Plexiglass or glass lid

Nerine · January 04, 2009, 02:17:22 PM

I've been looking for a lid for my 55 gallon tank...

I haven't heard anything from anyone haha and I don't have crazy amounts of money to replace it from the LFS....

Would it be worth my time/money to get a piece of plexiglass cut? (I don't think I could afford a glass pane unless found one precut!)
I don't have a support bar in the middle of my tank so it'd have to be one long piece across the top and possibly something siliconed inside for support??

Ideas are appreciated!!! Thanks

fischkopp · January 04, 2009, 02:40:52 PM

Plexiglas *will* bend. I put some over a 5gal; it was bending - now imagine a 55gal

Also, plexiglass isnt exactly cheap if you need a big thick sheet. You will be probably better off getting some glass cut somewhere. You can also try to fiddle a support bar on to your tank and use comercial tank tops.

bitterman · January 05, 2009, 03:58:24 PM

Quote from: fischkopp on January 04, 2009, 02:40:52 PM
Plexiglas *will* bend. I put some over a 5gal; it was bending - now imagine a 55gal

Also, plexiglass isnt exactly cheap if you need a big thick sheet. You will be probably better off getting some glass cut somewhere. You can also try to fiddle a support bar on to your tank and use comercial tank tops.

To add to the above it bends because acryillic absorbs water on the side close to moisture and it acts sorta like a bi-metal spring. Go Glass!!!!!!

Bruce

Nerine · January 06, 2009, 04:15:56 PM

ok so a long glass top haha

but will have to figure out how to put a support bar on the tank...

any ideas since it is a working tank and I CAN lower the water to half to keep splashing minimal so stuff can dry if need be...

bitterman · January 06, 2009, 05:33:37 PM

The old glass tops were just basically 2 pieces of in the center and glassfit in the channel so it would slide.

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charlie · January 06, 2009, 06:32:30 PM

Quote from: bitterman on January 06, 2009, 05:33:37 PM
The old glass tops were just basically 2 pieces of in the center and glassfit in the channel so it would slide.

They were still available from Big Al's a few months ago, surprisingly the cost was comparable to trying DIY

Nerine · January 06, 2009, 08:26:37 PM

I should have checked this thread earlier in the evening

haha would have given me an excuse to go out to Ba's tonight! I'll give them a go and see what they have left!

markw · January 26, 2009, 11:47:36 AM

The trick to using plexiglass for tops is a rigid horizontal brace. It will bend without it, and due to the temp. of the water and lighting can bend alot! I use 2 1" high strips cut to the length of the top. I glue these strips on their edge along the entire length of the top, one on each side. The rigidity of the strips prevents the tops from bending and I have found this to be much cheaper than glass.