Glass or Acrylic Top?

[CodeBlueMedic]

So, I'm wanting to put a top on my tank so I dont have to worry about stuff jumping out of it. Initially I was thinking acrylic would be the way to go, but I've read some negative stuff about it bowing under the T5 lights and that glass may be better.

My plan was to have a sliding top, similar to these knuckle heads...

http://youtu.be/N3RK80xPSDQ

 

[Donkeykong]

might want to look into a screen top, will keep fish in but not inhibit gas exchange like a closed glass top will.

 

[disc1]

+1 for screen or mesh

 

[thegrun]

Clear 1/4" mesh in a window frame is the unanimous choice. You will trap heat, block light and impede air exchange with glass or acrylic.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

hmmm well crap....I much prefer the glass look and ease of access of just being able to slide it back. I need to do something with my light also, because right now, I have to pretty much take it off my tank in order to access the water. Maybe raise it an inch or so. Any ideas?

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

After doing some thinking, couldn't you solve the gas exchange problem by drilling some small holes in various places of the acrylic?

 

[billdogg]

Sure you can, but then it will be even more likely to warp. Screen tops are inexpensive and will come off quite easily, but I rarely take mine off. Pellet food (NL Spectrum) goes right through, when I feed frozen it is no problem to lift up the screen to drop food in.

What kind of light do you have? there's about a million ways to hang the various brands that will look nice and probably get you better coverage as well.

 

[thegrun]

Holes in the acrylic would make it better, but not nearly as good as a windowscreen frame with mesh. The mesh/window screen would also be less expensive and save you the daily hassle of cleaning the acrylic.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

I've got a coralife 30" HO lunar light. It came with legs that rest on the top of my tank, but in order to access the water, I literally have to pick the light up and rest it on my HOB filter, because the legs on the light are too short to slide to the back half of the tank.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

I guess my primary concern with the window mesh, is how can I make it look good, while still leaving access for all of my cords and HOB filter? I was planning on just cutting out pieces of the acrylic for those. This tank is in a display area of my home and it's crucial that it looks good

 

[billdogg]

Mine are AI Sol's, but you could always hang them. I did and couldn't be happier. Here's a couple pics of mine. You can also see how I did the screen tops.

 

[fed.gallardo]

I've used acrylic and drilled holes before and it will eventually warp and look like poo. I've tried glass before as well and it raise water temp as well as the other things people have already mentioned. Screen is the best way and looks great and is much less expensive than glass and acrylic.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

What is the best way to work that screen around the cords and HOB filter?

 

[fed.gallardo]

You can make the side where your cords and HOB shorter?? When i had my old tank with HOB and cords that's what I did.

 

[Ztrain]

Check out Bulk Reef Supply I was just on their site looking for other stuff and saw some kits to make just the screen your looking for I'll probably be doing the same soon. I love my acrylic tank but yes it does scratch. I've made some nice ones on the bottom which don't much care about moving live rock around. For the most part as long as you take care of them you should be good. Mine is bowing slightly I can't see it with my eye but if I hold up a level to it you can see it. I sent the pictures to the manufacture and they said it is well within specs.

 

[billdogg]

What is the best way to work that screen around the cords and HOB filter?

If you take a look at the second picture I posted, you can see how I divided tops into a large and a small section. The small section has all the cords running through it. You only have to make a very small cut in the mesh to allow the cord through. The back (small) sections remain in place, the front sections are easily removable for feeding/maintenance, etc.

 

[thegrun]

For cords you can make a U shaped bracket out of 3/8" acrylic, slip it into the window frame slots and then hot glue the mesh to the U bracket.

 

[sully6956]

Clear 1/4" mesh in a window frame is the unanimous choice. You will trap heat, block light and impede air exchange with glass or acrylic.

I definitely agree. I tried to use glass tops and could not keep my temps down. The screen tops solve that issue and allow me to feed without moving the tops.

I made my own from window screen frame kits at home depot and pond netting. I wish I could have used the BRS kit but shipping to Canada was super expensive. Turned out great.