Screen or cover

I am going to need to get a screen or cover that will not block my lighting for my tank. I have too many snails excaping and I just had another fish do a hardwood floor dive.
What is available out there? Also what does everyone use to cover there tanks?

All our tanks are open but we dont have any jumpers in our tanks. You can use fiberglass window screen as long as your lights arent hot and or too close to the screen. You can also use eggcrate 24 in. x 48 in. White Egg Crate Lighting Panel (5-Pack) - LP2448EGG-5 at The Home Depot

I found that Egg crate blocked way to much light for my liking. I use Bird netting which is to thin to block any light at all

You can order Bird Netting with 1/4" or 1/2 mesh from www.BulKreefsupply.com and aluminum screen frames can be purchased from either BRS of you local DIY center which is usually a small amount cheaper.

I never thought about Bird netting. i have plenty of it around! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Gazog

I found that Egg crate blocked way to much light for my liking. I use Bird netting which is to thin to block any light at all

You can order Bird Netting with 1/4" or 1/2 mesh from www.BulKreefsupply.com and aluminum screen frames can be purchased from either BRS of you local DIY center which is usually a small amount cheaper.

I like that diy netting screen also.... i gotta get around to making one someday myself...... looks pretty easy though the way they use those frames. did you watch their video?

if you make one, can you take some pics along the way??

Originally Posted by icsd71

I never thought about Bird netting. i have plenty of it around! Thanks.

LOL, I am betting you either have Fruit trees or a really nice garden. We used to use it to protect the cherry trees on my parents property, Had to put it on in the spring and take it off in the fall what PITA. But it works really good for tanks doesn't Rot, block the light or stop any gas exchange.

If you need to run any cords through it I use pieces of Clear Heavy Duty Plastic and Contact Cement. Make 2 squares about twice the size of the plug that your going to put through it out of the plastic.

Use the Contact Cement to glue it in the appropriate place let dry then cut an X in the middle just big enough for the plug to fit through. Plastic will form back and fit against the plug and no holes.

Originally Posted by Saltcreep

I like that DIY netting screen also.... i gotta get around to making one someday myself...... looks pretty easy though the way they use those frames. did you watch their video?

if you make one, can you take some pics along the way??

Have you ever replaced a window screen? It's exactly the same thing. I have to make a new screen for one of my windows at home in the next week or two, I will make a video or it if I can remember.

If you do not have a screen roller your going to need one but don't buy theirs cuz you can get that same one from the local hardware store for a couple of bucks.

Yes we have that plus i use to raise pheasants and quail and used it as fencing when the baby chicks were hatched.

Here is an old picture of my screen on the tank. I made it with the black bird netting. It does lower the par a little, but it is worth it to keep fish in.

Thanks for the post. Was considering that type as well.

I bought clear poly mesh (custom cut) from David Grim and I had the window store build me an aluminum frame with the poly mesh. It works great and doesn't block any light at all. Here's David's email address: grim1214@bellsouth.net

WOW! great information here so far!!! thanks ALL!
I'd definitely go with some kind of screen vs glass........anyone else have any suggestions?

I made a screen out of mono filament fishing line. it was a bit of a cluster **** to make, but it worked really well.
bill

+1 on the bird netting. I picked up a six line one day, put it in the tank and the next day I remembered that they sometimes jump. I went nutz trying to figure out what to use. I looked all around HD and found only regular screen. Here a am in the aisle searching on forums and google. Quite nervous. Then I ended up in the garden section for some reason and stumbled onto the bird netting. I thought maybe it would work and it's been over my tank for a long time. Panic over....

good to get such positive feedback on the bird netting!
so.........is this the route you're taking icsd?

I use the 1/4 inch clear poly. We lost way too many fish before.

How hard is it to keep clean? and there should be little to no light loss if you keep it clean correct?

Its so fine that light loss is negligable. It doesn't collect debris. I have it lightly tied down on a frame cover so I can lift it up a bit to pour in food. Peace of mind since I put it on almost two years ago. No fish loss at all.