I got a used tank and I have half of the glass top but I'm wondering how I can cover the tank up? Do you know where I can get some screen at? Maybe egg crate?
Need ideas for covering tank
- Thread starter RTCatz
- Start date
RTCatz;1203757; said:
Very, get yourself a nice pair of side cutters and you can trim the pieces pretty easy and fast.
How big is the tank, and what do you plan to keep in it. Any lighting/or canopy planned? I ask because leaving your top open [egg-crate] will speed evaporation, and if you will have a large fish it will splash water [even if only at feeding time.]
Thin Plexiglass will sag, and the thicker stuff is expensive.
I once made a tank top for a friend using a single piece of 5/8" plywood.
I cut it to fit the top of the tank, jig-sawed out 3 openings, sanded smooth, hit it with 2 coats of Krylon. Then I used 1/2" self-cutting stainless-steel pan-head screws & 100% silicone to fix/seal the cheap [...like 1/8"] plexi to the bottom. The plywood frame was nice & heavy to keep his fish from knocking it off, and kept the cheap acrylic from sagging too much.
For lighting we installed a $15 track-lighting 4' track on the ceiling, and hung 3 cheap [like $9.99 each] but nice looking blue glass pendant-lights, 1 over each opening at about 6" above. We used 3 x 60W CFL [really 16W each] bulbs, and they provided good light. The whole project was under $100, but looks awesome and matches his apartment well.
What I would change if I did it again, is that he has to lift the entire lid and slide it back and up, propping it against the wall behind the tank when cleaning the tank. I had a 'Duh...' moment obviously. Offsetting the openings towards the rear, and hinging the front 4-6 inches would have been a good idea...
Thin Plexiglass will sag, and the thicker stuff is expensive.
I once made a tank top for a friend using a single piece of 5/8" plywood.
I cut it to fit the top of the tank, jig-sawed out 3 openings, sanded smooth, hit it with 2 coats of Krylon. Then I used 1/2" self-cutting stainless-steel pan-head screws & 100% silicone to fix/seal the cheap [...like 1/8"] plexi to the bottom. The plywood frame was nice & heavy to keep his fish from knocking it off, and kept the cheap acrylic from sagging too much.
For lighting we installed a $15 track-lighting 4' track on the ceiling, and hung 3 cheap [like $9.99 each] but nice looking blue glass pendant-lights, 1 over each opening at about 6" above. We used 3 x 60W CFL [really 16W each] bulbs, and they provided good light. The whole project was under $100, but looks awesome and matches his apartment well.
What I would change if I did it again, is that he has to lift the entire lid and slide it back and up, propping it against the wall behind the tank when cleaning the tank. I had a 'Duh...' moment obviously. Offsetting the openings towards the rear, and hinging the front 4-6 inches would have been a good idea...
Sorry, did not take pics at the time, and he left tank when he sold apartment [was only a 55] now he has a bowfront that came with own canopy.
Here's a crappy paint drawing I hashed up for you though...
I'm saving for a 180 at the moment, and this is the route I'm going to go with it... Tank and stand should be under $200... I plan to use those cheap aluminum clip-on work-lights covered in some square shaped, dark-wood & canvas Japanese style lampshades to match my apt. decour [I have a minimalist, Japanese-type fung shui kinda thing going on in there...]
Here's a crappy paint drawing I hashed up for you though...
I'm saving for a 180 at the moment, and this is the route I'm going to go with it... Tank and stand should be under $200... I plan to use those cheap aluminum clip-on work-lights covered in some square shaped, dark-wood & canvas Japanese style lampshades to match my apt. decour [I have a minimalist, Japanese-type fung shui kinda thing going on in there...]