Eggcrate

[scoobydoo]

Anyone ever paint their eggcrate? If so, what color and what type of paint?

 

[slick]

just curious as to why you would want to paint your egg crate? I don't think I have ever heard of anyone doing that before.

 

[scoobydoo]

My tank is oak with an oak stand and black lights on legs. I just put the eggcrate on and I'm not sure I like the look of the white. Was thinking maybe I'd paint it black.

 

[bang guy]

You'll lose a considerable amount of light if you paint it.

 

[scoobydoo]

ok, guess it stays white. Thanks Bang.

 

[evieb]

Sorry to jump in here but what do you use the eggcrate for and where do you get it? What is it exactly? I've heard it mentioned before but still not sure about it.

 

[scoobydoo]

I used it for the top of my tank to keep jumpers from jumping. :jumping: instead of the glass tops. It also allows for more gas exchange at the top of the tank as well as letting the water cool once the mh's are off at night.

 

[benj2112]

You can just get it at a hardware store. Really make sure if they have it, though. I asked a guy at Home Depot where they kept theirs and first he didn't really know what it was (I think), then he said they didn't have any. I did some more searching myself and found where they kept it.

 

[scoobydoo]

Its usually in the lighting section. Try there first.

 

[evieb]

Right now I just have my wooden canopy sitting on the tank and the lights above that. Where did you get the eggcrate from? I do plan on getting a blenny or a goby soon and they are described as jumpers. Does this help from them jumping out? Does it affect the lighting? Thanks for your help!

 

[bacffin]

They make silver colored egg crate if that fits your color/contrast.
If you paint it, I recommend saturating it in acyriclic lacquer thinner before painting it so the new paint saturates into the plasitc and prevent the new paint from flaking. (An old trick to prevent the old dash panels and vynil roofing on cars of the past.)
Bruce

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by benj2112
I asked a guy at Home Depot where they kept theirs and first he didn't really know what it was (I think), then he said they didn't have any.
They call them "light diffusers".

 

[evieb]

Thanks for the info on the eggcrates. I'll be visiting HD tomorrow and see what I can find. Thanks again. :happy:

 

[scoobydoo]

Originally Posted by evieb
Right now I just have my wooden canopy sitting on the tank and the lights above that. Where did you get the eggcrate from? I do plan on getting a blenny or a goby soon and they are described as jumpers. Does this help from them jumping out? Does it affect the lighting? Thanks for your help!
Your canopy should be fine. I have my lights on legs so I either need to have the glass tops on or eggcrate.

 

[evieb]

The back of my canopy is open........do you think they could jump out that way? I have the skimmer and a hob filter on there but there are some open spaces. :thinking:

 

[scoobydoo]

yep, depending on the fish, the could. I had a firefish jump out of a 1 inch square opening.