Top for aquarium (1 Viewer)

[r_jay]

I have a 58 gallon Oceanic aquarium that has no top and I want to get a jawfish. The problem is I don't know what to do for a jump proof top. I am unsure acrylic would would keep from warping under my clamp on HQI Lamp. Glass would be a nice choice but heavy and theres the chance of breakage. Any help or ideas would be appreciated! The tank has a rim that would accommodate a lid of 35"x17" but with the clamp on I would like 1"-2" inches clearance on the back. There is no center brace either. :x I would post pictures but I am over my 2MB limit...

 

[rxonco]

I'd have to do some searching to find out the name but there's a few posts in here somewhere about some using a mesh-type screen over their tanks. The problem you can run into with glass tops is heat. Unless you have a chiller, there's no place for the heat to escape.

 

[AnnetteG]

for posting pics, use photobucket. I think we have the same tank, and I also like jumpy fish. What I did was made a screen that fits on the top and sits on the inner rim, using screen and frame found at HD. Here is a pic:

 

[AnnetteG]

oh and that glass and light were temporary and are gone now, but see how we left an L shape opening for the durso? you could do something similar for your clamp. My light is a 150w sunpod we suspended from the ceiling.

 

[Llama]

Sooo clean!

 

[r_jay]

Ok, that's a good setup, I think it will take some work but I do enjoy wandering home depot, in search of a project. I had thought of using eggcrate but thought it would block out too much light and wouldn't look as nice, plus the spacing could let a (very)small jumper through.

 

[AnnetteG]

in my experience, the egg crate is way too big and does let jumpers thru, they don't even have to be that small. I lost my favorite fish out of my 135 to jumping thru eggcrate.

Admittedly, this screen does block out some light, but my corals don't seem to mind, in fact, some of them seem to prefer it with the screen on. I've started taking the screen off when I'm around during the day, going with my theory that most jumping happens at night. But I keep a close eye on it when I have the screen off, cuz I have a Midas Blenny.

It's not hard to find, just look in the window area. You need screen frame, the screen material, or I've heard some people use bridal veil fabric you can find at Joann's, and a little tool for pushing the screen into the frame. All the materials cost less than $15. And it definitely works! I've seen water spots in the screen in the mornings where I think probably the Midas has thumped it. I also read about people using Bird Block netting, which would let more light in, but the holes were way too big for my comfort. I could easily see a fish jumping into it and getting stuck, if not going all the way thru.

I got this idea from hunting and reading threads on RC and other forums.

 

[rxonco]

...I've heard some people use bridal veil fabric you can find at Joann's,...

Go to Home Depot r_jay. Man-laws prohibit you from buying bridal veil fabric...even if it is for aquarium purposes.

 

[AnnetteG]

:biglaugh:

oh c'mon rxonco, you know you have a secret stash of bridal veil for securing softy frags!

I've been wondering if the bridal veil would let more light in somehow, since it's white? I dunno, probably not.

 

[r_jay]

rxonco has a point, at least I would never say I got bridal veil fabric, my wife could get some for me for my mushroom frag project but, HOME DEPOT is WAY MORE FUN! Thanks for the info, I am eager to try it out!

 

[rxonco]

If you go...make it after dark and don't tell a soul.

That's a good question Annette. I wonder if the white veil would reflect any light back up.

 

[trb]

I have a 25' roll of the 3' wide screen material I bought for my tank. I could send you a piece of it if you want. No sense buying a whole roll yourself unless you need a whole lot. I only need like 4' myself to make my top.

My original plans were to use a 1" strip of black acrylic along the back edge so I could cut out slots for my powerhead and heater cords. I also planned a 2" acrylic strip along the front edge that I could easily remove to feed the fish, without removing the whole screen. I haven't gotten around to doing it all yet, and now I might just make a very short hood on my tank, putting the screen on top of it so it won't affect the lighting since my tank is 24" deep and I only have 150W MH lights.

 

[r_jay]

AWESOME

I PMd ya trb about the screen material, lmk

I was thinking that cut out acrylic for the back would be perfect for my setup too, since not only do I have the Clamp-on light but also I have an overflow box to work around. I would only need 3-4' of screen.

 

[kitkatr]

i have seen some nice screens made, i would say that the best way to go.

 

[r_jay]

I put the frame all together will pick up the screen on saturday! only tricky part is the back... I am not planning on framing it and just going to let the screen lay over the stuff sticking out there, i.e. light-clamp, overflow, heater etc.

 

[trb]

Yeah, I would say you have a lot of stuff back there! As long as you make the frame with 4 sides and secure the screen to all 4 sides you should be OK, otherwise the screen material will flop and sag into the tank. It needs to be held taught by all 4 sides. I would make the 4 sided frame small enough to fit in the tank and clear everything at the back, and then don't trim the back edge of the screen material, just let it drape over the stuff.

 

[r_jay]

:goodidea:
I got ya, good idea! The home-made frag rack isn't in there anymore, and the heater I plan to replace with 2 100w submersibles for the sump of my dreams. I am also trying to figure out how I can keep the overflow running without the powerhead attached, mo equipment in the DT mo problems!