Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was asked a few threads down to post instructions for making aquarium tops for reptiles. The instructions in the link below may be a bit confusing so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

This particular top isn't a professional showroom piece, it's a "hurry, make-do", one. I gave some tips on how to improve it and I'm sure there are many other ways.

Here's the link: DIY Aquarium Top for Reptiles

I hope this helps someone/anyone/everyone.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Nicely done... I've already saved this to my desktop for future reference!!

Thanks for the compliment! Markg's suggestions that he posted below are noteworthy, too. The name of the game is "Whatever Works for You."

Hopefully a few more people will post some of their concoctions, giving a nice variety of options.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

here's a top that I made for a corner tank that I got from a buddy that didn't want it anymore... it came with an aquarium hood... so I used a screen kit from the local home improvement mega warehouse, and tada... at a handle and you've got a lid!!

...I am sure these will come in handy. I appreciate you taking the time to put it together.

Rob

Rob,
Your appreciativeness goes a long way, makes it all worthwhile, and is appreciated as well.

See ya around!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

It looks awesome! I've build similar lids myself, although made entirely out of screen, rather than partially plexi.

I dunno if you'd want to add anything to that, but they made the same 1x boards except in 1/2" and 1/4" thickness, instead of the 3/4" of a 1x. The way I made mine out of solid screen was to do the same thing you did, except I used those 1/4" pieces of wood, and sandwiched the screen between them.

Also, I don't understand why you're drilling & tapping with a nylon hex bolt. I tried Googling this, but could find very little information on it.
To secure my lid, I just drilled a pilot hole at each end, and put some hooks you use for hanging things through into the plastic frame of the aquarium. They're easy to tighten and loosen by hand, and they don't need any special tools for it. I tried looking for an eye bolt, but couldn't find any that would work with wood, as they all have the tight threading made for permanent application in metal.

If one wants to get creative at all, they can leave the screen off one end, and build another frame on top to make a hinged door over that spot. There are tons of hinges & clasps that are dirt cheap to fasten the door. If you do this, you can just put screws through the frame into the plastic of the aquarium, and make it need a screwdriver or drill to get the whole lid off, because you have the hinged access anyway.

Thanks for putting this up!

Ronnie Nocera

Thanks for the compliment & other suggestions, the more options & opinions the better.

The reason I used a nylon bolt to secure the lid was to have something soft to go against the glass to remove any slack from an oversized lid while securing it.

As far as the "special tool" (drill & tap), I think the drill/tap set I mentioned cost me about 10 bucks. For no more money than these lids cost to make, 10 bucks for a drill & tap is nothing, especially if you're making more than one top.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Nice job on the website, and I like the simplicity of your cage top design. I especially like your lockdown method of a nylon screw in a tapped hole. I'm gonna use that idea.

I make my aquarium toppers somewhat similar.. No pics yet but coming..

1. Start with the top frame of 1x2s, wide side down like a picture frame (the higher-quality straight pine) that sits on top of the aquarium trim and extends out about 1/16" on each side of the trim past the widest point of the trim (the lowest part of the aquarium trim sticks out farther than the top). I just glue these together with no nails, clamping them tightly for an hour or so. Use a power miter saw for the cuts and good wood glue and there is no problem.

For a 10 gal, the pieces are 20 5/16 and 7 15/32, 2 of each.

2. I got pine stop molding that is about 1/2" thick and about 1 3/4" high and cut 4 pieces to go around the frame to hang down over the aquarium lip. I glue and clamp them in place. These pieces also help strengthen the original frame.

Now you have an open frame that sits nicely on the aquarium top. From here one can cover with a pane of acrylic or get more fancy-shmancy. One of mine has a hinged door (wood frame and acrylic window.) Another has an acrylic window for most of the top then a plywood section that supports an incandescent light fixture mounted on a 4" dia $1.99 plastic pipe cap from Home Depot.

My opinion, the more one uses a frame and acrylic (or expanded PCV) for these tops, the less wood exposed to humidity. I use to make tops from plywood, but the framing method with acrylic window means less effort sealing wood, less odor in the tank and less offgass time. Plus, it is easier for me to use a miter saw to cut 1x2's with repeatable precision than it is to cut plywood with repeatable precision (I don't have a table saw.)

I made a similar top for a big Cambro poly box using 1x3's instead of 1x2's, and it rocks. I'll be using your nylon screw idea there for sure. I'll need to attach a piece of wood widen the molding at those points. Man that screw method is a great idea. I never thought of that in all this time. I was using hooks and such before, yes even a book or two. What a dolt I am. Thanks for the tips.
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Mark

The website: Ha! Thanks! I'm not completely satisfied with it, it needs a few tweaks, but it'll do for now. I just threw a few things together to try to capitalize on posting the DIY Top.

I like your ideas, too. One of these days, when things slow down a tad for me I might add it, and some other posted ideas/suggestions to the page and give everyone credit/recognition. Might come in handy to have a centralized, searchable, DIY Reptile Projects webpage that's free.

Like you, I wracked my brain tryin' to figure out ways to secure homemade tops, other than 3-4 inch concrete builder blocks. Haha! Then one day the nylon bolt idea hit me like a ton of bricks and I felt so stupid for not thinking about it before. Goes to show how we can easily think too much to where we overlook the simple & obvious.

As for moisture protection, the other top I made that's a solid piece of plexiglass with holes drilled in each end of the plexiglass (without screened area) hasn't been selaed or coated with anything. I've been maintaing 70 - 85% humidity with an UTH in the tank for nearly a year now and the top still fits/looks just like it did the day I finished making it. I'm sure it's only a matter of time, though. I'll get some pics of it later today and post it.

Catch ya later, Mark!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com