Glass Top Hinges - are there ANY good ones?!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
DeathStalker

DeathStalker

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2015
266
99
46
United States
The only hinges I've been able to find - for the glass-tops - are the Aqueon hinges (of course, all I can find are Aqueon glass tops as well, for that matter). But seriously, these cheap @$$ things are rotting through within 6+/- months - and they're NOT cheap, plus you have to cut them to size (and I have to order 2 sets, as I have a 3-part 125g tank). And yes, this is just a freshwater tank. I get a LOT of calcium build-up as well (any way to reduce that?)

Does anyone know if there are ANY others that are available and better made? I'd pay more for better, longer lasting quality. (Not sure why someone doesn't just make them out of a durable rubber, instead of just cheap plastic).

Thanks!

--- DS
 
How about the inexpensive twin-track plastic channels designed for sliding doors? Yes, you have to cut them to size (the horror...the horror...) but you can turn that into a positive by saying "hey, great, I can get them the exact size I want!" Plus, they don't block any light the way the actual hinges do.

They're meant to be used vertically, with the narrower one on the bottom and a wider one on top, to allow dropping a pair of sliding doors into place. But you can use them on a horizontal aquarium top by carefully measuring and cutting the glass so that the total dimension of the glass with a track at each end just fits into the top frame and rests on the lip. Slip both tracks onto the two glass pieces, and carefully drop the whole assembly into place. You can slide either piece open, and there is no chance of dropping one too hard and breaking it. The whole thing is easily removed for major cleaning, etc.

I switched to clear poly corrugated panelling long ago (sold for greenhouses in big sheets; cheap, light and unbreakable), but I used the sliding glass system for years with no complaints.
 
jjohnwm said:
How about the inexpensive twin-track plastic channels designed for sliding doors? Yes, you have to cut them to size (the horror...the horror...) but you can turn that into a positive by saying "hey, great, I can get them the exact size I want!" Plus, they don't block any light the way the actual hinges do.

They're meant to be used vertically, with the narrower one on the bottom and a wider one on top, to allow dropping a pair of sliding doors into place. But you can use them on a horizontal aquarium top by carefully measuring and cutting the glass so that the total dimension of the glass with a track at each end just fits into the top frame and rests on the lip. Slip both tracks onto the two glass pieces, and carefully drop the whole assembly into place. You can slide either piece open, and there is no chance of dropping one too hard and breaking it. The whole thing is easily removed for major cleaning, etc.

I switched to clear poly corrugated panelling long ago (sold for greenhouses in big sheets; cheap, light and unbreakable), but I used the sliding glass system for years with no complaints.
Click to expand...
Not quite picturing what you're proposing - maybe a few pics?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrownedFishonFire
I have heard of people using a carefully placed seam of silicone sealant up across the top edges of the two adjoining pieces making a DIY hinge.

Personally I would just use clear packing tape, maybe a couple strips piled on top of each other the length of the adjoining edges. It sticks well but can be removed pretty easily by warming the adhesive on the tape with a hot hair dryer and scraping it off with a razor blade when it comes time to change it. Black electrical tape might also be an option that might need multiple layers.

Butt the two pieces together and put a strip across the joint/gap between the two pieces. Then fold one piece of glass over on top of the other and put another strip of tape to cover the two edges of glass that are now exposed by folding them on top of each other... it should make a nice pretty sturdy hinge for several months.
 
Last edited:
DeathStalker said:
Not quite picturing what you're proposing - maybe a few pics?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I knew that was a lousy description; hard to make it clear without pics. But I haven't used this type of top in years, don't have any around to photograph.

It's a long plastic channel that you would cut to fit inside the width (front-to-back) of you tank. You then cut two pieces of glass just long enough to fit inside the top, on the lip, with one of the plastic tracks at each end. Each piece of glass is just over half the width of the tank. One piece goes into each groove of the plastic piece, so they overlap slightly. Either piece can then be slid in the track to open half the tank; normally you would slide the front piece towards the back for normal feeding, etc.

Go to a Home Depot or Loew's or whatever, ask to see tracks for sliding cabinet doors. I think when you see them you will get the idea. They're not perfect; if the glass edges are not nicely polished, the glass can bind when sliding it open/closed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matteus
Polycarbonate twin wall sheets ( I wonder if these would fit the wall channels instead of glass)

Wall channels for sliding glass lids

Glass would have to overlap. Take one pane and place each side into the channel on the moulding, then set it on the tank. The other pane (the slider) is placed on top of the moulding. You can add handles to the glass that slides over the other glass
 
Not sure how the channels would work - these aren't sliding panels. They're the typical hinged ones that just flip up on the front. I think it's mostly the scale that seems to buildup and deteriorate the hinges the most. I'll post separately on that.
 
I would just do away with the whole "hinge" altogether. I did. I used the glass from several 29g aquariums that had failed seals. The knobs are ceramic from HD cost about $2/ea and then gel super glue to attach. Rack.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: DMD123 and Matteus
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom