Help me build a lid!

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A

abortedsoul

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 4, 2008
1,154
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MD, USA
I've got 2 523 gallon tanks and I need to know how to build a lid for these bad boys. I need it to look nice. I'm painting them black (latex paint on the outside, epoxy on the inside), and after that I'm going to need some sort of a lid. It needs to be see-through, so maybe some form of clear plastic pulled over PVC?

I'd like it to be hinged, or something similar, b/c we are going to be handfeeding the stingrays that will live there.
 
Pics of the tanks would help.

Probably will need to go with fairly thick acrylic or have a couple pieces of glass cut.
 
Bumpity bump bump... BUMP! I'm waiting to cycle these things, and need to find out how to keep my apartment from being balmy like a jungle! :)
 
piece of acyrlic and a 2x4 frame...
 
I totally missed that link in the first post!

Just go with acrylic and 2x4s to make the frame. Just keep it simple and it should be fine. If you want them hinged, just pick up a couple of stainless steel door hinges and mount them to the frame.
 
I dont know what kind of building supplies you have in your area. I used 1/2 inch aluminum L shaped brackets which come in 10ft lenghts. What i did was make a ridge on 4 sides on the interior edge of the glass top side My tank has a ridge, part of the structure, attached it with silicon. Then acrylic or plastic grills can be cut and fitted in this groove. for hinged, you can always put a flap door in the middle of the acrylic with small hinges
 
Does anyone know of a source to get cheap acrylic in large sheets? Nothing fancy needed. See-through, and durable enough to use as a lid long-term.
 
abortedsoul;3234796; said:
Does anyone know of a source to get cheap acrylic in large sheets? Nothing fancy needed. See-through, and durable enough to use as a lid long-term.
Click to expand...

polycarbonate is easier to use, probably cheaper, easier to find. Much easier to drill through then acrylic. go down to your local hardware store, and you can pick up some roofing panel things, which are corrugated and made out of polycarbonate. just add layers to your desired thickness, and use silicon to stick the two together (also will allow for more thickness). 10mm thick lid might be 5 layers including the silicon used to bond. make a frame like Nic and Pharaoh said, hinges and maybe a bolt to hold it down, because as you imagen it'll be pretty light (polycarbonate is lighter then acrylic).
 
To save money, I'd use a sheet of plexiglass bolting aluminum angle iron every foot of so, fastening with stainless bolts. The angle iron will prevent the plexi from bowing.

Then just cut a couple of hinged feeding doors in the desired locations.

I did something very similar to a 90 gallon tank I have that didnt have the center supports. I couldn't find a 2 piece hinged lid for it so went the route described above. Worked like a charm and still have it on the tank today.

Most local lumber yards carry 4x8 sheets of 5/16 plexiglass.
 
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