DIY screen top

[Jarrett]

So i went to home depot today and picked up all the material to build one, its already done and on the tank and it looks great. only question i have is they didn't have the screening with the bigger holes. so i had to buy the one with the small holes is this going to really effect my light getting into the tank? i don't see any difference in the tank. its a 6 bulb tek elite system on a 75 gallon so plenty of light. just looking for opinions thanks guys.

 

[Jarrett]

it says this screen is made out of fiber glass, is this ok? it wont leach anything into the tank?

 

[Jarrett]

it looks like this is the same screen i purchased is it ok?

http://www.wholesalescreensandglass.com/Phifer_BetterVue_Insect_Screen.html

 

[B.BASH]

It shouldn't leach anything unless its in the water as far as light penetration yo would need a par meter for that personally i used the clear mesh from brs with no ill effects im really not sure how the black effects your lighting however i'm sure it will block some light naturally larger spacing will block less light

 

[Alex]

what you picked up is the screening for the windows. they also sell bird netting which is also good, with bigger holes.

 

[Jarrett]

i know alex, i got it from the window department but they didnt have any netting with bigger holes so i got what i could get, im not concerned at all about light, theres still plenty of light getting into the tank and its only a 75 gallon so its not deep at all. what i am concerned with is it leeching any chemicals i just want to be 100% sure i am safe what do you guys think? i called home depot, and they said as long as i didn't get pet screen i should be ok but id rather here from fellow reefers to be sure.

 

[B.BASH]

Specs say light transmission at 75% if i'm correct that's a 25%reduction from no screen

 

[Jarrett]

is that a big deal?

 

[KathyC]

is that a big deal?

Yeah it is..it's 25% less light into your tank..it's 25% more you are paying for electric than you are using..
I'm sending you a PM about the netting

 

[B.BASH]

Probably not time will tell

 

[B.BASH]

I think the clear netting is the best choice

 

[Jarrett]

to be honest kathy, i don't mind it dimming the lights down a little bit they always appeared so bright and washed my corals color out a lot of the time, right now it looks really nice i can let time tell me about the light i am just concerned with chemicals

 

[anselmo145]

BRS Website has a cool DIY tank net project. They sell the various netting materials, too.

 

[Jarrett]

yea i was originally going to buy that but i thought it was to expensive, and i saw so many videos saying its 25$ at home depot, WELL thats a lie cause it cost me the same as the BRS lol to late now.

 

[rkaragozler]

when i started in the hobby many moons ago i used this netting, it was good for about 6 months, what happenes is that some how salt spray starts to build up on the netting. I had to constantly rinse out the screen. I think this was due to the fact that I had my power heads aimed at the surface of the water.