Teenreefer15
New member
use a BRS mesh top
Bow Tank Cover Help
- Thread starter moneymm
- Start date
awesome, please send pics if you can. thanks
Well I'm officially stuck..
I got a screen kit from brs. A price of acrylic from hd for 55 bucks. (.22") thick.
It took me about 3 hours to cut the acrylic. First hour it melted behind the jigsaw I bought. I tried again snd went even slower and it came out ok..
The .22" just fit into the hinge. The hinge is made for 3/16" glass
The problem is that the Hinge that I got (from the link above) is for thin glass
So the hinge will not connect to the bra screen that is 5/16" I tried for hours.. So then I got a special order screen that is 1/16" thinner. (1/4") . That still is too thick. They don't seem to make any wider hinges or thinner screens. So I don't now how to connect my screen to my acrylic flip up lid.
I also bought the back strip peice from versa top, but that too is for thinner 3/16" glass, and both of my screens are to thick.
I've spent a good 120 bucks (plus 40 for jigsaw and blade) and 5 hours and Ive got not a lot to show for it.
Any advice?
Last edited:
explorer07
New member
You could have bought a big piece of egg crate from hd for 15$ laid it on top trace out your cuts and then cut it with some snips. I just did this for my regular 75g and wow it came out awesome. Not to mention the neat blue color it has under the lights.
scottduncan1234
New member
this is my bowfront DIY experiment
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2454987&highlight=diy+plexiglass
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2454987&highlight=diy+plexiglass
scottduncan1234
New member
explorer07 / moneymm can we see some pics?
home depot by me had absolutely nothing like this. also I would def try this out, but i heard that egg crates block some of the lighting, is this true for you?
do you have any pics of the cover from above.
explorer07
New member
I can post pics later I'm at work until 3am. On the lighting question I didn't notice a difference.
explorer07
New member
I was afraid with plexiglass or glass for that matter sitting to low to the tank and causing an algea build up unless there were a lot of holes not to mention more heat. Also for eggcrate sheets try the lighting department it should be in or around the florescent lighting fixtures.
fishgate
Active member
I used a pair of pliers to squeeze the hinge on the home depot screen frame. It is easy with pliers. I will try to post a pic if I can find some more hinges around the house.
It worked!
did it on a scrap peice.. now i just have to put it all together, will do later today..
whenever its complete i will post pics.
thanks!
explorer07
New member
well i have an update. I crimped the screen to fit in the 36" black vinyl hinge.
after I did that i need to cut some 1" x 1/4" peices of acrylic and silicone them to the inside glass so that i could rest the screen.
I def made a mistake though. I made the screen stop 3 inches from the back wall to allow for the back strip piece that i bought. I think its pretty ugly and wish I just madeit go all the way to the back and made the screen go around the overflow box im gonna add.
So this project still isnt done. when i get my overflow box from lifereef, I will then figure out how much room i need to cut out and order some new screen framing.
Other than that i think it looks okay, what do you think?
Im not a big fan of losing about 2" by the whole length of the tank with this rubber hinge. i hope this doesnt affect my lighting too bad.
after I did that i need to cut some 1" x 1/4" peices of acrylic and silicone them to the inside glass so that i could rest the screen.
I def made a mistake though. I made the screen stop 3 inches from the back wall to allow for the back strip piece that i bought. I think its pretty ugly and wish I just madeit go all the way to the back and made the screen go around the overflow box im gonna add.
So this project still isnt done. when i get my overflow box from lifereef, I will then figure out how much room i need to cut out and order some new screen framing.
Other than that i think it looks okay, what do you think?
Im not a big fan of losing about 2" by the whole length of the tank with this rubber hinge. i hope this doesnt affect my lighting too bad.
I think it looks great! I've been following this thread because I'm in the process of re-making the screen top for my 4' acrylic tank. It's not a bowfront, but the front is bowed a good 3/4" out, and a fish could easily jump through the space with a straight cover. My current screen is also one long piece, and it is a HUGE pain to remove it every time I want to get into the tank.
I love that you have the piece along the front that can flip up, and I think you'll find it incredibly practical.
I love that you have the piece along the front that can flip up, and I think you'll find it incredibly practical.
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