Acrylic tank cover

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octavusprime

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 20, 2010
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sacramento
I know now that I shouldn't have gone acrylic but since I did spend $50 on this ****, I mean sheet of Poly(methyl methacrylate), I would like to attempt to salvage it.

I've done the cuts and it sits beautifully right now but it is bound to curl from what I've been reading. I'm hoping someone who has successfully used this stuff could chime in.

There are two sheets 17" x 30" that are used to cover my 135G tank with cut outs for filters and such. I was thinking about using wood or aluminum to make a "frame" then screwing the frame to the outline of the acrylic to give it stability.

Has anyone done this? Fail idea or workable? Do I need to put a support "beam" accross the mid length of the acrylic in addition? I'd rather not so it doesn't cast a shadow from the light.

Any insight would be welcomed. I really don't want to waste the $50 bucks nor do I want to flip the Plexi glass daily to avoid the eventual bending that will inevitably occur.

Thanks in advance.
 
ive been thinking of doing this myself, as i need a new top for my sump since i re-configured it. i was thinking of using eggcrate ziptied or glued to the plexi glass. or i even like your idea of building a frame. if you screw it together, make sure you use stainless steel!
 
I used 1in acrilic bars to brace and the lids still warped! I just finished making glass canopies to replace them- wish I had goine w glass in the first place. I bought glass sheet from lowes had them cut to size. To make the hinge I used 3m outdoor double sided tape or you can also use a silicone there is a DIY video on youtube. I used my old acrilic lids to make a track the the canopies to sit on. good luck
 
Still undecided whether to go forward with the "framing" of the acrylic. I really want to believe that a nice hardwood frame screwed tight would be enough to prevent the warping. Guess it all depends how powerful the acrylic really is...
 
I would put a strip of something maybe a piece of acrylic, or a strip of wood near the center of it, that might help stop it from warping from the heat. Too late now but going with a thicker piece of acrylic might have helped, the thin stuff really warps. Had an acrylic cover I made for a 55g, and even w/o any lights/heaters in the tank, it ended up bending. Had to keep flipping the cover every few days to keep the warping in check. May just want to go with getting glass cut to size, and then using a tank lid extender (the plastic piece that fits on the end of a glass lid) and make all the cutouts you need in that.
 
HD and Lowes both sell "U" shaped aluminum track in varies thicknesses. It is fairly in expensive and will work to keep your frame from bowing. Also if you are going to hinge the top you can pick up a piano hinge, while you are there, and that will support the center.

If our local HD or Lowes doesn't have it here is a website. It can be attached with silicone and it looks great when finished.

http://www.richelieu.com/produit/index.php?id=1003347&lang=An
 
It will cut with a regular hack saw pretty easy. My name is Rich. Glad I could help. It seems I am always on the; " in need of help side", lol.
 
Make sure it wouldn't be cheaper to just go ahead and have some glass lids made. The aluminum track looks perfect for the job, but you probably need over 15 feet of it. I know you are $50 deep, but you might just be better of chalking it up as a loss (keep the acrylic for baffles in a future sump) and going with glass.
 
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