Perspex lid

Ok so toying with the idea of scrapping my lighting system and replacing it with an led unit that would sit over the tank, but it means i will have to take the existing lid off and cum up with a cover to stop heat loss and evaporation, so have u guys any suggestions, would buying some perspex and cutting it to size be the most economical way to go

I did that when in had the Osaka al didn't have it on hinges or anything just got a sheet cut to size left it one or 2 mm bigger so it would sit on the top and not fall into the tank.


Regards
Craig

I bought a sheet of polycarbonate to make lids for my tanks. There is a Dublin company that will sell you sheets of Polycarbonate or the cheaper Perspex and cut it to the size you want - I think the polycarbonate sheets are more scratch resistant and certainly more unbreakable, not to mention having better heat retention.
1 sheet gave me 6 lids for breeding tanks varying between 2' and 3'. I was a bit worried about accuracy of sizes cut but when they sent them out to me they fitted exactly. Not one has the slightest gap. So as long as you are accurate with your sizes they cut them perfectly. I need a few more so will be going back to them shortly. I think I paid about €45 for the sheet including VAT and overnight P&P and cutting the sizes was free. If you're handy for Dublin you could perhaps save yourself the €15.00 P&P and collect it yourself.
The company is:
365plastics.ie and the contact name I had, to discuss my requirements, is Christopher Healy.
Hope that helps. By the way, I bought about 10 drawer knobs from Amazon for lifting the lids off the tank for about £6.99 and they are easily fitted by drilling a small hole in each end of the lid.
Bill

PS. I just dug out my invoice, I actually ordered and paid for a sheet of Acrylic Perspex measuring 1.025m X 1.525m @ €22.48. Cutting free. Delivery €15.00 and VAT €8.62.
They contacted me to say it would be about 48hrs before they got a new supply of Acrylic in and if I was agreeable they would supply a sheet of the more expensive Polycarbonate for no extra charge so that I didn't have to wait for it. Great service.

Theres a company in ballymount i could pop into them it might be the company bill refers 2 also woodies have this stuff not sure how clear it would be

www.woodies.ie/1220mm-x-610mm-clearlite-...3EAQYASABEgKJC_D_BwE

Hi i have tried both perspex and polycarbonate and found they both warped with the heat , ok iam using t5s but they were nearlya foot above the cover ,so it was back to glass for me . Maybe the lower heat levels from led lighting you mightbe ok

My light units actually lie on the polycarbonate, although they are LEDs, and there is no damage, warping or marks of any sort. I find that acrylic does tend to discolour after a while, although higher quality stuff would be better.
Bill

Yea i might ask the guy in the place about better quality material, id presume a bit of a thicker plastic will not warp as easy, what about venting these pieces, craig and myself reckon maybee drill a couple of holes in the pieces

I think that's where polycarbonate might be better, tougher, less discolouration and less warping. I set my lids in last March or there-about and they are still clear as crystal and no warping at all. I think the discolouration is more important than some think. The more discoloured the less light getting down into your tanks.
A couple of small holes drilled in should help with air exchange, but not so big you lose heat and moisture too quickly. I use 2mm polycarbonate.
Bill

Cheers bill il be careful how many holes i drill as i dont want it loosing heat its a 5 foot tank in an insulated shed so i dont want the electric through the roof, thats one of the reasons im switchin to the
Led

Have you considered two panes of glass on runners Al ?

Ger

Getting fresh air to circulate is important. When I first put the lids on I never thought much about it. I lifted the lid to feed and was immediately hit with the worst sour smell I'd ever smelled. I thought I had dead fish in the tank and couldn't understand why it smelled so bad overnight. Everything was living fine and after a few minutes I realised the air in the tank wasn't recycling. After the initial hit of smell it vanished. Three holes drilled in the lid sorted it. One a couple inches in from each end and one in the middle. Another thing I did was to cut a circular hole for putting in food which is covered by a suitable size piece between feeds. That prevents the warm tank air pouring out when lifting the lid to feed the fish.
Bill

There are runners on the tank i could easily put glass panes on butbi would.need to have sections cut for where my pipe work goes in at either end, i can cut the perspex but i wouldnt fancy goin at the glass

alan wrote:

There are runners on the tank i could easily put glass panes on butbi would.need to have sections cut for where my pipe work goes in at either end, i can cut the perspex but i wouldnt fancy goin at the glass

Glass would be straight forward enough to cut a piece off,and sure a glass cutter would do it for you in seconds for a few Euro.......I tried to post a video to show you what I mean but it wouldn't post for whatever reason.........give me your e-mail or phone number and I'll mail the video over to you ok

Ger

Its cool ger i have ordered acrylic cut to measure for both my tanks which cums in at 60 euro so not too bad for a 500 and 300 litre tank

My guy i get my glass tank lids from here in tallaght has been extremly heplful , he normally has off cuts he uses and i get charged a very reasonable price

So 50 euro all in for the 2 tanks so.not too bad