can I use eggcrate for lights?

[rica5tully]

I have my PC striplights on glass tops. Since my tank is a bowfront, there is still space where the water is open and it can breathe. Problem is: the glass tops get dirty and it really cuts down on my light.

I thought about using eggcrate material as tops and the PC striplights could just sit on top of that. The tank would "breathe" more and I think the light intensity would be better.

BUT: in the past I've had some problems with evaporation and my striplights getting completely wet on the underside and even rotting out the contacts on the bulbs! The glass tops prevent this.

Is this something to consider? How do you keep water from evaporating and then condensing onto your lighting? Anyone dealt with this?

Thanks,
Eric

[chris.hampton]

Are the rubber seals that hold the bulbs in place rotten? You could try replacing them and hopefully the water should stop getting to the contacts, and you could try lifting the lights up of the tank a little bit so there is a bit of air circling around them

[rica5tully]

Well, there aren't really secure seals. These are all-glass strip-lights and the bulb contacts just slide in. There isn't a seal.

But that's a good point about circulation. In the past I've gotten water in the fixtures when it hangs over the glass by 1/8 inch. But if I totally opened it up and the lights were over open water, maybe it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Egg-crate isn't that expensive. I guess I could just try it and if it doesn't work go back to glass.

ET

[chris.hampton]

Worth a try with egg crate but it might be worth thinking about upgrading the lights too. If there's water getting in you or your fish might get a nasty shock one day. You could also try sticking a fan blowing the length of the tank to blow the evaporation water away from the lights. Hope this helps!!

[chaseracing]

Evaporation will only be a problem because the lights are a few inches from the water.

One thing you can do to alleviate this problem is to cut a few extra pieces of the egg crate and make 5" tall walls on each side. You can then balance the lights on the walls and lift them 5" off of the water.

I had this on a 46gal corner for about a year and it worked really well.

-=E=-

[bllfish]

My evaporation went up from 1 gallon per day to 1.5 gallons when I switched to eggcrate on my 72. Lighting definitely is better and my chiller does not come on as much. I believe the amount of evaporation will depend on how much heat you get in your tank from pumps and powerheads and if you have fans blowing into the top. I do not think you should rest any lights directly on the egg crate, just asking for trouble. You can hang them from your hood if you have one or make a frame from the eggcrate for the light fixture to raise it a few inches.

[eddie c]

i myself prefer more evaporation that way i can dose more kalk via my auto top off

[Tarkus70]

I just today went with eggcrate so my tank can breath better and I did not like the glass when it got dirty. I am hoping for the best I will prob. have to clean the splash shield on my light more.

[scottandkristen]

Just remember that all the dust and everything that was making your glass tops dirty is now getting into your tank.

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8437630#post8437630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottandkristen
Just remember that all the dust and everything that was making your glass tops dirty is now getting into your tank. Actually they get dirty from the bottom side IME, salt and water spots from condensation and splashes..
The light fixture itself keeps the top of the glass from getting dirty as it covers it

Oh and
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central scottandkristen</b></i></big></big>

[rica5tully]

Thanks a lot for your input!

One thing I don't understand: what do you mean by making a frame out of eggcrate? One of you mentioned cutting an extra 5"? I don't understand how I could use eggcrate to life the lights up instead of just laying them on there.

Thanks!

[bllfish]

You can make sort of an a frame with four sections of egg crate and tie the four sides together with electric/plastic ties. You could make it as high as you want and long enough so the light fixture sits on top of it.