Light transmission friendly lid or top?

[anen]

I'm starting a new tank and I just ordered an ATI Sunpower. I'm planning my stocking list right now, and many of the fish I want to get are recommended to be kept with a cover on the tank. What is the most effective way from preventing jumps without obstructing too much light?

 

[MikeyZO]

Get the eggcrate and use that. Will serve several purposes... keeps the fish in the tank, allows for maximum light transmittence, and keeps the tank cooler by allowing evaporation. Home depot sells it... its actually called light diffuser. The stuff they use on the ceilings of elevators and some flourescent light fixtures. A lot of us here use it.

 

[anen]

I was worried that it would block a lot of light coming into the tank but it seems like my best option so far.

Get the eggcrate and use that. Will serve several purposes... keeps the fish in the tank, allows for maximum light transmittence, and keeps the tank cooler by allowing evaporation. Home depot sells it... its actually called light diffuser. The stuff they use on the ceilings of elevators and some flourescent light fixtures. A lot of us here use it.

 

[seascape]

made mine out of screen frame and 1/4" plastic screen blocked no light egg crate blocked out lite.

 

[albano]

egg crate blocked out lite.

+1 get plastic pond netting/screen...Home depot, foster and smith

 

[SevTT]

+1 get plastic pond netting/screen...Home depot, foster and smith

+2. Make a frame and use that netting that they use to keep birds off fruit bushes and such. Eggcrate drastically reduces the amount of light that reaches the water.

 

[anen]

I'm going to put me together a screen with the pond netting, thanks guys.

 

[aaron]

I am a little confused about these answers that have been given so far.
I cannot believe that opaque plastic egg crate or mesh is going to block less light than clear 1/8" glass. Given that they are both made of opaque material and block 100% of the light where ever the material is.
I mean look at what the eggcrate is marketed as - Light Diffuser
and mesh would be quite similar to SHADE cloth.
Given that quite a few MH lights have glass covers over the bulbs wouldnt this be the same thing, just a bit further away.
I understand if you are going for these other options to increase gas exchange or promote evaporation, but saying they do not block light seems a little far fetched.

 

[SevTT]

I am a little confused about these answers that have been given so far.
I cannot believe that opaque plastic egg crate or mesh is going to block less light than clear 1/8" glass. Given that they are both made of opaque material and block 100% of the light where ever the material is.
I mean look at what the eggcrate is marketed as - Light Diffuser
and mesh would be quite similar to SHADE cloth.
Given that quite a few MH lights have glass covers over the bulbs wouldnt this be the same thing, just a bit further away.
I understand if you are going for these other options to increase gas exchange or promote evaporation, but saying they do not block light seems a little far fetched.

Simple. 1/8" glass blocks a lot of UV and near-UV light -- upwards of 90%. Bird mesh coverage is about ... I dunno, 1%-2% and blocks all wavelengths equally. Egg crate probably blocks about 10% of the light if you're right under it, but blocks even more as you get further off-angle from the light source; I'd say as much as 20% or more.

As far as glass over MH -- yes, this blocks a lot of light, but MH units produce a lot of UV and near-UV light. Too much, actually; they're designed to have that blockage in effect. It's also better to block the light with glass close to the source than further away; you'll lose less effective light because of the inverse-square law and refraction. And you definitely don't want to put glass between weaker light sources like T5s and the tank.

Of course, you could just build a hood; that's what I did, and there's nothing but air twixt the sea and the sun -- or at least, the T5s.

 

[chinatown]

light difussers. 2 x 4 costs $11 at home depot.

 

[albano]

light difussers.

light diffusers=eggcrate, one and the same

 

[Awibrandy]

Build a canopy with fans in both ends, open top for your light fixture! If nicely built, it will just finish off your tank beautifully, and keeps your fish in where they're suppose to be. Don't forget to cover the tops of your overflows.

 

[albano]

Build a canopy...keeps your fish in where they're suppose to be.

Sort of true!?...not all tanks are completely open on top, many (especially acrylic) have perimeter bracing, and center supports...jumping fish can land on these areas, and be left 'high and dry', & slow 'baked' by the lights...for these tanks, net covers is the way to go!

 

[Awibrandy]

Sort of true!?...not all tanks are completely open on top, many (especially acrylic) have perimeter bracing, and center supports...jumping fish can land on these areas, and be left 'high and dry', & slow 'baked' by the lights...for these tanks, net covers is the way to go!

Ooooooooops, keep forgetting about those tanks with the pesky bracing all around. Hey wait my bow front has the center bracing. Haven't had an issue thank God... Did have issues with them going in the overflows.:irked: