What are some companies that make good custom lids? I need to get one for my new build but I don't want to break the bank.
Tank Lid Recommendations
- Thread starter Wrassenaround
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
Yeah I had one on my old tank but I want something sleeker
beatle
Community Member
I have the same question. I've got a RSR XL300 that came with the Red Sea cover. It's pretty chintzy. Lead times seem long for all covers and some companies seem to be a challenge to deal with. Here are a few I've found:
toplids.com
I've read some negative reviews of these guys taking forever and being difficult to deal with. Seems like a good product if you can get one. 3-5 week lead time.
Apparently this is the same as Artfully Acrylic? Seems to be a good value compared to the others. Their Pisces EXO design is modular which is a big plus in case your equipment changes and you need cutouts in a different spot or a different size. 20 day lead time (not sure if that's business or calendar).
octoaquatics.com
Guy seems to be pretty proud to be "the first" to make these and thinks that anyone else who makes these is just ripping him off. That doesn't inspire me to order from him though. His FAQ is pretty bristly and defensive and prices are nowhere to be seen for the lids. 6-8 week lead time.
www.krakenreef.com
Just read about these guys on this thread. Nearly everything is an option which really jacks up the price, even something as common as a cord cutout. The feed cup is nice though. 2-4 week lead time.
I am leaning towards Clearview or Kraken.
Top Lids - Protecting Your Passion
Aquarium hobbyists invest a lot of time and money into creating and maintaining their own aquatic ecosystem. But what good is it if the very animals they keep can jump out and perish? Top Lids exists for one reason, to protect the passion of hobbyists globally, and solve challenges plaguing the...
toplids.com
ClearView Lids - The Difference is Clear and the answer is here!
ClearView Lids are designed specifically for your aquarium. Our polycarbonate aquarium lids feature a much more durable design than can be found with acrylic fish tank lids or aluminum frame lids. ClearView Lids are available for popular tanks such as those made by Red Sea, WaterBox, Innovative...
www.clearviewlids.com
Octo Aquatics - Custom Acrylic Products - Octo Aquatics
I have been in the saltwater industry since 1996 and have been working with wood and plastics since 2004. Every product I sell has been fabricated by myself, right here in Arizona! I specialize in custom products that nobody else offers. Don’t trust just anyone! Plastic and wood fabrication is...
octoaquatics.com
Kraken Reef® | Premium Aquarium Lids
We focus on producing quality custom products for your aquarium in a timely manner to ensure your tank inhabitants are safe and secure. Our clear aquarium lids are one of the cleanest options out there to keep your fish safe. - Kraken Reef - The Kraken Reef - thekrakenreef - @thekrakenreef -
www.krakenreef.com
I am leaning towards Clearview or Kraken.
beesnreefs
Well-Known Member
This is a great post. Really cool of you to take the time to put this togetherI have the same question. I've got a RSR XL300 that came with the Red Sea cover. It's pretty chintzy. Lead times seem long for all covers and some companies seem to be a challenge to deal with. Here are a few I've found:
I've read some negative reviews of these guys taking forever and being difficult to deal with. Seems like a good product if you can get one. 3-5 week lead time.Top Lids - Protecting Your Passion
Aquarium hobbyists invest a lot of time and money into creating and maintaining their own aquatic ecosystem. But what good is it if the very animals they keep can jump out and perish? Top Lids exists for one reason, to protect the passion of hobbyists globally, and solve challenges plaguing the...
Apparently this is the same as Artfully Acrylic? Seems to be a good value compared to the others. Their Pisces EXO design is modular which is a big plus in case your equipment changes and you need cutouts in a different spot or a different size. 20 day lead time (not sure if that's business or calendar).ClearView Lids - The Difference is Clear and the answer is here!
ClearView Lids are designed specifically for your aquarium. Our polycarbonate aquarium lids feature a much more durable design than can be found with acrylic fish tank lids or aluminum frame lids. ClearView Lids are available for popular tanks such as those made by Red Sea, WaterBox, Innovative...www.clearviewlids.com
Guy seems to be pretty proud to be "the first" to make these and thinks that anyone else who makes these is just ripping him off. That doesn't inspire me to order from him though. His FAQ is pretty bristly and defensive and prices are nowhere to be seen for the lids. 6-8 week lead time.Octo Aquatics - Custom Acrylic Products - Octo Aquatics
I have been in the saltwater industry since 1996 and have been working with wood and plastics since 2004. Every product I sell has been fabricated by myself, right here in Arizona! I specialize in custom products that nobody else offers. Don’t trust just anyone! Plastic and wood fabrication is...
