Eggcrate block light?

[BaaMNYC]

I have a 30" tall tank. The eggcrate may be blocking too much light. My zoa in the bottom don't seem to be doing well.

I have an 8 bulb nova extreme with ati bulbs almost brand new. Maybe I should go back to glass top?

 

[SIReefer]

Try the DIY pond netting it stops fish from jumping and blocks no light.

 

[jcdeng]

I have a 30" tall tank. The eggcrate may be blocking too much light. My zoa in the bottom don't seem to be doing well.

I have an 8 bulb nova extreme with Sti bulbs almost brand new. Maybe I should go back to glass top?

I didn't know subaru make T5 bulbs? lol j/k.

 

[BaaMNYC]

I didn't know subaru make T5 bulbs? lol j/k.

HAHA fixed it. ati bulbs obviously. funny thing is i have a subaru. lol wrx, not an sti. autocorrect.

 

[jcdeng]

lol, for a moment there I thought ur light is turbo charged and intercooled. Haha, I have an evo lol

 

[jcdeng]

btw, I have both egg crate and glass top, just want to know why u use the egg crate instead of glass top if you have both.

 

[BaaMNYC]

i was using glass top, then i decided to go egg crate because glass top reduces proper gas exchange and gets salt creep and needs to be constantly cleaned. i thought egg crate didn't block that much light but now i read that it can be blocking up to 25% of the light. i have a tall tank so im thinking maybe thats detrimental to my corals on the sandbed.

someone suggested netting? and says it blocks no light and keeps the fish from jumping out

 

[jcdeng]

or you can do custom top with the window screens

 

[pweissma]

Yes, make a top out of pond netting and the frame for a window screen. Netting and a tutorial are on the brs website. Unless you only have big fish 1/4" netting is appropriate.

 

[fishman1069]

The eggcrate is actually sold as a light diffuser for commercial fixtures. You can use pond netting and aluminum screen frame from HD. and make custom tops.

 

[albano]

The eggcrate is actually sold as a light diffuser for commercial fixtures. You can use pond netting and aluminum screen frame from HD. and make custom tops.

+1...KatC has a DIY thread on it!
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html

 

[BaaMNYC]

so pond netting doesnt block any light or much less than eggcrate?

 

[Macropora]

The eggcrate is actually sold as a light diffuser for commercial fixtures. You can use pond netting and aluminum screen frame from HD. and make custom tops.

+1... I built one for each of my 3 tanks to keep the 35+ wrasses from jumping out. Easy DIY build. I believe BRS has a video for that.

 

[fishman1069]

I never noticed any difference with the tops on or off

 

[masterswimmer]

IMO a 30" tall tank is too tall for T5's, especially the Nova Extreme. A higher end fixture, with quality reflectors (ATI, TEK) would be above the limits in my opinion too. I don't recommend T5's on tanks above 24". Add the light diffuser to the picture and the PAR at the bottom of your tank is probably close to non-existent.

I know this is a bit harsh, but reality. Sorry.

Russ

 

[BaaMNYC]

IMO a 30" tall tank is too tall for T5's, especially the Nova Extreme. A higher end fixture, with quality reflectors (ATI, TEK) would be above the limits in my opinion too. I don't recommend T5's on tanks above 24". Add the light diffuser to the picture and the PAR at the bottom of your tank is probably close to non-existent.

I know this is a bit harsh, but reality. Sorry.

Russ

theres nothing harsh about it. thats your honest opinion. I welcome honest advice as long as there isn't attitude behind it. which you didnt give.

Its not enough lighting? even though its an 8 bulb? I guess i can look into purchasing an ati or tek fixture but you don't believe its enough either? I prefer the T5 with the flexibility of the bulb configurations.

im going to get rid of the eggcrate and get the pond net to start off.

 

[masterswimmer]

theres nothing harsh about it. thats your honest opinion. I welcome honest advice as long as there isn't attitude behind it. which you didnt give.

Its not enough lighting? even though its an 8 bulb? I guess i can look into purchasing an ati or tek fixture but you don't believe its enough either? I prefer the T5 with the flexibility of the bulb configurations.

im going to get rid of the eggcrate and get the pond net to start off.

Thanks, it was absolutely meant to be helpful

I love T5's. That being said, the issue I see is the height of your tank. 30" is considered a tall tank. T5's are a linear source of light (as opposed to a 'spot' source like MH or LED's). The PAR value you'll get from a 150w spot source compared to the PAR value you'll get from a 150w linear source are very different at 10" depth, 20" depth and 30" depth. At a shallow depth of only 10" even a linear source (T5) is more than adequate. At 20" the PAR drops off considerably, but is certainly acceptable. At 30" the PAR becomes inadequate (as evidenced by your low light demanding zoa's not doing well).

Again, IMO, I would recommend either MH or LED's for a tank 30" tall. If you wanted to continue using T5's you can certainly do that. I would just limit the placement of all corals and inverts to the top 2/3 of your tank (down to about 20"). Below that the useful light diminishes so drastically that coral health will suffer.

HTH
Russ

 

[BaaMNYC]

Thanks, it was absolutely meant to be helpful

I love T5's. That being said, the issue I see is the height of your tank. 30" is considered a tall tank. T5's are a linear source of light (as opposed to a 'spot' source like MH or LED's). The PAR value you'll get from a 150w spot source compared to the PAR value you'll get from a 150w linear source are very different at 10" depth, 20" depth and 30" depth. At a shallow depth of only 10" even a linear source (T5) is more than adequate. At 20" the PAR drops off considerably, but is certainly acceptable. At 30" the PAR becomes inadequate (as evidenced by your low light demanding zoa's not doing well).

Again, IMO, I would recommend either MH or LED's for a tank 30" tall. If you wanted to continue using T5's you can certainly do that. I would just limit the placement of all corals and inverts to the top 2/3 of your tank (down to about 20"). Below that the useful light diminishes so drastically that coral health will suffer.

HTH
Russ

so with that being said you feel that i should either switch to LED (not an option kid on the way and wife will kill me) or maybe a MH T5 combo perhaps?

im assuming tek or ATI T5 fixture wouldn't help enough.

 

[masterswimmer]

so with that being said you feel that i should either switch to LED (not an option kid on the way and wife will kill me) or maybe a MH T5 combo perhaps?

im assuming tek or ATI T5 fixture wouldn't help enough.

100% correct. I totally understand how cost prohibitive LED's are, so my recommendation would be the same as yours, a MH fixture with T5 supplement.
You should speak to jimmyR1rider. I believe he has a Maristar fixture he might be looking to sell. Dual 250w MH's with T5 supplements. Great quality fixture.

Russ

 

[BaaMNYC]

100% correct. I totally understand how cost prohibitive LED's are, so my recommendation would be the same as yours, a MH fixture with T5 supplement.
You should speak to jimmyR1rider. I believe he has a Maristar fixture he might be looking to sell. Dual 250w MH's with T5 supplements. Great quality fixture.

Russ

thanks a lot russ. you been a great help. i just gotta bite the bullet and change my fixture. damn and i spent so much on new bulbs thinking that it would be enough. bought 9 bulbs. =oP