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arylic sheet? you can get those in artfriend and buy a arylic cutter from artfriend too. done.
Hi all,
Me again. After great help on the styrofoam base, I've got my next question if that's O.K.?
I want to put a cover on my currently coverless tank (bought it used, 50cm X 45cm surface area), mainly to keep my 5 and 2 year old sons from sticking their hands into it.
I was thinking a thin sheet of perspex, cut to allow space for cables, mounts etc. on either side. I want something clear so I can mount a light above to grow plants.
Does anyone have any idea where I could source said perspex, or has anyone does this before and come up with a different plan?
Thanks again for any help in advance - I'm learning more and more by following more seasoned hobbyists than myself on this forum!
Cheers,
Duncan.
arylic sheet? you can get those in artfriend and buy a arylic cutter from artfriend too. done.
still learning the hard way!!
Just been to artfriend at Bras Besar Complex on North Bridge Road - all good!
Thanks a lot Neondagger!
Duncan.
How much does a piece of acrylic cost? and what is the standard size...dont mind me asking.
A piece of 24" by 18" 2mm-thick acrylic from ART FREN costs $8.xx.Originally Posted by sateman
Given our climate, an acryclic sheet is not a good idea. Buy the egg crate / light diffuser like this:
https://mycotopia.net/forums/attachm...k-eggcrate.jpg
C328 sells them and some hardware store should have it too. This will be more better than acryclic sheet because it allows for more air circulation. A single acrylic sheet even with holes cut in it will trap more heat in the tank.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
Yep that's how much my piece was, plus $10 for a cutter to snip it to size. I got a 3mm thick sheet for that bit extra rigidity.
I see your point stormhawk, and I've seen many LFSs improvising covers in this way, but this approach creates some issues that may only be a bugbear for me alone.
1) Jumping fish (hatchets, SAEs, ropefish, golden wonder killifish, etc.) could quite possibly escape.
2) Increased evaporation due to all the holes (I'm not a fan of the 'smell' open tanks impart on the room they're in).
I'm willing to go with the increased heat issue - after 24 hours with the cover on, I'm measuring 26-27 degs C in the unheated tank, a good temp for the species I like to keep.
Thanks again all!
Duncan.
I don't have much of a smell issue, maybe because I'm used to having fish tanks around.
I can understand how the egg crate can be a bugbear. If you Houdini-wannabes in your tank then the acrylic cover is better. Since you already have holes on the cover, to totally prevent their escape, just plug the holes with filter wool or a small piece of filter foam. Keeps out any pest insects from coming in.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
Hi
I am using 3mm acrylic sheet for my 2feet tank.
Pros
-Less evaporation
-Clear and transparent
Cons
After some time it bends
Go for thicker acrylic sheet but it will be a challenge to cut it.
Best are still glass covers.
Acrylic sheets that are 3mm thick warps really badly! I have tried it, it warped the next day after cutting. It will warp further with the aquarium lights turned on for 8 hours. I even have the ones that are sold in the LFS as dividers, warpers as well.
Speaking of which, I got fed up and decided to order 6mm or 8mm ones from dama.com.sg. I figured the thicker the acrylic is, the lesser the chance of it warping. I am gonna collect it from dama this Tuesday. I ordered a 47 x 18cm size, 6mm is $7 and 8mm is $10. Prices before GST. Which in my opinion is way cheaper than the sheets sold at art friends. The only expensive thing that dama will charge for is cutting holes in the sheet of acrylic you've ordered. I was quoted nearly $50 for a 6 mm thick 56 x 26 cm sheet, just to cut out holes in the sheet for my tubing. Without cutting holes, it costs only $8. Laser cutting they say...I say nothing you cannot do with a simple acrylic cutter/a fine tooth hand saw and a hole saw kit.
Then again...your best bet would be a piece of glass. If glass warps, then I don't know what else won't! Lol! However, glass is hard or near impossible to cut at home as compared to acrylic. I'm sure you don't want glass fragments on the floor especially when you have children at home. Maybe you can contact some tank maker or frame maker for glass?
I'm not a bro...I'm Mel"Every Daddy should bring their little girls to the fish shop on their off days!"
Laser cutting? Whatever happened to using the good old drill to make holes?
3mm acrylic is too thin. 8mm should be sufficient with regards to the warping issue.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
I went with this route too, but realised the thickness of it actually blocks some light from entering into the tank. So currently looking for a thinner version. Something like a wire mesh for BBQ but made of plastic.
Exactly! They said it'll make the edge of the cut shiny as compared to a dull jaggered edge. Again, that edge can be shined with my creme brûlée torch myself...lol!
Last edited by melthazor; 30th Jan 2012 at 13:53.
I'm not a bro...I'm Mel
How about those plastic green mesh that can be seen at hardware stores? I believe some forumers use the smaller grids to create moss walls. Maybe you can get barbeque mesh size, and make a frame out of wood (you can buy these from daiso) and adhere your plastic mesh to the frame. You might wanna coat your wood with something though...
http://www.rodentracks.com/Aquarium_Tops.html
I'm not a bro...I'm Mel
thin acrylic sheet can be strengthened by adding aluminium angle plates to the edges; frame the long sides.
thomas liew
Got my 8mm acrylic! So solid!
I'm not a bro...I'm Mel
Wow - didn't realise my little post would create so much discussion! Interesting that many others face a similar challenge, with no straightforward solution.
My 3mm acrylic sheet has been on top of the tank (50cm x 45cm surface area) for three days now with light on during the day. A bit of curve at the corners occurred in the first 24 hrs, but that seems to have stabilised. No doubt I'll experience continued curve over time, as described by Humble. We'll see.
I might post a photo if anyone's interested so we can all gauge what we're talking about.
One big reason I want a solid cover is that it seems to stabilise tank temp. I don't heat my tank 2 tanks - joy of living in Singapore! This new one before the cover was on varied between 24-27 deg C over a 24 hr period. Now with the cover in place, the temp range is 27-27.5 deg C. If possible I'd rather a DIY cover instead of the cost of running a heater.
Cheers!
Duncan.
Hi, the plastic or acrylic mesh idea is probably better than a wire mesh as they are prone to rusting, especially from water splashes from the filter. You can get plastic mesh from a garden centre. I saw one like that which is used on a wall for creeper plants, but with smaller holes. I see you already have got something. Hope that works. The only problem is that plastic is light, so if a fish jumps, they may knock off the mesh.
Hi all, I'm intending to get the 8mm acrylic as well from dama. Would like to. Would like to check with bros here who have since used these acrylic 8mm whether it still warps? And Is light transmission reduced?
hi guys, any info from fellow hobbyist that use acrylic sheets that are say thicker like 8 or 10mm or even 12mm.
Do you still experience warping?
I may get those acrylic rods shaped in squares and put 3 or 5 strips across the length of the cover. does that help?
Alternatively, i read about polycarbonate.
Anyone tried this?
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