Aquarium tops

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ryan820

Blenny
#1
#1
Morning all... so grey and blah outside... I'm so thankful for the rain but it makes me feel foggy...

Anyway, my 46g still has a glass top to it. But with the salt creep and spray, it looks terrible and I'm wondering what suggestions people may have to remove the glass and still have a viable "top" to the aquarium so fish stay in and light can pass through? I have a 4 lamp fixture that is a few inches above the rim of the tank, so I'm not worried about salt spray on it, but I have another fixture (2 lamp) that sit atop the glass. I've been designing in my head a way to attached the second fixture to the tank without it needing the glass.

What do you guys use? I don't have a hood or anything so using something like egg crate would not look the best, though it would keep the fish in and let the light through. I suppose if I bought black crate, it would at least be less visible.

I'm open to suggestions. My salt creep is terrible on the tank edges and it's really annoying to clean. But its cosmetic... but on the glass it seriously limits the ability of light to pass through.

Thanks!
 
ChrisB

ChrisB

Butterfly Fish
#2
#2
mines open

only have ever had one fish jump out but she was more pushed out by another fish before i could catch one of the 2 to stop it
 
1

120greefman

Guest
#3
#3
I don't use a top. Lots of evaporation though. Have had a few jumpers but I am pretty sure they were chased out. My canopy is 6" so I hope that deters some fish from jumping.
 
othercents

othercents

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
#4
I use bird netting and window screen rails. You have to cut and build the screen top yourself, but it allows plenty of light through and keeps the fish in. I have some salt creep on the screen, but not as much as a glass top.

BRS also has this nice video about making a screen top.
[video=youtube;F0CzorCknWQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ[/video]
 
Boogie

Boogie

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
#5
othercents;94561 said:
I use bird netting and window screen rails. You have to cut and build the screen top yourself, but it allows plenty of light through and keeps the fish in. I have some salt creep on the screen, but not as much as a glass top.

BRS also has this nice video about making a screen top.
[video=youtube;F0CzorCknWQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ[/video]
Click to expand...
+billion. I use these on all three of my tanks.
 
ChrisB

ChrisB

Butterfly Fish
#6
#6
thats a cool idea.. might help keep dog fuz out too lol!
 
Boogie

Boogie

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
#7
Side note: I made one for a bow front by using the front curved piece of glass and replacing the rectangle glass section with the screen top.
 
D

djkms

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
#9
othercents;94561 said:
I use bird netting and window screen rails. You have to cut and build the screen top yourself, but it allows plenty of light through and keeps the fish in. I have some salt creep on the screen, but not as much as a glass top.
Click to expand...
I also have the same top on my tank.
 
Tripple T

Tripple T

Anthias
#11
#11
IMO open tops are not viable unless you have an ro unit that automatically tops your system off. Ive tried keeping alot of ro on hand in jugs and it just isnt fun. In my nanos i ran them topless for 2 months and loved the look but the constant filling of water eventually wore me down. I have glass tops now and in all honesty am much happier. I think that you should look fos a solution to the spray first.
 
ChrisB

ChrisB

Butterfly Fish
#12
#12
i top off my tank with about 5 gallons over a week. I kind of like the evaporation. helps get new water in through the week.
 
1

120greefman

Guest
#13
#13
othercents;94561 said:
I use bird netting and window screen rails. You have to cut and build the screen top yourself, but it allows plenty of light through and keeps the fish in. I have some salt creep on the screen, but not as much as a glass top.

BRS also has this nice video about making a screen top.
[video=youtube;F0CzorCknWQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ[/video]
Click to expand...
Sweet idea. Will have to try that
 
1

120greefman

Guest
#14
#14
Tripple T;94586 said:
IMO open tops are not viable unless you have an ro unit that automatically tops your system off. Ive tried keeping alot of ro on hand in jugs and it just isnt fun. In my nanos i ran them topless for 2 months and loved the look but the constant filling of water eventually wore me down. I have glass tops now and in all honesty am much happier. I think that you should look fos a solution to the spray first.
Click to expand...
I have a ato so it makes life much easier. Would be hating life without it.
 
Off The Deep End

Off The Deep End

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#15
#15
I have seen alot of people use egg crate on bowfront tanks because its easier to cut to size n shape.
 
Cake_Boss

Cake_Boss

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
#16
#16
othercents;94561 said:
I use bird netting and window screen rails. You have to cut and build the screen top yourself, but it allows plenty of light through and keeps the fish in. I have some salt creep on the screen, but not as much as a glass top.

BRS also has this nice video about making a screen top.
[video=youtube;F0CzorCknWQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ[/video]
Click to expand...
+ a billion and one. You can also go into Lowes when they get a truck in, some of there pallets come wrapped in the clear netting.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
 
R

ryan820

Blenny
#17
#17
thanks all... I had plans on getting screening from BRS but have been building a list so I get free shipping. and yes the bowfront is a pain... only the glass cut for it will fit and very hard to get pics of your tank due to distortion.

I may try the netting as I have some on hand and keep the front bow glass in place until I figure out how to mount the second fixture to the tank. it simply sits atop the glass now.

I don't have an ATO yet, but it should be here next week. I still need a pump for it though. silly me thought it would come with one.
 
D

dworkman

Angel Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#18
#18
I did these a few months ago, used BRS mesh and white aluminum screen frames. Very simple to make and very functional for my tank. But they are under/hidden by a canopy. Without a canopy, you could use acrylic strips to custom make a screen, check it out here: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html

I came across that when looking at doing mine, but ended up not caring about aesthetics enough. I wouldn't use egg crate, it is sold as a light diffuser and has to significantly reduce the light getting to your tank I would think.
 
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