Clean lid for aquariums

[SpateD]

So I have a breeding system in place... and to help keep the humidity down in the room, and less top off water, I'm looking to place a hood/lid on the tanks.

I currently have spare acrylic I had lying around, which has warped and how hardly serves it's purpose.

The thing that makes this a difficult one is that it has to be clear so the lights can still go into the tank, and my return plumbing flows overtop of the back of the tank and in. So it has to be able to cut a hole out of it.

I'd also like to have a little spot I can use for a feeding hole so I don't have to lift the entire lid every feeding.

There are 2 tanks. 20G long's. 30x12x12 I think.

I've read about clear Lexan... and was thinking about trying it, but for the price of it, I'm sceptical. It's been known to warp with heat also.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[Coasting]

I have 1/4" lexan as a lid on top of mine, and yes it does bend/warp. But only mildly. More has to do with the thickness im assuming. Super easy to just take it off, give it a quick clean and just put it on upside down and let it flatten itself out.
No issues with lack of light getting through as I let mine get dirty as heck with salt, dust, pet hair, etc.

[SpateD]

That's my current problem... I can't just flip the panel, as the holes are in certain spots for the plumbing.

[Coasting]

my overflow runs over the top as well just as you described. Its really not the end of the world when you flip it over and the holes don't line up.
You could potentially cut another piece that fills the holes in when the piece is flipped.
I haven't actually had to flip my lexan yet, and its been on there for a few months, it does have a bit of a sag to it, but it still sits in place just fine.
When I used thinner Acrylic ( 1/8" i think) I would flip the pieces for a day, once a week, then put them back.

[Coasting]

Heres my acrylic lids.
This is while it was flipped to get it to un sag. so you can see the return line on the right side of the tank, and the acrylic with the hole cut for it is right in the bottom left corner of the photo.

[SpateD]

That makes sense. I may have to try Lexan first. Thank you!

[mike31154]

Have you considered reinforcing your current cover(s) with a piece of rigid material to straighten it out? A section of aluminum angle fastened along the length might do the trick. Yeas ago I tried to keep my display covered with acrylic as well, but too much of a hassle with the bending. I tried welding vertical sections to the warped pieces but that was finicky. Never tried the aluminum angle idea, but might work better in retrospect. Get a few stainless steel screws to fasten the angle to the acrylic. Piece of wood might work too.

[Reef Pilot]

I use very thin (1/16") lexan for my covers. If you bend a small flange (very easy with thin material) on the end, it holds its shape and remains rigid.

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

I use very thin (1/16") lexan for my covers. If you bend a small flange (very easy with thin material) on the end, it holds its shape and remains rigid.

A flange, great idea! And you have an instant handle too.

[SpateD]

How would you bend the flange? Do you have any pictures of this in action?