Screen lids allow most of the heat to rise straight out of the top, and where do you like all of the moisture goes also? You cannot get a decent basking temp without a solid top, and vents on the sides unless you place a piece of plexiglas under the screen and mount the basking light inside of the cage.

Dehydration occurs because monitors like many many other reptiles use very high basking temps, therefore just like a "beef jerky" machine you have a slowly (depends on the animals condition and will) dehydrating and dieing animal that will die from kidney failure by crystalized uric acid buildup in the kidenys from long term dehydration, this was something verified by many many people years ago. Aquariums are difficult to use as proper reptile housing, they are made for fish after all which live in water. Its almost easier to build a suitable cage besides the escape factor with aquariums, most medium and large monitors can easily force the lids off with heavy weights and straps holding the tops on.

It all depends what you are looking for in your monitor, if you want a temporary disposable pet then by all means use a screen top, it will happen sooner or later, after all these are animals that live 15-35 years or more.

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