BRS Screen Top Bowing - Solved

[CMO]

My BRS screen top was bowing in quite a bit on my 6 foot tank so I added a stainless steel spreader bar today that solved the issue. Just thought i'd share in case anyone else is frustrated with this. My biggest concern with the bowing was that it created gaps around my overflow box where fish could escape. Now that everything is straight there no more gaps and it looks a lot better too. Unless I'm missing something it's not very easy/possible to get the screen tight on a 6ft tank without center spreader bar.

I used this 3/16 SS rod and bent the ends with a vice / hammer to fit into the frame.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CU1JNI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Retro Reefer]

Great idea, thanks for sharing.. I’m gathering parts for a DIY screen lid but my local hardware stores do not have “T” pieces to do a center brace.

 

[don_chuwish]

Bowing in toward the center? Not sagging down right?

 

[CMO]

Bowing in toward the center? Not sagging down right?

Yeah, mine is sitting on a eurobrace so I'd didn't have any sagging issues.

 

[mfinn]

I made a diy screen top for my 6' eurobraced tank, but made it in 2 pieces and still used a center stiffener on both pieces.
The smaller sections make easier access.

 

[Billdogg]

I made a diy screen top for my 6' eurobraced tank, but made it in 2 pieces and still used a center stiffener on both pieces.
The smaller sections make easier access.

^^^This^^^

Although mine is a 4' 120, I can't imagine having individual sections larger than 2x2ish. Seems like it would get unwieldy pretty quickly. The 2x2 sections fit quite nicely in the utility sink for cleaning as well.

 

[CMO]

Interesting. I have no issues with the long one piece screen, however. I just lift it up as if it was on hinges for feeding. I'm also planning to put a clip on my light fixture so I don't have to hold it up for long periods when adding corals etc.