light doesnt cover tank, firefish gobies jump! HELP!

[laxplaya]

I got the odyssea 36 inch metal halide with the 2 pc's and the 6 LED's in it. It has those brackets that hold it a few inches over the tank. I want to get a firefish goby and he will jump out of the tank. What do i cover the top with besides glass or egg crate? Screen would work but would it take away the brightness of the inside of the tank? i know a screen does take away light but is it a significant amount?

 

[sign guy]

I would not use screen. how wide is your tank and how wide is the fixture?

 

[mtennant]

Oh man thay do like to jump out some times..

 

[laxplaya]

tank is 38 ich and fixture is 38 inch

 

[sign guy]

other wide

 

[trainfever]

Build an open top canopy.

 

[laxplaya]

what is an open top canopy?

 

[laxplaya]

a canopy is way too hard for me to make, i am no woodcrafter

 

[tmy880]

Originally Posted by LAXplaya
I got the odyssea 36 inch metal halide with the 2 pc's and the 6 LED's in it. It has those brackets that hold it a few inches over the tank. I want to get a firefish goby and he will jump out of the tank. What do i cover the top with besides glass or egg crate? Screen would work but would it take away the brightness of the inside of the tank? i know a screen does take away light but is it a significant amount?
I used a piece of plexi glass bought from Lowes or Home Depot. You can cut it with a straight edge and razer knife.
Hope this helps. Not sure if the plastic will melt from the MH's.
It cost me about 11 bucks for the top of my tank. Works well.

 

[sign guy]

plexi will warp and prevent gas exchange I would add egg creat around all areas that the light dose not cover

 

[tmy880]

Originally Posted by sign guy
plexi will warp and prevent gas exchange I would add egg creat around all areas that the light dose not cover
What do you mean by preventing gas exchange?

 

[laxplaya]

i understand eggcrate works well and is not too expensive but its not the prettyist thing, it also kindof sticks out

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by tmy880
What do you mean by preventing gas exchange?
Im sorry but this is not my strong subject, from what I under stand the water allows gases to escape and become air borne also you want to allow air to move across the surface to keep the tank cool.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by sign guy
Im sorry but this is not my strong subject, from what I under stand the water allows gases to escape and become air borne also you want to allow air to move across the surface to keep the tank cool.
Right and allow the tank to evaporate which is also healthy. There is a lot of CO2 that needs to be released at the surface of the tank so it can take in oxygen. This will also help keep your pH stable providing you have a good turnover and surface agitation. Search "eggcrate" it's easy to cut and looks nice and will prevent fish suicide.