Just read about these guys on this thread. Nearly everything is an option which really jacks up the price, even something as common as a cord cutout. The feed cup is nice though. 2-4 week lead time.Kraken Reef® | Premium Aquarium Lids
We focus on producing quality custom products for your aquarium in a timely manner to ensure your tank inhabitants are safe and secure. Our clear aquarium lids are one of the cleanest options out there to keep your fish safe. - Kraken Reef - The Kraken Reef - thekrakenreef - @thekrakenreef -
I am leaning towards Clearview or Kraken.
beesnreefs
Well-Known Member
I ordered from them based on a strong recommendation from my LFS. Haven’t gotten my tank yet so the don’t have the lid quite yet but I’ve heard more than one person speak highly of them
john90009
Well-Known Member
100 percent the lead time that they gave me was not as accurate as I would have hoped. It doesn’t hurt for them to change the lead time that they post so they are more transparent. But as long as you give them the proper measurements and walk through it with them you will be happy with it when you get it. I understand it’s a small family owned business and they recently just picked up and moved serveral states away so that deff altered thier production. Deffinitly look at other lids and customize it as much as you can since your paying for it.
beatle
Community Member
Thanks for the recommendation. Slightly lower prices than the other guys, but super long lead times of 7-8 weeks (35-40 business days). I couldn't find many videos on them - only a couple of "shorts" on YouTube (God what an annoying format). Instead of the lip running the full perimeter of the tank, there are several tabs. They are still part of the frame and not tacked on, but I'm not a fan of that look.
Saw that the Pisces EXO by ClearView can develop salt creep between the "puzzle pieces" that link the individual parts of the frame. Not sure if this is easily cleaned without disassembly though: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/pisces-exo-makes-a-splash.576909/page-2
minus9
5000 Club Member
Totally agree, Matt is great and his lids are awesome. The other thing to consider is the material used with lids. Not all are equal and will last. I would order from Matt again without hesitation.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Reef Pumpkin Carver
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
I got my lid for my Waterbox 25g from Matt (@cromag27) at Octo Aquatics. Absolutely excellent quality and super easy to work with. I have a large reef tank being built currently, and when it gets here, I'll be ordering from Octo Aquatics again. He does top notch work!!
Clearview lids / artfully acrylic here. Perfect fit and looks great. No issues in over 2 years on my tank
just a Kraken reef lid delivered and placed on my 15 WB - wonderful bit of kit!
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2019
- Messages
- 14,405
- Reaction score
- 22,105
I'm currently having a poor experience with Clearview Lids/Artfully Acrylic. I will likely detail this in a vendor review post this weekend. But I am still waiting on a lid for my IM25 Lagoon placed on April 20th!
Meanwhile I placed an order for a Waterbox10 lid from Kraken Reef 2 weeks ago and received it this week.
Meanwhile I placed an order for a Waterbox10 lid from Kraken Reef 2 weeks ago and received it this week.
Last edited:
This is really cool that you did this breakdown for everyone. Haven't really seen it done like this on R2R yet.I have the same question. I've got a RSR XL300 that came with the Red Sea cover. It's pretty chintzy. Lead times seem long for all covers and some companies seem to be a challenge to deal with. Here are a few I've found:
I've read some negative reviews of these guys taking forever and being difficult to deal with. Seems like a good product if you can get one. 3-5 week lead time.Top Lids - Protecting Your Passion
Aquarium hobbyists invest a lot of time and money into creating and maintaining their own aquatic ecosystem. But what good is it if the very animals they keep can jump out and perish? Top Lids exists for one reason, to protect the passion of hobbyists globally, and solve challenges plaguing the...
Apparently this is the same as Artfully Acrylic? Seems to be a good value compared to the others. Their Pisces EXO design is modular which is a big plus in case your equipment changes and you need cutouts in a different spot or a different size. 20 day lead time (not sure if that's business or calendar).ClearView Lids - The Difference is Clear and the answer is here!
ClearView Lids are designed specifically for your aquarium. Our polycarbonate aquarium lids feature a much more durable design than can be found with acrylic fish tank lids or aluminum frame lids. ClearView Lids are available for popular tanks such as those made by Red Sea, WaterBox, Innovative...www.clearviewlids.com
Guy seems to be pretty proud to be "the first" to make these and thinks that anyone else who makes these is just ripping him off. That doesn't inspire me to order from him though. His FAQ is pretty bristly and defensive and prices are nowhere to be seen for the lids. 6-8 week lead time.Octo Aquatics - Custom Acrylic Products - Octo Aquatics
I have been in the saltwater industry since 1996 and have been working with wood and plastics since 2004. Every product I sell has been fabricated by myself, right here in Arizona! I specialize in custom products that nobody else offers. Don’t trust just anyone! Plastic and wood fabrication is...
Just read about these guys on this thread. Nearly everything is an option which really jacks up the price, even something as common as a cord cutout. The feed cup is nice though. 2-4 week lead time.Kraken Reef® | Premium Aquarium Lids
We focus on producing quality custom products for your aquarium in a timely manner to ensure your tank inhabitants are safe and secure. Our clear aquarium lids are one of the cleanest options out there to keep your fish safe. - Kraken Reef - The Kraken Reef - thekrakenreef - @thekrakenreef -
I am leaning towards Clearview or Kraken.
I'll DM you to see where you saw poor reviews. I'm the new owner (Tyler) and we are doing our best to remedy the poor customer service from the previous owners. Tbh it was pretty darn awful lol.
Have a great week guys
Similar threads
