Tank cover ideas
 

I currently have eggcrate but it's sitting up above my main lights and partly supports my actinic lights. Every time I need to do anything in the tank I have to move it. I have it in sections but because it's holding the actinic's and is cut so the MH's hang through it's a PITA cause I can't move it all. I would like something I can place on top of the tank rather than on the canopy. I did try eggcrate before but found it blocks to much light. There was a thread a while ago about some sort of mesh with a screen door frame? I searched but couldn't find it. Anyway I'm looking for something that can just sit on the bracing of the tank and therefore be easily moved. I have euro bracing and a center brace so what ever I do will be in 2 sections. The tank is 60 inches long and 24 inches wide but because of the center brace I could have two 24x24ish covers that sit on the glass of the bracing.

Thanks for any idea's

Now that's a great idea.

Any idea if we have the bird netting at HD?

Cheers,
Vic

bought pretty much the same (was green) for my peas at HD

I have a question regarding the garden netting. If a fish is a jumper, might he not get hooked on the garden netting?

Guess would depend on the size of the fish if the stuff turns into a gill-net. Never used the garden netting on a tank but was about 1/2x1/2" similiar to eggcrateing

I'll check out HD and Rona on the weekend. I was at totem but they didn't have anything. I'll post if I find somethng.

Thanks for the link Mark. :)

Any luck finding the mesh?

Cheers,
Vic

I found some black plastic 'garden mesh' but I don't know if it could take the heat. I also found some galvanized metal mesh. Both are 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. I haven't bought anything yet.

Hmm, this gives me an idea, for those with some patience & lots of time on their hands. Remember the old chairs with 'caned' seating surfaces? How about a wooden frame with holes drilled all along it, then use monofilament fishing line to weave your own mesh?? It's about as clear as any other material you're going to get. Just not sure about the heat issue though.. Maybe one could use 'catgut', the stuff used to string tennis rackets...

Well I have myself a tank cover now. I did find some metal mesh with 1/2" by 1/2" squares. I think it was called garden mesh. I made a wooden frame and then attached it. Turned out pretty good and worked fine but I found it was too bulky. Then I found some reflective eggcrate at HD. I bought a sheet (kind pricey) and trimmed it down into to separate covers (one for left and one for right, they sit on the center brace and tank trim). If there is any light being blocked it's not much. Here is a pic of one after it was trimmed to the right size,

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...2/IMG_1515.jpg

Reflective meaning the eggcrate is nice and metallic and shiny? If so, I seen that stuff too but wasn't sure about it. Does this reflective eggcrate block less light than the normal stuff??

Or am I just totally out to lunch here and thinking of something else I seen at HD?

Yeah that's the stuff. IMO it blocks way less light than regular eggcrate. Or rather reflects the light into the tank. I can see no visual difference with this eggcrate on or off. The tank looks the same either way to me.

Do a Google search and you will find pond netting for a reasonable price and quantity.

It's black 1/4 inch weave and UV stabilized.

Cheers,
Vic