Tank Cover...

As some may know, I've started a 55 gallon FOWLR. I plan om making it into a reef some time in July, and am already planning to order an Odyssea MH fixture to make that possible. right now, I have a full cover hood with standard fluorescent lighting. could I get a glass hood and put the MH over that? or would there be heating issues? I don't want to go off spending a bunch on a chiller too...

ive considered egg crate to cover the top. the openings are a tad bit large for my liking though. I have a wrasse that's known to jump, and he's already tried to about 5 times. it seems like he would slip right through with good aim.

so, does anyone have other suggestions of what materials I could use?

 

you could build a canopy to house the MH and use a sort of "gutter guard" to cover the back opening allowing air through but not fish.

 

He will slip right through. Trust me.

Look into building your own clear mesh top using a window screen frame materials coupled with 1/4" clear mesh available through Bulk Reef Supply.

 

thanks for the help. what should I do when I need to feed? just make the screen removable?

K+ to both of you.

 

Yes. I made my screen frame to sit inside the lip on the frame of the tank. I lift it up to feed.

 

you could make it removable, you could make it in 2 or 3 sections so you would not have to remove all of it at once, or make a small "door" in the front using a small hinge.

 

You could just cut a small hole in the mesh in the corner to feed though. He's unlikely to jump though the corner.

*Watches as he jumps out of the exact corner hole suggested*

 

If there's any holes, a wrasse will find them, eventually. Been there too many times, trust me.

 

building my custom top via BRS' instructions, you can find all the materials at Depot/Lowes other than the clear mesh: Clear 1/4" Screen Netting 6.5' x 2.5' - English

You will need:

- aluminum framing (2-4 pieces usually come in silver/white/brown)
- package of frame corners (4 in each)
- 0.125 spline (usually come 25ft in a package)
- spline roller

here's a step-by-step video:
Bulk Reef Supply

 

I did what evolved did, with 1/4" pond net screen from here Pond & Water Garden Leaf Netting and put it into an aluminum frame from lowes. Works great. I'd be very hesitant to use a glass top under a halide. I did this once, and even though the 250W was 10"or so above it, the heat shattered it. I was watching and heard cracking followed by pieces of glass sinking to the bottom of the tank. Nothing was hurt though