hiya all..

[Marx]

Do i need a lid on my 65gal tank?

im thinking of building a wood canopy 48"x18"x10" (LxWxH)
and was wondering if i need a glass between my fluorescents and the water? about 10-12 inches away?

or will i lose to much water due to evaporation?

[BigDaddy]

A glass top is a requirement... even with waterproof end caps.

Unless, of course, you have no problem with the possibility of your hood catching fire and igniting the room ...

[Pisidan]

Yeah for safety I would highly recommend glass and it also helps prevent jumping fish mishaps!!!

[Marx]

i don't think they make a glass top for my aquarium..  48X16?

no center brace..

bummer

[BigDaddy]

Get a piece of plexiglass cut to size.  It doesn't have to be thick, just has to cover the top.

You could get two pieces cut, one that covers the majority of the top, and a second piece you could slide off for tank maintenance/feeding etc...

[Marx]

Actually i called big als... and i can get a glass top for $32.99..

and i will make my own Light for it.. 2x40W
1.23watts per gallon.. for low light plants.. (crypts,anubias,java fern, java moss.)

and for perfect colouration of fish..

[donj]

The problem is the glass tops at the LFS assume that you have a centre brace.  The glass top I bought for my 36X18 didn't work because I don't have a centre brace either.

And plexiglass warps...

[Marx]

why not? was it 2 pieces?

[Marx]

worse comes to worse i will make a thin plastice center brace and silicon it to tank..

but why would you need center brace?

[Marx]

i don't understand  how it didn't work?

[BigDaddy]

A four foot glass top is actually two pieces... you need the center brace.

[Marx]

dam so i need to build center brace..

hmmm so im screwed then lol.. pexiglass costs  big bucks..

[Marx]

ok so i called Hagen.. their glass canopies come with center brace.. so i should have no worries!!


thanks for making me double check!!!

[BigDaddy]

Be warned with the Hagen tops... the don't have flip lids (i.e. a door that swings up).  The Hagens have two pieces of glass, one on top of the other, that sit in a track on the sides.  The problem is, sliding the glass in the track is not smooth.  Occassionally the glass cuts into the plastic a bit, as well as the fact that you can unevenly slide one end further than the other, and then you've gotta mess around with the pane until you can get it even again.

I had a Hagen top on a 15 gallon, and I hated it.  Much prefer the perfecto tops, especially now with their little stand off handles.

[Marx]

i love my perfecto lids.. but none will fit lol.. also if i need to do anything i can remove the full panel...

[artw]

if you need sheets of glass I have some extras

[saltydog]

Art, what is thickest glass you have & approximate dimensions?
thanks.

[artw]

dunno around 1/4"
its 48" by about 16"
I have 4 sheets

[saltydog]

Art,

I could make use of 2 panes of your glass. $?

Roger

[donj]

exactly what BigDaddy said...actually mine was four pieces and didn't work at all.  I checked all over and couldn't find one with a centre brace.  If you find one let me know.  thanks