What sort of cover should I use?

[Nano]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

I think I got the same thing as Smudge. Here's a pick:


It's a bit bigger than 1/4", closer to 3/8" but I've not had anything make it through, but the operative word might be "yet"

This is the same stuff I was talking about lol

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I did check out lexan polycabonate sheet but they are just too expensive.

Don't know where you checked, but I buy mine at Industrial Plastics. A large 4' X 8' sheet (I use 1/16" thickness lexan) is $90, and you can get smaller pieces. But I buy the whole sheet, as I use it for a lot of things. It is very easy to cut (use a tin snip), drill, form or shape. And you just need to bend a small flange if you want to stiffen up a long edge. I have made all kinds of things for my sump, incl a filter sock holder, and other stuff.

For a tank your size, it shouldn't cost you more than 30 bucks. Then you have a better top than anything you could make out of mesh or egg crate. Plus great light transmission, and reduced heat and water loss. And no more fish loss.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Don't know where you checked, but I buy mine at Industrial Plastics. A large 4' X 8' sheet (I use 1/16" thickness lexan) is $90, and you can get smaller pieces. But I buy the whole sheet, as I use it for a lot of things. It is very easy to cut (use a tin snip), drill, form or shape. And you just need to bend a small flange if you want to stiffen up a long edge. I have made all kinds of things for my sump, incl a filter sock holder, and other stuff.

For a tank your size, it shouldn't cost you more than 30 bucks. Then you have a better top than anything you could make out of mesh or egg crate. Plus great light transmission, and reduced heat and water loss. And no more fish loss.

An 18"x24" retails for $33 which won't fit my tank (mine is 30" long).

But I was wondering, won't it have the same problem as glass tops? Like salt creeps and get dirty?

[Werbo]

BRS has nice DIY video using window frames and 1/4 netting

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

An 18"x24" retails for $33 which won't fit my tank (mine is 30" long).

But I was wondering, won't it have the same problem as glass tops? Like salt creeps and get dirty?

You're probably looking at HD, which is more expensive, for sure, and I don't think they even carry the 1/16 size. I see there is an Industrial Plastics in Calgary. They should carry it, and be a lot cheaper. Like I said, I can get a full 4' X 8' sheet from them for $90. They might have smaller cut pieces available for less too. But at worst they will cut you a smaller piece, for a small premium.

I clean mine about once a month. It only gets "dirty" if water from a return or pump splashes up someplace. Same with salt creep, only happens where water can splash. But you would have the same with mesh or egg crate, and it would be a lot harder to clean.

Just don't use acrylic or some other kind of plexy. That stuff will bend and warp over time, and has to be a lot thicker (more expensive) to have any strength. And it shatters and cracks really easy.