Plexiglass cover?

[bazil323]

I need a cover for two of my tanks, but I can't afford to buy them. I don't need anything fancy, one tank is really just a shrimp and snail breeding tank.

Tank 1 needs a piece that's 13 in x 13.25 in. The other is a 20g long, I can't remember the exact dimensions. The most important cover is for the 13x13.25 as the 20g breeding tank won't really have jumpers. I plan to cover it anyway just to keep dust, etc out, but my priority is the other one.

Has anyone had plexiglass custom cut for their aquarium? How much was it? Successful? How thick should it be? Thanks!

[Agnate]

Can you not just pick up glass lids? Mine were *really* cheap (my 10 gallon lid was only $10). If you get plexiglass custom cut, I imagine it'll cost you the same amount. Alternatively, look into getting glass pieces cut, as it might actually be cheaper and won't permanently warp. You could also look into getting Acrylic sheets from a hardware store, but make sure you price it out, because it can get expensive.

[KJB]

Here is my write up:

Plexiglas hood for a ADA style rimless aquarium. My tank had unique dimensions so store bought want an option.

Total cost 6 dollars.
Time 20 minutes of bending at best 30 minutes spent acquiring the items needed. So 1 hour.

89 cents for a set of 8 picture hangers,
5 dollars for a cut of acrylic.

I started out with no idea how I was going to get a cover for my tank when I realized my target puffer may get it into his puffer head to jump one of these days. This project was further sped up when I found 2 dried up ghost shrimp that had jumped tank rather then face a quick doom.

To start I measured my tank and decided what size cover i needed. That is the key part. Insure there is enough room in dimensions to fit your filter and other in tank items. I decided to leave one inch of my tank uncovered as it is too small a gap to let my puffer out but big enough to allow my wires and filter space in, so 19lx13w is my tanks top.

Next I simply went to Lowes and found the window pain isle. In the isle are sheets of glass and acrylic in varying sizes. I say choose acrylic thanks to its lightweight nature. Select the one closest to your needs, flag an employee down and ask them if they can help you by cutting it to your exact needs. I made the mistake my first attempt to cut it myself, needless to say it cracked badly. They have a specific blade designed for glass and acrylic and its free. The issue is finding someone in a Home Depot or Lowes.

Once that is done I simply had to find something to keep it in place as I did not want to just sit it on the tank top. I bought some picture hangers. I figured I could bend them to work. I am sure other methods could be used but I couldn't find a better item at the time.

Now take it home and simply bend the picture hangers into a nice shape to hold up the lid. once done mount it and you now have a cheap lid. A nice mod you can do for airflow is drill holes in the lid. I will be doing so shortly but I lack an appropriate bit and forgot to look for it. Also for a larger tank a cross brace would be good as the acrylic bends slightly.

The hangers with my ill fated first sheet I tried to cut myself... don't do that.
My hangers
Bending them into shape

My 2nd pre-cut piece
Shot with flash of the finished article
No flash shot of the finished top. I cannot see it outside of the hangers from a distance. All it needs is a few more holes for circulation.

[bazil323]

My lfs only carries hoods with lights. I haven't seen a plain glass top, and I don't want a screen top because I also want to control the evaporation. I probably could find something for the 20g long as it's a standard size. But even online I can't find anything that will fit the tall tank. Oh yeah, and I didn't take into account leaving room for the filter and cords. So the tall tank actually needs a 12" x 13.25" cover.

After a revelation, I realized that there was absolutely no reason that the shrimp and snails had to stay in the 20g. I guess at the time I was thinking that I'd keep them with the neons because the goldfish was trying to eat them. And I thought the neons would like more floor space rather than up & down space. So once I move the goldfish into the pond (hopefully sometime this summer otherwise I'l have to sell him back to the lfs 'cause I don't have a big enough tank to deal with his rapid growth.), I'll move the snails and shrimp into the tall tank. I also took more correct measurements and found that it's just over 16 gallons. Another reason that the shrimp and snails could go in there rather than taking up the 20.

The neons will stay in the 20g long, and I will try to settle on just what I really want to go in with them. I'm seriously thinking to get three gouramis (1m,2f, if I can find somewhere that carries females) and 4 or 5 otos. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

[puffaman]

Just what I needed! The acrylic top looks awesome, easy, and inexpensive =)
My question is, will the lighting be ok with the acrylic? This is for a FW tank but the lights don't have legs, they would just sit on top of it...

[Nick]

They call them versa tops.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... sa=title#p

[Pufferpunk]

Why can't you do the same with glass? IMO, the acrylic will eventually burn from the lights resting on it. I also think it may bow in the middle. Is there a frame on the tank?

[puffaman]

The tank is 48"x18" and it has a 12" glass brace in the middle, glass is probably a better option come to think of it. I just don't like dealing with glass as its more fragile so I just gotta make sure I get one that's thick enough. I found those Versa-tops for $35 not bad compared to everything else i was coming across.

Thanks!!

[Nick]

Versatops are as close to unbreakable as any glass I've dealt with. It's seriously like auto glass. I've dropped them onto wooden floors many times without breaking them. Last one I saw break was knocked off a shelf 6 feet in the air and knocked off a corner on concrete. Last one I saw actually shatter was on the floor with one side up on a wooded block and it got stamped on while loading food bags. No idea how the heck it got there.

[Pufferpunk]

I also suggest 2 sheets, instead of one. The light can go over one sheet & the 2nd sheet is in the front for easy access to the tank. Actually, for a 48" tank, make that 4 sheets. You'll have to make a handle for them to open/lift up the glass, too.