DIY lid

[SWNOOB]

My tank did not come with a lid and I’ve seen my fish bolt to the top. Worried that I’ll find them the next day dried out on the floor. Anyone have any recommendations for DIY lids or a kit they sell to customize to your tank. My tank is a 12x12 I believe.

 

[jamie]

red sea sells a kit. then kraken reef has lids as well, pricey. they sell the red sea kits at AC.

 

[SWNOOB]

Thanks @jamie I will check them out at AC

 

[MichaelB]

My tank did not come with a lid and I’ve seen my fish bolt to the top. Worried that I’ll find them the next day dried out on the floor. Anyone have any recommendations for DIY lids or a kit they sell to customize to your tank. My tank is a 12x12 I believe.

Maybe not the best solution Ive used regular egg crate cut to size. Small fish could possibly squeeze through the gaps. However it’s cheap and you can pick some up at any hardware store.

If nothing else it's a quick fix while you figure out something better.

 

[Alexander1312]

red sea sells a kit. then kraken reef has lids as well, pricey. they sell the red sea kits at AC.

Very painful to assemble, but the only kit I know. My son did mine for me and he is really good at this stuff but it was still not easy for him.

 

[Darkxerox]

I've got a lot of extra netting and spline if you need

 

[Arvin R]

I can show you my DIY lids (clear 1/8in screen and window screen frame. I glue tabs on if the tank is rimless so the lid sits into the tank and not on top of the glass.

 

[MarcosD]

I built mine using this window frame kit and clear 1/8” netting I bought from BRS for my lid. Mine just sits on top of my 3/4” acrylic panels but @Arvin R idea with the tabs so it sits flush is genius

Screen Tight 5/16 in. x 36 in. White Aluminum Window Screen Frame Kit WSKIT51636 - The Home Depot

You can build your own window screen with the Screen Tight Screen Frame Kit for aluminum or fiberglass screening. The kit includes a pre-cut screen frame, 4 corners, spline for fiberglass screening and

www.homedepot.com

 

[Turkeysammich]

And no one says anything about the diy Home Depot screen kit ?

 

[MarcosD]

And no one says anything about the diy Home Depot screen kit ?

Are they bad or something? That’s what I used

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

I prefer the Innovative Marine DIY mesh screen kit. It doesn’t require the need for tank clips since the plastic frame extends out a bit more to sit along the edges.

 

[SWNOOB]

I like the regular egg kit if I cant get something done soon, thanks @MichaelB. I hope to visit @Arvin R this weekend to look at some frags and his lids. @MarcosD that kit is a lot cheaper than the one I just found on BRS website, looks clean on your tank. Thanks for proving a photo! Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

 

[tankguy]

Maybe not the best solution Ive used regular egg crate cut to size. Small fish could possibly squeeze through the gaps. However it’s cheap and you can pick some up at any hardware store.

View attachment 66970

If nothing else it's a quick fix while you figure out something better.

I did this on my my 35L and cut out the center and zip tied mess netting. one of my wrasses found the one tiny section i didnt net

 

[SWNOOB]

I prefer the Innovative Marine DIY mesh screen kit. It doesn’t require the need for tank clips since the plastic frame extends out a bit more to sit along the edges.

I saw it on the BRS website but the reviews threw me off.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Are they bad or something? That’s what I used

Nothing bad. Unless you used the Home Depot screen. It blocks a lot of light. The frame is good. Colored ones are better than the aluminum ones. As the aluminum oxidizes over time.

 

[MarcosD]

I like the regular egg kit if I cant get something done soon, thanks @MichaelB. I hope to visit @Arvin R this weekend to look at some frags and his lids. @MarcosD that kit is a lot cheaper than the one I just found on BRS website, looks clean on your tank. Thanks for proving a photo! Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Btw I read somewhere egg crate will cause a lot of PAR loss so you’ll have to turn up your lights. Have never used it before but just keep that in mind

 

[richiev]

If you're near redwood City I can probably cut you a 12x12 piece of the netting. Besides the netting, there's no real difference to the aquarium frames versus the ones at Ace hardware. Though some have the tabs built in to allow nesting in the aquarium.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Btw I read somewhere egg crate will cause a lot of PAR loss so you’ll have to turn up your lights. Have never used it before but just keep that in mind

It does. There are a lot of light test out there. BRS did a test.

 

[MarcosD]

I prefer the Innovative Marine DIY mesh screen kit. It doesn’t require the need for tank clips since the plastic frame extends out a bit more to sit along the edges.

The IM one looks nice too. The 76 I bought came with one

 

[MichaelB]

It does. There are a lot of light test out there. BRS did a test.

That i didn’t know.

It was more so something i could do quick figuring anything is better than nothing at all.