Canopies/Lids

[jipps]

Okay I've learned that glass lids really are no good for tanks because they disallow much needed gas exchange at the surface. In researching certain wrasses, gobies and eels, they intstruct to have a tight fitting lid in order to prevent them from escaping. How do you get around this? Also, many tanks have canopies - don't they restrict surface gas exchange as well?

I don't have a canopy now but if it is believed that I should eventually purchase one where would be the best place to find a nicely priced canopy for my tank?

[xaoss23]

well with a canopy comes a fan to circulate the air (to keep the lights from overheating the tank) The fan allows for the required gas exchange.
And as for jumpers, you can get some eggcrate from HomeDepot (the grid stuff you see under flo lighting in most office buildings) You can cut it to your needs...

[jipps]

Any one have any pics of tanks with eggcrates?

[Brent Cone]

Originally Posted by jipps

Okay I've learned that glass lids really are no good for tanks because they disallow much needed gas exchange at the surface. In researching certain wrasses, gobies and eels, they intstruct to have a tight fitting lid in order to prevent them from escaping. How do you get around this? Also, many tanks have canopies - don't they restrict surface gas exchange as well?

I don't have a canopy now but if it is believed that I should eventually purchase one where would be the best place to find a nicely priced canopy for my tank?

I just put a canopy on my 75 last night im leaving the glass top off for better exchange!

[xaoss23]

Originally Posted by jipps

Any one have any pics of tanks with eggcrates?

this stuff...

[Caoineag]

you can cut right down to fit into your ledges on the top of your tank so it doesn's show. That is what we did for our jawfish tank though we don't have it on now because he isn't even remotely tempted to go near the surface (he has some burrows reinforced with rock so he feels secure in the tank, he even will go swimming for food halfway across the tank, but doesn't go near the water surface).

[Brent Cone]

Originally Posted by jipps

Okay I've learned that glass lids really are no good for tanks because they disallow much needed gas exchange at the surface. In researching certain wrasses, gobies and eels, they intstruct to have a tight fitting lid in order to prevent them from escaping. How do you get around this? Also, many tanks have canopies - don't they restrict surface gas exchange as well?

I don't have a canopy now but if it is believed that I should eventually purchase one where would be the best place to find a nicely priced canopy for my tank?

I got mine from Big Al's $100.00 for my 75 gallon
Brent.

[Loverotties]

also with glass it incresses water temp and cuts the light I have eggcrate and when I had a canopy I used screening with velcro to take it off if needed!

[jipps]

hmm i like the idea of just screening (like a window screen?). does that inhibit the lighting at all?

[Loverotties]

the screen goes on the back of the canopy.Eggcrate over the water if it's all open.

[droth335]

What size of "grid' does the eggcrate come in? I've looked at Lowes & Menards and all they carried was 4'X2' sheets that have 1/2" grids. Can you get it in larger squares? I guess I haven't checked Home Depot yet as noted above.... Thanks,

Dave

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by droth335

What size of "grid' does the eggcrate come in? I've looked at Lowes & Menards and all they carried was 4'X2' sheets that have 1/2" grids. Can you get it in larger squares? I guess I haven't checked Home Depot yet as noted above.... Thanks,

Dave

just cut it to fit the tank, you can do this with a fine toothed blade in a table saw, but it is easier to cut with a pair of wire cutters. You can use a router table to cut a ledge in the sides to get it to fit snuggly from the 4x2 foot sizes, besides, you really do not want to deal with removing a piece of this stuff in one piece from the top of a 180 or larger tank...