Egg crate for tank lid

[115lol]

Hi,
I am planning on building my QT rack including 20 gallon long tank, around 12 of them, 4 in each level.
Now, I cant afford glass lid. At the same time I want something not too ugly.
so I think I can buy egg crate and cut it up and just let it sit on the tank trim.
any suggestion?
thanks guys
Will

 

[Elegance Coral]

That will work... The only problem, if you get a fish that jumps, the rigid egg crate can cause serious damage or death. A screen top is much more forgiving. I once lost a $200 scotts fairy wrasse to an egg crate top.

 

[cpschult]

I'd highly recommend making a screen top. A little more expensive but worth it!!

 

[Maritimer]

A lot of more slender fish (smaller wrasses, gobies, dartfish) which like to jump are _very_ good at finding holes in eggcrate tops. The rim of my 65gallon is too busy with HOB accessories for a screen top to work well, so I've got eggcrate cut to fit snugly around all the geometry - but I've still had several fish find their way around or through it. Heard a clatter just last night, and found a 3" C. solorensis flipping around on the dry side.

Better than nothing at all, though . . .

~Bruce

 

[cromag27]

I've been building these acrylic mesh lids for five years and people seem to love them. I can't sell here on the forums but this is an idea if you're handy with acrylic.

 

[joro]

A similar idea as @cromag08 's but one of R2R's vendors (@ArtFully Acrylic) also sells these acrylic lids which I have and would highly recommend. I have one on my Red Sea Reefer and it looks great!

 

[DanielCervantes]

I've been building these acrylic mesh lids for five years and people seem to love them. I can't sell here on the forums but this is an idea if you're handy with acrylic.

What kind of screen material do you use to make them?

 

[115lol]

That will work... The only problem, if you get a fish that jumps, the rigid egg crate can cause serious damage or death. A screen top is much more forgiving. I once lost a $200 scotts fairy wrasse to an egg crate top.

that's a very good point - thanks for sharing

 

[115lol]

Thanks guys for the reply. I mostly looking to spend the least money for these tank covers. where can I buy those mesh. Im not a DIY guys so really find a no brainer solution.

 

[jmags080307]

I built mine for less than $20. Mesh screen from home Depot (the one to keep birds out) and the aluminum screen frame. Cut it to your size. Took me about 30 minutes to build.

 

[lion king]

I did an eggcrate top for my qt and overlayed with 1/4" mesh when I was keeping a very small juvi eel. The eggcrate is more expensive than the 1/4" mesh. You can get the 1/4" mesh at brs or on amazon, and the screen frame from hd. You can buy the backstrip for glass lids at fosters and smith or somewhere and glue it to the back of the frame to give you the ability to cut around hob equip.