would keep any fish who is thinking about it from jumping? __________________ Mike

11-20-2003, 02:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the reply. I really don't want to keep it open & I don't want a fish to get out either. I will use the eggcrate. John

11-20-2003, 02:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Icebox. I really don't like the idea of it being completely open, but I also want as much light to get in as possible... Hmm this is a dilemma.

11-20-2003, 02:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Not sure if I follow you Scooterman... after you cut out the centers, did it just make the squares larger? If that's what you mean, then I understand & it makes perfect sense. Thanks for all of your help! John

11-20-2003, 02:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey scooterman, When you cut it did you just make the holes go longways. So you have big long rectangles going the length of the tank? If you do not modify it in some way it would effect your light. With modifications you can get it to minimize the neg effect. __________________ Mike

11-20-2003, 02:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,184 View Gallery Karma Komment	Every Wrasse I've had at one time or another Jumped! Even through the cut eggcrate it has happened once but it still works for the most part! Usually fish jump when frightened like something at night wakes them. __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

11-20-2003, 03:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Gotcha... I figured that's what you meant... looks like I have some work to do

11-20-2003, 03:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,184 View Gallery Karma Komment	Autocad helps asides work sometimes lol! Light will be to some degree blocked but I spent time checking it out & the little I saw wasn't enough to not use it. Now if I had a higher lip all around, then yes I'd take it off. I usually leave the hood open all day when I'm not there, helps cool things down! __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)