New "canopy"

I keep fish that jump (wrasse, anthias, jawfish, etc) and have struggled with finding a lid that will keep stuff in while having a minimal impact on stuff like temperature, gas exchange, and loss of light. I was stuck using the glass canopy built for my tank, which required frequent cleaning, and the hinge (flimsy plastic) on one of them doesn't work very well any more, and this glass canopy keeps in lots of heat, impacts gas exchange, and also causes lots of salt creep.... which is really annoying.

Then, I saw an idea on BRS that I loved. See here: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - DIY screen top for aquariums.mpg[/ame] and immediately decided I should do it.

So I ordered 1 roll of 1/4" clear plastic netting from BRS for $12, which is excellent. You could use black netting from the hardware store, but it's likely to absorb more light than the clear does.

Then, I went to home depot and acquired the necessary screen materials. For my 6' tank, I got 3x 7' "bronze" finish window screen frame pieces, 25' of spline (that rubber crap that makes the screen stay taut), 8 corner pieces (since my tank has a brace in the center, there will be two seperate screens... thus 8 corners), and a spline tool. This cost a grand total of $15.

I used these tools:



First, measure twice. Then measure again. For my aquarium, there's a lip on the inside where the screen sits. That's the part I measured.

It's easiest to cut the frame with a strong pair of shears... but you can only cut the side of the frame without the channel. If you squish the channel, it's kind of a pain in the arse to unbend it so you can slip the corner pieces in. However, if you cut through the channel-less part, you can just bed the frame to break the channel part. It's very thing, so easy to cut. It is often necessary to use the needle nose pliers to unbend the metal at the site of the cut. Then, slip the corner pieces in and assemble your frame.


'
test it in your tank. Make certain it sits properly. If it's not an exact fit, fix it.

Then, you need the netting, spline, and spline tool:



align the netting over the frame with some overlapping, and start at one corner with the spline. Use the tool to squish it in. if you go carefully, the screen will become taut all on its own. Use one continuous piece of spline around the whole frame. Then, trim off the excess netting, and put on your tank. If you're like me, you've got various chords sticking out of the tank... just cut a few of the threads and slip the cord (electrical plug first) through it.





Voila-- excellent tank cover, and if snug, it will prevent fish from jumping. I know this because I watched one of my sand sifting gobies attempt to escape... and he fell back into the tank unharmed.

 

Nice job.:bounce:

 

That looks great! Thanks for the tutorial.

 

I will surely need this. Especially after getting a $45 McCosker's wrasse.

 

That's funny ...I know JimFlies...The guy he's talking about on ReefCentral.

 

Home Depot and a weekend project! Woots!

 

Awesome thanks for the info!

 

I made mine today! Love it!

 

i have a Mc Coskers wrasse myself,he is very fun to watch,only payed 29 for mine

 

How does a material like this hold up to the heat from your lighting? I am looking for an alternative to my glass lid but I am leery of something that might melt.

 

I still wish some body made a set of these and set them in a present box and then send it for chrismas becuase it hard for me to make them and they dont have the material here

 

someone should make these to sell? then people like the not so handy men wouldnt have to try to build these

 

They also have to take that in to account for glass lids.

 

Yeah, and I have a bowfront so I am still scratching my head trying to figure that one out. Any ideas?

 

Inbox me if you wanna make me one i will send pics and give the sizes