Light Transmission of Clear 1/4" Mesh

[Dana Riddle]

I posted some info a week or so ago about light transmission of glass, plastic, window screen mesh. The question came up about the clear 1/4" mesh some use to keep fish from jumping out of the tank. I received some of this mesh yesterday and tested. My initial impression was that there would not be a measurable effect, but I was wrong. PAR was reduced by about 4 percent.

 

[User1]

I never cared for filter socks. I accept a possible cloudier tank as a result.

I stayed away from tank covers be it glass, acrylic, egg crate, and nets. I assumed it would impact light but being ignorant didn't know how much. Just applied common sense that it would. The test you did last week or so confirmed there is a price. This confirmed even a small one when using nets.

I accept the possible risk of a fish jumping out as a result. Or more specific I will limit the fish to not include "known" jumpers but also accept the risk they might.

As always - thanks for doing this. Really appreciate it as it helps people make decisions and risk management. Hope you have an amazing weekend! Virtual smack on the back (lightly of course ).

 

[Larry L]

Good to know, I had always heard guesses of around 10%. I don't know a lot of people who run their lights at 100% intensity anyway, so keeping the fish in the tank vs having to bump intensity up a little seems like a fair tradeoff.

@Dana Riddle Have you tested the black netting? I prefer it to the clear netting because it isn't as visible due to the reduced glare. I have some extra stashed away somewhere and can send you a piece if you'd like, PM me and let me know how much you'd need and how to get it to you.

 

[GlassMunky]

Good to know, I had always heard guesses of around 10%. I don't know a lot of people who run their lights at 100% intensity anyway, so keeping the fish in the tank vs having to bump intensity up a little seems like a fair tradeoff.

@Dana Riddle Have you tested the black netting? I prefer it to the clear netting because it isn't as visible due to the reduced glare. I have some extra stashed away somewhere and can send you a piece if you'd like, PM me and let me know how much you'd need and how to get it to you.

Yes the black netting was discussed in the original thread.... I think the black netting reduced PAR by ALOT more than 4%

 

[GlassMunky]

Good to know, I had always heard guesses of around 10%. I don't know a lot of people who run their lights at 100% intensity anyway, so keeping the fish in the tank vs having to bump intensity up a little seems like a fair tradeoff.

@Dana Riddle Have you tested the black netting? I prefer it to the clear netting because it isn't as visible due to the reduced glare. I have some extra stashed away somewhere and can send you a piece if you'd like, PM me and let me know how much you'd need and how to get it to you.

Here’s the original thread:

Effects of various aquarium covers on light transmission

I got a private message from GaryE and thought my reply might be of interest to others. Here’s the message: I know you have done innumerable studies on the various different lighting packages available. Have you ever studied the effects of different coverings on PAR levels? Specifically, I'm...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dana Riddle]

Yes the black netting was discussed in the original thread.... I think the black netting reduced PAR by ALOT more than 4%

The mesh in the original thread was black fiberglass windowing screening. Light reduction was 44%.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Good to know, I had always heard guesses of around 10%. I don't know a lot of people who run their lights at 100% intensity anyway, so keeping the fish in the tank vs having to bump intensity up a little seems like a fair tradeoff.

@Dana Riddle Have you tested the black netting? I prefer it to the clear netting because it isn't as visible due to the reduced glare. I have some extra stashed away somewhere and can send you a piece if you'd like, PM me and let me know how much you'd need and how to get it to you.

Is this the 1/4" black screen, or the mesh used for window screens?

 

[Larry L]

Is this the 1/4" black screen, or the mesh used for window screens?

1/4" black mesh, just like the clear stuff in the first picture of this thread.

 

[Dana Riddle]

1/4" black mesh, just like the clear stuff in the first picture of this thread.

I'll send a PM.

 

[BZOFIQ]

@Dana Riddle

Do you have a value for white egg crate by any chance?

 

[Dana Riddle]

@Dana Riddle

Do you have a value for white egg crate by any chance?

Yes, but it depends. There is cheap egg crate that has walls of uniform thickness. It blocks light. Then there is more expensive egg crate that has a thick side and a thin side. Light can be focused or diffused depending upon which side is up. Let me know what you have and I'll test.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Yes, but it depends. There is cheap egg crate that has walls of uniform thickness. It blocks light. Then there is more expensive egg crate that has a thick side and a thin side. Light can be focused or diffused depending upon which side is up. Let me know what you have and I'll test.

Thin-thick, thin facing up toward lights.

This is on a "temporary" setup but I wonder for future use.

 

[AJ192]

Even though there was par reduction I will still use a cover to prevent fish from jumping and run the light a little stronger

 

[BZOFIQ]

Even though there was par reduction I will still use a cover to prevent fish from jumping and run the light a little stronger

@ 4% it's nearly no loss. You'll have bigger loss with yellowed water if you dont use carbon.

 

[ingchr1]

1/4" black mesh, just like the clear stuff in the first picture of this thread.

Using a Seneye I found a 20% PAR reduction using 1/4" black mesh. I changed it to 3/4" and the PAR reduction dropped to 10%. Clear 1/4" was comparable to Dana, around 4%.

Screen Top PAR Reduction

I did a test today to see what the difference in PAR was for my tank from screen top on to screen top off. I used a Seneye and the results are shown in the screenshots. The Seneye was kept in the same position on the sand about center tank. For the screen top on I passed the Seneye cord through...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[GlassMunky]

So I noticed that my 75G tank with BRS DIY screen top has 1/8” clear screen.
Would the smaller holes lend to further loss of PAR over that of the 1/4 screen?

 

[Dana Riddle]

So I noticed that my 75G tank with BRS DIY screen top has 1/8” clear screen.
Would the smaller holes lend to further loss of PAR over that of the 1/4 screen?

I think so, but I'll double up the mesh to get 1/8" holes and check.

 

[dragon99]

 

[Dana Riddle]

I doubled up the 1/4" mesh to get an 1/8" opening and found light was reduced by 6%.

 

[Dana Riddle]

@Larry L was kind enough to send 1/4" black mesh for testing. It reduced light intensity by a whopping 18%.