Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some ideas on how to make or where i could buy a top for this aquarium? Its 48 Long 18 Deep and 21 Tall. I have some ideas but i would like to hear other people ideas....or where could i buy one?

Thanks

I have a very similar aquarium that I am getting ready to make a top for. I am going to try a thick piece of plywood, seal it and put some ceramic fixtures in it - and maybe a small acrylic window but that doesn't seem all that important being that the entire tank is see through. Good luck.

Ian

John at herpsupplies.com sells screen tops for that size.. but you'd be better off building something. A piece of plywood cut an inch larger all around attached to a frame of 1x1's works well.

I am assuming that this aquarium is for monitors, so I would recommend that you do not go with a plywood, or screen cover. I on all of my "troughs", I use 1/4" plexiglass/acrylic as lids. THis acrylic is thick enough to allow hinges to be attached directly to it. I have a circle cut open in it to allow for my basking lamp/s, and as for ventilation, I simply drilled several holes throughout the acrylic. BY having just a few small holes, this will help maintain proper humidity levels, rather than having the cage dry out rapidly by having a screen lid or a plywood lid. Just my .02, my aussies seem to do well in my setups, and there is always enough moisture in there, to prevent dehydration, and to facilitate natural burrowing. Take care, I hope this helps a little bit..

bob

Yea that sounds like a good idea...How do i attach the hindges though...its an aquarium..

Why not plywood?

--Robert

Plywood would absorb water/humidity, and thus would not hold the same humidity levels. Plywood would begin to rot after a while, and if I'm not mistaken, the waterproofing treatments, such as thompson's waterseal, etc, continue to put off a strong vapor,long after it has dried, which may be toxic to your animals. Even if the would was safely waterproofed, I still do not think that it would hold moisture in as well as acrylic/glass/plexiglass. I guess if you were going to go the plywood way, I would suggest covering it with a formica laminate or tileboard. Both of these surfaces repel water just fine, the same way that melamine repels water. These are just my thoughts and experiences, I could be mistaken.

bob