Looking for grid smaller than eggcrate

[Armando]

I usually put eggcrate on top of overflows to avoid snails to fall into it and causing a Nate's catastrophe

But now I need to baby-fish proof an overflow and eggrcrate is not tight enough for it. I tried using a net but it would restrict flow too much. So I'm wondering where I could find a grid that is much smaller than eggcrate but not so tiny as a net.

 

[Liam]

I use plastic gutter helmet from HD,its about a dollar for 3 feet
It's about 1/3 the size of eggcrate,may be too big for you but its a step in the right direction.
-Liam.

 

[~Flighty~]

Is that plastic craft mesh too restrictive? You might just need to make a bigger overflow area for smaller holes to work.

purple is the meshand water will seap through the bigger area, then go over the overflow. Not as good for surface skimming, but might be a solution.

 

[Armando]

Liam i'll check it out next time I go to HD.

Cindy, I tried to use the bridal veil, is that the one you suggested?

 

[nunofs]

I'll second Cindy's suggestion for the plastic craft mesh... I super-glued it to eggcrate to cover my overflow, and as a sump divider/strainer, works very well.

Armando: it's not bridal veil, it's a fine flexible mesh that's used for needlepoint work, I think. You can get it at Michael's or other crafts stores.

Nuno

 

[nunofs]

It's something like this:

http://www.craftking.com/images/plasticcanvas/MESH-M.jpg
http://www.craftking.com/images/plasticcanvas/MESH-AB.jpg

Nuno

 

[Armando]

Great, thanks. that looks like what I am looking for. I'll make a trip to Michael's to get it.

 

[~Flighty~]

Get some of the flat plastic string stuff over in the bead section too. You can use it to tie the craft mesh into a box shape or whatever you need.

 

[Armando]

I was planning to use elastic bands for it. would the plastic string stuff be better?

 

[nunofs]

Small zip-ties also work for that purpose.

Nuno

 

[~Flighty~]

it does not degrade like rubberbands and you can cut it to a point so it is its own needle for sewing the stuff together. It is also like 50 cents a roll, so pick some up just in case you want to use it. I think if you just rubberband the stuff to your existing overflow gate you'll have flow restriction issues.

 

[~Flighty~]

Here is another pic of something I did with the mesh to give you a better idea of the size of hte holes. this one is tied together with string, not the plastic stuff.

http://216.235.242.50/forums/showpost.php?p=22422&postcount=8

 

[Armando]

Nice! I love the fact that the mesh is available in black.

 

[JustDavidP]

Cindy...can you point me to the thread that your single post was in? The feeder cubes. That sounds like a good read!

Dave

PS... Armando. I battled with the same problem with my baby banggai. Wedding veil clogged to easy. I used a smallish (1/16th I think) braided plastic fishing net.

 

[nunofs]

http://216.235.242.50/forums/showthread.php?p=22422

(just replace "showpost" with "showthread" on the URL)

Nuno

 

[JustDavidP]

Many thanks Nuno... This is why I'm not of Mod or Admin quality! I'm lucky I can send and receive email

D

 

[JustDavidP]

Thanks Cindy!

Brilliant idea... I'm on my way to the artys fartsy section of Wally World tonight. I can think of a gazillion uses for that stuff! Have you found that the thread and mesh are holding up well to the salt and UV etc?

D

 

[FishyIdea]

Hmmm

I've been hearing about the wonders of black plastic craft store mesh for some time. So I stopped at a Michael's and an A.C. Moores. They both had it, but the size of hole was much smaller than the stuff Cindy shows in her pics. I bought some to use as covers, but I'm quite sure that the holes would clog up quickly on the stuff I got if it were used as a flow screen.

Would love to hear tips on specific stores north of boston who got the right stuff.

 

[mikestod]

The best part about this needlepoint screening is that you make doubles of the piece that you need and instantly swap a clean one for a dirty one. That way you can clean the dirty one with a brush or even soak it and not have any lag time. The stuff stands up great to salt water and even heat from the lights (within reason), and retains its flexibility. I had enclosed the larger holes and top of my corner overflow with it as a snail/fish/crab guard. And its is so inexpensive you can cheaply replace it when the holes become clogged with coraline algae. I always buy it in the craft section at WalMart.

Monofilament fishing line works well to tie seams together.

 

[~Flighty~]

Rexlace is the stuff I use to tie it together. That's the flat plastic string that you made bracelets out of in camp (or maybe that was just me). It will be in the jewlery section. It works great and isn't so small that it will bite into the mesh. The plastic mesh will be near the yarn and needlepoint. ask for the plastic mesh to make christmas ornaments with yarn. It also comes in coraline purple.