Bow Tank Cover Help

[moneymm]

I have a 45 Gallon Bow tank, ive been searching all night to find something online or on RC for ideas for a bow tank cover. all these DIY covers are for straight up rectangles.

anyone have a bow tank with solution that i can either buy, or build or pay someone to build.

looking for the best quality, i just want to do it once the right way.

 

[JoelA7]

Something like this would work for the curved side: http://www.trippplastics.com/products/products.asp?catID=22

You'd need to have a few other rigid rods, perhaps, to stabilize the curve and keep the mesh on plane.

 

[moneymm]

Perhaps... But how would any mesh attach to this ? Was hoping someone could share a pic of there finely done bow tank covers and materials needed . Or a link to buy a lid. I can't believe a company making covers doesn't exist.

Oh by the way my tank is rimless.... That's prob gonna be a problem.

 

[rfgonzo]

If it's just a cover you're looking for and not a canopy, I would take a piece of wood and make a template then buy a sheet of acrylic put the acrylic on top of the template and then use a router to cut it to the size that you need.

 

[moneymm]

Where can I buy acrylic with holes?

 

[rfgonzo]

You would need to cut the holes out yourself with a holesaw or if you need larger cutouts you would use a router for this as well.

 

[moneymm]

You would need to cut the holes out yourself with a holesaw or if you need larger cutouts you would use a router for this as well.

Everyone on here seems to think mesh is best for lighting and oxygen process

 

[fishgate]

I've seen bow front mesh tops made from screen material from home depot - the aluminum frames - that works perfect. Apparently it is easy to bend to the radius needed.

I would not use acrylic. Acrylic will get covered in salt in short order and light passage will be affected. You will be cleaning it non-stop.

You could do a rectangle out of screen frame and then make the curved portion out of acrylic. The regular top plastic hinges will connect the aluminum screen frames and a piece of acrylic I have done it.

 

[reefwiser]

You need special tool to bend aluminum frame material correctly

If you live where there is a good window repair man he may be able to do this for you.

 

[kurt_n]

Everyone on here seems to think mesh is best for lighting and oxygen process

I've been running the standard 46g bowfront glass lid (with the flexible hinge removed) for 8 years now without any problems. It's open in the back, so it's not like there isn't oxygen exchange. And when I was doing measurements with a PAR meter, the glass lid only decreases PAR levels by about 10%.

Don't feel like you have to use mesh/eggcrate because that's what everyone says you need. Do what makes sense for you.

 

[moneymm]

I currently have plastic lid ... I don't think this works though right?

 

[kurt_n]

Well... no, not if you're going to put lights over the tank. When I said the "standard" lid, I meant this:

http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aqu...02AS8T8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t/190-1030947-1927322

 

[moneymm]

was planning on getting the glass lid that is out there for this model and then making a rectangle screen for the main part... but to spend 100 plus on the front glass seems alil excessive... i dont know.... i guess ill see if anyone else has another idea....

i dont mind spending money on a finished product, but to spend all that money and still end up with a trip to home depot and hours of DIY, seems nuts.

 

[kurt_n]

... but to spend 100 plus on the front glass seems alil excessive....

I just had to replace my 46g bow. I bought a new glass top for it and I'm pretty sure it ran $30-40 through my local fish store.

 

[fishgate]

was planning on getting the glass lid that is out there for this model and then making a rectangle screen for the main part... but to spend 100 plus on the front glass seems alil excessive... i dont know.... i guess ill see if anyone else has another idea....

i dont mind spending money on a finished product, but to spend all that money and still end up with a trip to home depot and hours of DIY, seems nuts.

Just use acrylic for the bow part and the screen for the rest. And the below will connect them. I did this and it worked great.

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Pe...5O6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415906646&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aqu...415906692&sr=8-2&keywords=aquarium+lid+handle

 

[moneymm]

Just use acrylic for the bow part and the screen for the rest. And the below will connect them. I did this and it worked great.

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Pe...5O6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415906646&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aqu...415906692&sr=8-2&keywords=aquarium+lid+handle

sounds like a good plan thanks... got a pic of it?

 

[fishgate]

I did this on my 40B not with a bowfront but it is the same concept. I since sold the tank but I know I posted a pic on here at one point.

 

[Sk8r]

Cut and screw together a thin pine skeleton for an 8" tall canopy. 1-bys are enough. It should be light.

Then with screws and glue, skin it with black or woodgrain laminate, with some holes for the cords and hoses. Light kit can set atop it at a 9" remove from the water, which is about right for coral health (at least for metal halides.)

It's not too hard to make, except cutting the frame top and bottom. I'd suggest thin plywood. Coat all wood with waterproofing, eg polyurethane.

 

[mluntz]

I had the same problem with my 46 bow. Finally found a guy on Craigslist that was selling a whole setup. I asked him if he would part with the very nice wood canopy for $50 and he did. All I did after that was cut some screen and stapled it to the bottom of the canopy so that it lifts off with the canopy. Looks great and you can't see the screen.

 

[moneymm]

Thinking if I'm gonna build a cover maybe I should just build the canopy like sk8r said.... What u guys think canopy vs screen top?

I would think a canopy makes it harder to work in the tank and also restricts viewing...