Popular materials for mesh tops

[Mook Man]

What are some popular types of screening materials that people use to top their tanks? I'm interested in mesh with holes smaller than that of eggcrate but still open enough to not interfere terribly with lighting. The qualities that I am most concerned about are hole size and UV resistance, and also to a lesser extent, how convenient it is to obtain.

I've heard outdoor window/porch screening which I'm sure is quite UV resistant, but I'm curious as to how well it lets light through

Bird netting is also another option - I found

http://www.nixalite.com/pollynetbirdnetting.aspx

after a quick google search, but I think 1/2" squares still may be too big, doubling it up may look a little messy, and I certainly don't want a 14' x 50' piece for something that is only going to be 10" in diameter.

Along the "not wanting a giant roll of netting" lines,

http://www.usnetting.com/HTML/bird-netting.html

has 1/4" and 1/6" mesh but the rolls are huge. Is there anywhere that sells small quantities of this type of material?

[ajger]

I ordered from these guys, no complaints. 1/4" grid, min order size 6' (x14):

link (http://www.watergarden.org/s.nl/it.A/id.152/.f)

[Mook Man]

Thanks, that looks like a winner

[Lowredranger]

If it is a small screen i took apart one of those white lufa sponges and that was big enough to use as screen on my solana. It has very small holes but the material is very fine so that there is no shadowing effect.

[Brandon M]

Here is a good thread about mesh tops...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310096&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

:cool:

[Mook Man]

That's actually the exact thread I was looking for - I knew I had seen it in the past; I had the tank on the page 2 pictured in my head.

[Radioheadx14]

I use those shower puff that are like a dollar at the store and unwind them. very thin screen with perfect size holes. very cheap too. Got the idea while i was taking a shower.

Examples:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/lateralusxxx/IMG_0665.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/lateralusxxx/Meshtop.jpg

[sikpupy]

where did you fined one big enough to cover a whole lid?

[msn711]

I'm using the window screen, and as far as I can tell, it's not blocking any light or causing any shadows. I can't see a difference in light penetration with the screen vs without. And you can probably find it at your local hardware store in small rolls.

[sikpupy]

I was thinking of that too, the nylon stuff, very dense with squares. Was not too sure if it was TOO dense though, lol.

[Mook Man]

Outstanding. I think I'll swing by Home Depot today and pick up the screen framing materials and since I like DIY/tinkering so much perhaps I'll make a few with various screening materials to see what I like :)

[sikpupy]

Promise to keep us updated? :)

[extinguishfire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14368272#post14368272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ajger
I ordered from these guys, no complaints. 1/4" grid, min order size 6' (x14):

link (http://www.watergarden.org/s.nl/it.A/id.152/.f)

Is is uv restistant?

[jgln]

I think nylon is popular but if can find cotton it it may be cooler in summer, I don't wear them though.

[Aaroneous]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14370966#post14370966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radioheadx14
I use those shower puff that are like a dollar at the store and unwind them. very thin screen with perfect size holes. very cheap too. Got the idea while i was taking a shower.

Examples:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/lateralusxxx/IMG_0665.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/lateralusxxx/Meshtop.jpg

Brilliant! So it just unrolls to one big piece?

[Mook Man]

I believe that this

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk179/EllieSuz/TankCover.jpg

is a picture of someone that's used this material judging from their posts in the thread linked above. The lights in the picture appear to be a T5 or HQI so maybe you could ask them, but since it's outdoor pond netting I think you could be safe to assume that it's UV resistant.

[Mook Man]

Got my 1/4" screening from water garden in last night and built myself a top.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/mookman117/DSC00636.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/mookman117/DSC00637.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/mookman117/DSC00639.jpg

The mesh size is just about perfect! I'm extremely happy with the results and no more temp issues or carpet surfing worries! I bought two 84" screen channel rods so I'm still going to try to find a luffa to build another one.