Materials/methods For Diy 'egg Catchers'

[Gun]

Hey guys

Can you help me out with some questions I have about egg layers and methods for saving there eggs? (the ones that sink to the bottom)

I can get sheets of metal grating/mesh cut, bent and punched at work, up to a size of 36X15"....with a 50mm bend all the way round. The 'shape' at work can punch as many holes as I want in the sheet and to a minimum diameter of 1mm.

I think these would be ideal to place in a bare tank, they would sit 50mm off of the bare bottom, leaving enough room for the eggs to fall through and maybe a week or two of fry swimming space? (could always make the bend in the sheet deeper if needed, creating more space below this grate).

Question is, metal? We use Mild Steel, Aluminium, Galvanized/Plated Steel and Stainless Steel. Obviously the mild steel is a no go (unless there's some sort of watertight coating that can be used?). We have loads of ali 'cut offs', although we have less of stainless. I can't really remember seeing metal used in a fish tank, that's why I'm unsure whether any of the above can be used?

There is a specific sheet I was looking at today. It's 1500mm square at 1.2mm thick and has holes punched at 4mm diameter over the entire surface. Can this be used to make these grates from? Material-wise and diameter of holes? The lads said this sheet was galv.

 

[helterskelter]

get a load of marbells i see them quite cheap in kids shops

What i do is put enough in there for two layers this will stop most parent fish getting down there to eat the eggs.

 

[CFC]

Another method is a sheet of plastic egg crate cut to the size of the bottom of the tank and placed in there with something under each corner to keep it off the bottom (small rocks etc).

 

[BigC]

Marbles for me also..
BigC

 

[Gun]

Yeah, I like the marbles idea, but from what I've seen..they seem pretty expensive for the quantity I would need.

There will be marbles in some of the small tanks, but can I use the grates? I could get like 10-20 (different sizes) of these made within an hour. I would get them cut/bent to a slightly smaller area than the chosen tank and then pack the edges/gaps with gravel.

Which if any of the metals can I use? What diameter hole would you go for...for say a 'universal' egg catcher? (for fish in the range of 1-5")