View Full Version : does eggcrate block some light from my T5s?
impur
01/29/2007, 10:39 PM
I'm just wondering if using eggcrate to cover my tank will deflect or block some of the light. I'm using a 6-54w TEK T5 fixture and would like to cover the tank for fish jumping reasons, but one side i would like to have the most light as possible. If eggcrate deflects some of that i'll find another means of covering the tank.
sherm71tank
01/29/2007, 10:47 PM
It has to block some of it. Enough to worry about? I don't think so.
xcreonx
01/29/2007, 11:39 PM
Eggcrate is two-sided. If you look closely, the slots are thinner on one side than the other. The idea is for the crate to direct stray light downwards instead of outwards. So depending on the side you have pointed up at the lights, you either get a little less light or a little more light, as the stray light is directed down.
Abengochea
01/30/2007, 07:42 PM
so does the thinner side go on top or bottom?
sherm71tank
01/30/2007, 07:48 PM
I have read that the thinner side goes down.
aninjaatemyshoe
01/30/2007, 10:56 PM
Thinner side down.
In reality, yes it does cut down on a small portion of the incomming light. However, that effect is more or less negated by the benefit that upwelling light is reflected downward into the tank.
As far as covering solutions go, eggcrate is one of the best. It's cheap, it allows for cooling evaporation, and it does not need to be constantly cleaned like glass tops. Of course, certain fish (such as small eels) will have little trouble finding a way out between the grating.
Tarkus70
01/31/2007, 07:57 AM
Hello,
I have had eggcrate on my tank for about four months and did some testing to see how much light was lost due to it. I lost about 10% of the light at the bottom of the tank. With the glass top after about three days it was quite more I will check something like 17% due to the glass getting covered with salt and such. I used a LUX meter not the best I know but it got the point across for me. Now this is just My $0.02. but my tank is more healthy and nothing can jump out even the glass top did not cover as much as the eggcrate. Hope this helps. I do not keep anything that need a massive amount of light so I was not worried about it.
DragonZim
01/31/2007, 08:43 AM
I have eggcrate on my 75 with the same 6x54 watt T5. I have mine with the thinner side up though. I figured that the light hitting the thin side would be deflected down and outwards a little more than having the thick side up. I guess this isn't the case?
bmrescort
01/31/2007, 09:07 AM
Has anybody ever tried to use the reflective silver egg crate. I know it costs a bit more but I bet it would be reflective.
DragonZim
01/31/2007, 09:21 AM
I'd think that reflective would be the last thing you'd want. It would end up reflecting light back up instead of down into your tank.
Tarkus70
01/31/2007, 09:22 AM
I tried that first but switched to white due to salt making the silver look cloudy and a pain to keep cleaning it. Did not look much different to me.
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