Eggcrate cover?

I heard of people using eggcrate to cover their tanks but don't know how that will affect lighting (I'mplanning on LEDs in the near future). Is eggcrate going to create shadows or a weird pattern of light in the tank? I was thinking of getting some and then spray painting it black.

 

Pattern effect is minimal. You can purchase black eggcrate.

 

are you planning on covering the whole thing? I use egg crate and just did a 2-3 inch frame wrapped around the edges.

 

Yes, my plan was to cover the whole thing--how do you use it? Why only 2-3 inch frame on the outside?

 

Here is a video to a much better solution.

DIY screen top for aquariums - YouTube

I switched from eggcrate to this and it is 100% better. IMHO. Smaller holes and no light lost.

 

This is the way to go IME.

The eggcrate will have slightly larger holes, and will block out slightly more light as well as may have a marginal difference in the gas exchange as well.

The mesh screen is cheap, easy to work with, and very effective.

 

Agreed the screening is way better. Initially I used egg crate. The white was very distracting cause there I sit I am plus or minus the tank top level so I could see the bright egg crate reflections. I then went with black and while I liked it you could stand there put it on & take it off and see a visible difference in light making it into the tank. I then went with some of the netting/screen and it is definitely the way to go. More light thru, light weight and it doesnt get evaporation salt residue on it like the black eggcrate did. Too bad between egg crate, netting (and framing), s&h it cost me about 50 bucks, but it was a good DiY project so I cant complain.

 

Yup, clear mesh. Forget the eggcrate.

 

I did have a mesh screen on my other tank but found it a pain to access the tank, especially from the front. It was hard to lift up, but that was because I had a single flourescent fixture sitting on top of it. I think with the boost LEDs with the reef clamps, I may be able to go back to the mesh top again. Hadn't really thought about that again.

Do you cover the whole tank with the mesh top, or leave an inch or so open in the back for electrical cords, etc?

 

I'm currently using eggcrate painted black covering the whole tank, and I agree that it does not make patterns in the water, but it def affects the light.

I've been leaning towards another solution because of this. It looks really clean and nice, but the light loss is more significant than I expected