Lighting through a glass top?

Matt · #1 04-15-2008, 07:26 PM

Fish do jump, and many people have canopies or egg crate over their tank. Both those options allow for fairly open (sometimes fan-assisted) air flow. Putting glass over it will trap heat and limit oxygen exchange, and that's not so good. In addition, the salt splash and evap/condensation will (I'm guessing) make the glass opaque quite quickly, which will limit the effectiveness of your lights.

Doo · #2 04-15-2008, 08:04 PM

Hi Matt

When you say Egg Crate, are you talking about the plastick checkered type stuff (white plastic all squares) - where do you get that from?

Thank you!

chujai · #3 04-15-2008, 08:06 PM

i think it has a lot to do with more surface area expose to air.... supposed to be good for tank. "airgation" (sp?) something like that.

i ve lost 2 fishes due to jumpers, 1 was a mandarin and the other was a pearly jawfish and the jawfish is known to be a jumper. i just didnt listen....

VFX · #4 04-15-2008, 08:08 PM

I have a glass top on my cube tank & have to wipe the underside of the glass every day.

Having a Korallia pointing towards the surface probably doesn't help too much but it gets pretty opaque if I don't clean it for more a few days.

I'm getting a bit p***ed off with it at the moment & will change it for an egg crate pretty soon & live with the extra evaporation (the tank has an ATO).

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Doo · #5 04-15-2008, 08:12 PM

Can someone post a picture of an egg crate and let me know where I can get it

VFX · #6 04-15-2008, 08:18 PM

You maybe get it at Rona? Home Hardware? Home Depot? Commercial lighting suppliers?

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Whatigot · #7 04-15-2008, 08:27 PM

bump for the best eggcrate pic ever.
Very nice.
what kind of camera did you use?

VFX · #8 04-15-2008, 08:33 PM

I used the mighty Google Imaging Camera

(I'd never have 80's style grey carpet with coloured flecks!)

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digital-audiophile · #9 04-15-2008, 09:00 PM

Eggcrate is good for so many things, I think most of us have a least a partial sheet in our garages

You can get eggcrate at any of the big box home improvement joints. You just need to ask for a light diffuser as most people working in the stores will look at you with crossed eyes if you call it eggcrate

I used to use it when I had a tank with a plastic rim on it.. if your tank is eurobraced it makes it a little trickier to secure to the top of the tank.