Ghetto Rig

Advanced Tank Lid Concept

Advanced Tank Lid Concept

My house is being re-piped, and drywall dust was a concern, so I decided to fabricate a lid for my open-top cube.

Materials
  • Hewlett-Packard urbished advanced cardboard (AC)
  • High grade clear stuff
  • Universal duct tape

Tools
  • Floor
  • Hands

Advanced tools
  • Box cutter
  • Eyeballing it

Build Summary

  • Using a large open space, like a floor, lay out enough advanced cardboard (AC) to cover your tank. I used two pieces, dry-fused together using universal duct tape (make sure it is genuine universal duct tape before attempting this).
  • Using a box cutter, and precise eyeballing measurements, cut the space where you would like to cut a window in the lid for light transmission. It is vital that coral receive enough light. Since advanced cardboard is not a good light transmitter, this sort of window is of utmost importance.
  • Take an amount of clear stuff, and put it over the space in the lid that you have cut. I used high-grade clear stuff my wife got for some reason. I believe it is a form of Mylar, but I am not sure as that would require extensive testing.
  • Attach the windowpane of clear stuff over the open area in the lid, securing it firmly with universal duct tape.
  • The best part about this build: you see now ready to begin enjoying your advanced tank lid. Using two hands, grab the lid and pick it up (bend at the waist!). Carefully slide the lid onto your tank, and stand back a few feet to check for proper fitment.

The Finished Product

The Finished Product
DB3BA6E5-332A-4776-87FF-862FA8618F1A_zpszdyfgdpc.jpg

Here is The Finished Product. Note the proper fitment, as well as the light transmisison through the clear stuff.

Close Up
8EF6742A-11EE-42C7-A7C4-F98E56CBA58A_zpsdyh4tlaw.jpg

This close up image shows not only the attention to detail, but the quality of the workmanship.

ExtraTab Grip (on the unit)
21768E65-86BC-4008-A009-4385F512C16E_zps44qij1b0.jpg

I designed this ExtraTab Grip on the unit to allow you to grab the unit from the anterior (front) side of the unit.

Materials Are Everything
3F9443D4-C6DD-4CB5-AE20-E35707284ECE_zpsz5m4ajei.jpg

Here you can see that the advanced cardboard is manufactured by Hewlett-Packard, a reputable paper products company. Always spring for the best.

Urbished Advanced Cardboard
4C6004AC-5F91-4AFA-8DBF-A1D9DFE48985_zps4ndco0fy.jpg

For this build, I used urbished AC. The reason for this is because urbished AC is much stronger than non-urbished AC. This is to assure proper structural integrity.


I hope you enjoyed my build. Feel free to make your own, so your family can also enjoy the benefits of an advanced tank lid for years to come.
 
Last edited:
"Advanced tools
Box cutter
Eyeballing it"

The human eye is accurate to a 1/16" of an inch. Precision tools defeat the purpose of this thread! :)

Nice write up, I applaud your cardboard selection.
 
What's MOST impressive about this thread is that the majority of the tanks associated with these ghetto setups seem to be doing really good!

Menace
 
The Banker

I love your high quality build and the great write up.
I shall endevor to write up my next ghettoage for all to enjoy
 
So does my light and return line to my 38g refugium I have overflowing into my display tank count? I originally made it 3 whites on one side ans 3 redson the other on a piece of 1.25" aluminum tube. The white outgrew the red so I just gave it a 1/4 turn and just glued 6 whites on. Diet even bother flipping it in the direction you wouldn't see the old LEDs attached to it. I just sat it on some 2x4s on top of a a crappy piece of Lowes .1" acrylic. To hold all that down and the return hose I decided two 2.5lb weights would be perfect. Was temporary setup like 6 months ago. These pics are from tonight....
eta9a3em.jpg


adatavuj.jpg


abynevy4.jpg


Truthfully I feel like that fuge is octopus escape proof with those weights on top
 
I wish people would stop using tapatalk to post pics, it never works.....
So does my light and return line to my 38g refugium I have overflowing into my display tank count? I originally made it 3 whites on one side ans 3 redson the other on a piece of 1.25" aluminum tube. The white outgrew the red so I just gave it a 1/4 turn and just glued 6 whites on. Diet even bother flipping it in the direction you wouldn't see the old LEDs attached to it. I just sat it on some 2x4s on top of a a crappy piece of Lowes .1" acrylic. To hold all that down and the return hose I decided two 2.5lb weights would be perfect. Was temporary setup like 6 months ago. These pics are from tonight....
eta9a3em.jpg


adatavuj.jpg


abynevy4.jpg


Truthfully I feel like that fuge is octopus escape proof with those weights on top

Na, an octopus would squeeze thru that gap in the sagging acrylic in the back left corner :lolspin:
 
I just went through this entire thread for the first time. Wow. Couldn't stop laughing, but there are so many great ideas.
 
My dad's work was throwing away a bunch of acrylic. So as any reefer would do, he grabbed it and took it home lol.

Well just so happened I was setting up my 75 Reef, he went ahead and bent-into-shape a nice sock holder for me with another hole for the skimmer adjust valve!

 
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