New Deskmate Lid - Plexi and Glass

[Haggisman14]

Nothing crazy or earth shattering, but upped my game from just a glass lid to a plexiglass and glass combo.

I wasn't patient enough and accidentally cracked the plexi, but the way that it sits on the tank it doesn't effect anything (overtime might get a new one and do it up right!

Upgraded my tank lid. I wanted something that would cover my entire tank to really cut down on evaporation, and at the same time look good.

I tried doing it all out of glass first, but I cracked 3 different pieces of glass when trying to cut out the rear notch where the Radion RMS mount is, and where the electrical cords come out of the tank. After fail number 3, I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to do it myself.

Fast forward I decided to get a piece of orange plexiglass that would match the tank, and cut it out myself.. I got my handy dandy 20 year old jig saw, and a fresh "fine" blade to cut through it. First cut out the rear notch....then I accidentally "cracked" it when I was cutting out the hole for the glass. I think it came out great for a home made lid. I've got the original glass lid over the cutout that I can now just slightly scoot it back and feed the tank.

Cuts aren't as smooth as say a Kraken Lid (which I really want), but for a $6 pound piece of glass, and a $10 piece of plexi...it's going to work for now!

Plus it glows like the bottom of the tank so it's a match made in heaven!

 

[Peace River]

I like it a lot! Nice work!!!

 

[Sleeping Giant]

looks great

 

[Haggisman14]

Thanks! If I do it again in the future (probably will to fix the break in the side), I would also make the front lip a little bit more narrow as there is a "slight" orange shadow on one of my rocks.

As with most DIY...make sure you take your time and don't rush so you don't make a stupid mistake like I did and snap your pelexi!

Thanks for looking everyone!

 

[Peace River]

I’m wondering if it would be worth the bother to get a router so you could round the interior and exterior corners?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nothing crazy or earth shattering, but upped my game from just a glass lid to a plexiglass and glass combo.

I wasn't patient enough and accidentally cracked the plexi, but the way that it sits on the tank it doesn't effect anything (overtime might get a new one and do it up right!

Upgraded my tank lid. I wanted something that would cover my entire tank to really cut down on evaporation, and at the same time look good.

I tried doing it all out of glass first, but I cracked 3 different pieces of glass when trying to cut out the rear notch where the Radion RMS mount is, and where the electrical cords come out of the tank. After fail number 3, I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to do it myself.

Fast forward I decided to get a piece of orange plexiglass that would match the tank, and cut it out myself.. I got my handy dandy 20 year old jig saw, and a fresh "fine" blade to cut through it. First cut out the rear notch....then I accidentally "cracked" it when I was cutting out the hole for the glass. I think it came out great for a home made lid. I've got the original glass lid over the cutout that I can now just slightly scoot it back and feed the tank.

Cuts aren't as smooth as say a Kraken Lid (which I really want), but for a $6 pound piece of glass, and a $10 piece of plexi...it's going to work for now!

Plus it glows like the bottom of the tank so it's a match made in heaven!

Looks great. Dont have it too tight of fit even though we want to avoid jumpers getting out. No ventilation or holes will allow condensation to filter out the light spectrums and precip can build up on the lid. I use glass always and have to clean mine periodically as it accumulates algae and precip

 

[Northern Flicker]

Looks slick!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Nothing crazy or earth shattering, but upped my game from just a glass lid to a plexiglass and glass combo.

I wasn't patient enough and accidentally cracked the plexi, but the way that it sits on the tank it doesn't effect anything (overtime might get a new one and do it up right!

Upgraded my tank lid. I wanted something that would cover my entire tank to really cut down on evaporation, and at the same time look good.

I tried doing it all out of glass first, but I cracked 3 different pieces of glass when trying to cut out the rear notch where the Radion RMS mount is, and where the electrical cords come out of the tank. After fail number 3, I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to do it myself.

Fast forward I decided to get a piece of orange plexiglass that would match the tank, and cut it out myself.. I got my handy dandy 20 year old jig saw, and a fresh "fine" blade to cut through it. First cut out the rear notch....then I accidentally "cracked" it when I was cutting out the hole for the glass. I think it came out great for a home made lid. I've got the original glass lid over the cutout that I can now just slightly scoot it back and feed the tank.

Cuts aren't as smooth as say a Kraken Lid (which I really want), but for a $6 pound piece of glass, and a $10 piece of plexi...it's going to work for now!

Plus it glows like the bottom of the tank so it's a match made in heaven!

Really nice lid for the tank!

 

[Haggisman14]

Looks great. Dont have it too tight of fit even though we want to avoid jumpers getting out. No ventilation or holes will allow condensation to filter out the light spectrums and precip can build up on the lid. I use glass always and have to clean mine periodically as it accumulates algae and precip

Main precip on the lid only happens over night / over weekends, so in the mornings and Monday mornings I clean off the glass and it's back to normal, haven't had any sort of algae build up on it. But I totally understand your reasoning. I might leave a little gap on the glass to possibly prevent that preceip in total!

I’m wondering if it would be worth the bother to get a router so you could round the interior and exterior corners?

I would love to, and perfect world I would, but I don't know anyone with a router, and if I purchased one that would blow the whole reason for the "budget" build. But believe me..If I had one, that's EXACTLY what I would have done!