Mesh Lid for Planted Tank

[ricardo48]

Does anyone have any good ideas for a mesh lid to go on my open top aquarium.

I want to be able to let the light from my glo unit through but stop any fish jumping out.

I am starting to find bodies in the morning when they jump out at night and just want a lid mainly for use at night.

 

[BigJim]

Depending on your setup, a screen top designed for using aquariums as small animal cages may work. Otherwise, look for the plastic eggcrate used in fluorescent light fixtures. A lot of SW guys use it for tank covers and filter and frag shelving.

 

[jsoong]

Eggcrate (light diffusing panel) is prob your best bet. You won't lose too much light using that compared with other screenings. Another option would be a glass top.

 

[ricardo48]

Will eggcrate help evaporation at all or is glass lid best for that?

 

[thincat]

Here's a 1/4" mesh top I made from parts found a HomeDepot;

 

[jsoong]

Will eggcrate help evaporation at all or is glass lid best for that?

Eggcrate is open, so will not help in reducing evaporation at all. Glass is good to keep evaporation down, but it can be a pain to keep clean, esp. if you have hard water.

 

[ricardo48]

Looks awesome thincat.... will have to diy my own and cut shapes around where my light unit is mounted to my glass rim.

Another fun project to get stuck into!!

 

[JustOneMore20]

Here's a 1/4" mesh top I made from parts found a HomeDepot;

I made one like this too. I used a screen kit and bought some 1/4" (holes) screen. The kind I bought was in the garden section at Lowes and was called Deer Screen.