Clear screen FRAME material

[Blitzburggirl]

Hi, I have a beautiful rimless 60 cube.

I also have a mystery wrasse, and some other fish I really like. I'd prefer to keep them in their current state, not jerky.

So, I have a slab of eggcrate set on top of it... Ghhhhhhetto!

So, I'm planning to make a screen top, and I want to make it as clear as possible. I am using the BRS 1/4" netting, but it's the FRAME material I'm having trouble with. Surely someone, some where, carries CLEAR frame material.

All you resourceful people, have you seen it!!?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

If I were in your shoes, I'd use strips of 1/2" square acrylic rod and find a creative way to attach the screen to it.

 

[Blitzburggirl]

Hhhhheeeeeyyyyyy I'm thinking that stuff you use on the corner of a high traffic drywall corner... L shaped acrylic....

Any ideas as to what to use to attach it? I'll be either doing a 250 halide (current lighting) and moving to AI Sol, and, if the LED thing doesn't work for me, back to the halide... so it has to be able to withstand halide heat and output.... At first I was thinking clear aquarium sealant or glue gun... Point out what's wrong with my idea LMAO

 

[Blitzburggirl]

I love your signature btw!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I guess I'd just experiment until I found something that worked, I can't think of an obvious choice off the top of my head.

Aquarium silicone probably won't stick well enough to the acrylic.

You could use a router to cut a narrow groove in the acrylic, then use the rubber/plastic spline material you use to assemble "real" window screens to hold it in.

Or maybe even something simple, like high quality clear packing tape.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Mesh cover

Mesh cover

Take a look here
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/search.aspx?search=clear angle corners&page=1

Im sure you could glue a straight piece over the mesh like a sandwich to hold it tight, All you have to do is figure out the corners.

 

[birdsandsoap]

My brain is thinking of a design similar to an embroidery hoop. A simple frame made from acrylic, the netting placed over the top, and an outer frame to go over and fit tightly around the inner frame, netting in between.

A hot glue gun won't work if you are going to be using hot lights, it will just melt.

 

[birdsandsoap]

My brain is thinking of a design similar to an embroidery hoop. A simple frame made from acrylic, the netting placed over the top, and an outer frame to go over and fit tightly around the inner frame, netting in between.

A hot glue gun won't work if you are going to be using hot lights, it will just melt.

 

[Meshmez]

FWIW i have used normal clear silicone to attach standard door screen to acrylic before. it held well. I know people say silicone doesnt stick to acrylic, but IME i have seen it stick plenty well. probably not well enough to build a tank out of it like you would a glass tank, but its worth a shot to hold screen with no load...

though the grooved acrylic + rubber cord idea sounds like a much nicer looking solution.

 

[dekand]

I have a 65 rimless i'm looking for the same solution for, as minimalistic and "invisible" as possible...

I may be looking into getting a piece of acrylic cut to the exact specs of the top of my tank, with a channel in it so screen can be fitted to it just like a normal screen frame, with 4 tabs that go down just enough inside the tank to let it sit on top and not move around.

Or do the same thing but have it sit inside the tank just enough to be flush, with tabs that would let it hang on the glass, either way is a bit of a hit on the rimless look, but the only other option is to glue some tabs inside the top corners so the whole frame can just sit in the tank, but i'm not big on the idea of gluing pieces to my tank...

 

[scott71]

You might try using a thin piece of flat aluminum stock (Lowes or Home Depot) to make a frame and silicone your mesh to it. Also seen people use tulle (tool that is used for brides vail). It is cheap and can get at fabric store.

 

[salty joe]

If you can make the frame from the corner protectors, you might be able to put a thin coat of Vaseline on rim of tank, lightly stretch the screen over the tank, put a bead of silicone over the screen and press the frame over the tank. Trim excess screen and done. Maybe add a little weight for a day until silicone is cured.

 

[Mark426]

Get this guy to make you one. He has done custom work in the past.

 

[mfinn]

Pretty slick looking Mark426