Looking for Ideas on new tank covers.

[Zeppelin3k]

My current wood tops are starting to rot and warp, I'm looking to get a new top on it soon but I want a couple ideas and see what you guys can come up with. Also I'm getting new lights for the tank, so maybe i could do a plexi glass top and put the lights on the top? I was planning to keep the lights hidden in the canopy but still dont know what I'm looking for.

heres a pic of the tops. tank is 72" across, and the current tops are in 4 sections.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Dr Joe]

I as thinking of using teak flooring strips on a framework. Makes it lighter and doesn't rot as easily. Plus tyou can say it's Teak.

Get your lighting first (or atleast make a decision on which one(s)). Then work around them.

Plexy will sag with heat so you have to go thicker which costs more too.

Are you good at working with plexy? Got the tools?

Dr Joe

.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

I have never heard of teak, what exactly is it? I was hoping to make the lighting around the top, maybe hang underneath the top somehow, or mounted above, whatever idea sounds like it would work the best. The thing i hate about the tops in the pics is how heavy they are and holding them up is tricky when your trying to clean glass, feed, and vac the gravel. Worked with a little plexy glass for a 55 gallon top which turned out crappy as hell. It sagged right into the water and i chipped alot of the plexy when cutting it with the saw. I would get a thicker plexy if I were to go that route. Lots of tools!

Thanks

 

[Zeppelin3k]

AHH

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teak (Tectona), is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. They are large trees, growing to 30-40 m tall, deciduous in the dry season.

Cultivation and uses
The timber is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture, boat decks, and other articles where weather resistance is desired. It is also used for indoor flooring and as a veneer for indoor furnishings.

Teak is easily worked and has natural oils that make it suitable for use in exposed locations, where it is durable even when not treated with oil or varnish. Teak cut from old trees grown slowly in natural forests is more durable and harder; teak from young trees grown in plantations is more prone to splitting and water damage, however kiln drying allows for sustainable, plantation-grown teak to perform nearly on par with old-growth teak.

Sounds like a good option to go with wood wise, I was hoping to get away from wood because of the rotting and warping over time.

 

[devlyyn]

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a 48" long tank with a 36" long light. I'm thinking to buy a couple sheets of the thicker acrylic they sell at home depot. At my store it is about $13 for a 24"x18" sheet of the thick one. Then I will probably just have two peices of wood going from the front to the back of the tank to support the light. I dont know how crappy it will look though.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

They make lights that have metal legs that make the tank look good. It hovers over the tank.

 

[tRiP]

I like the plain old glass lids

 

[FuzzyHead]

I'm currently using a light deflector as the top of my tank. They are easy to cut to fit. I of course have a wooden hood covering everything. This keeps my hood very dry underneath. My current setup is used and thus the hood was well abuse before me.

 

[ercnan]

The local glass shop is your friend. Makes lighting options easier, and with "lots of tools" you can build your own canopy to cover it all.
Sort of like this.

I like the 45's at the front corners on yours, nice look.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

I like the plain old glass lids

I dont know if i can go with glass, i dont have a glass cutter and dont know how that would exactly work....

I'm currently using a light deflector as the top of my tank. They are easy to cut to fit. I of course have a wooden hood covering everything. This keeps my hood very dry underneath. My current setup is used and thus the hood was well abuse before me.

maybe do a copy of my current tops with deflector underneath it? That might work

The local glass shop is your friend. Makes lighting options easier, and with "lots of tools" you can build your own canopy to cover it all.
Sort of like this.
I like the 45's at the front corners on yours, nice look.

Canopy is staying, were you thinking of adding on to the canopy? nice fat severum also!