Lid for Tank with Exposed Rock

[Baby Ray]

I am strongly considering getting the Reef Casa 12 gallon Shallow AIO aquarium as my next build, and I had the idea for my aquascape to have some rocks sticking out of the water and plant a mangrove coming up through the middle of it all.

However, I also would want to stock this tank with gobies or other fish that have a tendency to jump, so I was just wondering if anybody knew of companies who could make specific custom lids to accommodate this, or ideas for building my own cover.

 

[TX_REEF]

if it were me I'd just make a mesh lid and cut the hole needed for the mangrove.

 

[Baby Ray]

if it were me I'd just make a mesh lid and cut the hole needed for the mangrove.

I'm worried if I did that, the loss of tension in the mess would cause it to fall into the water some. I have made my own mesh lids before, but I feel like if you were to cut a big hole in the middle, the edges around where the hole are wouldn't hold up above the water anymore.

Also, how would you take the lid on and off with the mangrove, especially once is grows larger. I don't think you would be able to slip the lid past the leaves without damaging them.

 

[TX_REEF]

I'm worried if I did that, the loss of tension in the mess would cause it to fall into the water some. I have made my own mesh lids before, but I feel like if you were to cut a big hole in the middle, the edges around where the hole are wouldn't hold up above the water anymore.

Also, how would you take the lid on and off with the mangrove, especially once is grows larger. I don't think you would be able to slip the lid past the leaves without damaging them.

make it a 2-part 2-frame lid, like this, then you could make the hole just large enough for the mangrove trunk: