custom solid covered top. Glass or Acrylic?

[Pedal Dangit]

This thread is NOT to debate open VS covered tops, or screens VS glass.

Call me Pig-Pen if you will, but I need this for my tank IMO to protect from bugs, dust, pet hair, etc... I'm looking for ideas for a solid top for a 40 breeder, preferably one piece. The only "cut out" needs to be 1" in a far corner for the over the top return. I really don't want the two piece off the shelf type as it puts the seam / hinge right in the middle.

is there a plastic or acrylic top that doesn't warp? how thick does it need to be? or should I just get custom cut glass, but then again the glass will probably be too heavy as one piece?

Does Lowes or Home depot custom cut glass? OR Is this just too much trouble and I should get the standard Aqueon two piece hinged type.

TIA

 

[ScooterV]

I understand your concern at least I have an African Grey and those little down feathers go EVERYWHERE!!

I'm going to tag along on the answers here though as well. I know some acrylic absorbs water more than others, or more prone to warp, but forgot which is which I've got two new 75 gallon reservoirs to make tops for so the answer to you will help me too!

 

[Katrina71]

Look at Value Pet Supplies. I have a glass one with a flexible hinge all the way across. It won't cover completely from front to back, but there is a piece of plastic you can get to join another pane.It's an Aqueon Versa top.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

I got went to Lowe's and got a cut piece for $16 but Dang! 1/8" is real thin! I think it will be temporary until I find something better

 

[NinnJinn]

When I bought my 125 gallon tank used did not know the brand name and after ordering three different canopies online and them still not fitting I ended up ordering a hinge and plastic back piece from Doctor Foster that you can cut to size.

Then I went to my local glass place and got two pieces cut to where one piece covers 3/4 and the other piece covers 1/4 that way I can put my light bar down the middle of the tank with no shadowing except for the two tank braces.

However one thing I suggest you do that I did not is pay a little extra to have the edges of the glass polished. there's not a month that goes by there's not Bloodshed from my fingers.

With the doctor Foster hinges and back plastic pieces plus my custom cut glass was cheaper than the canopy kits online. If I had to do over I would get the 1/8 instead of the 1/16 glass thickness.

 

[HB AL]

I got went to Lowe's and got a cut piece for $16 but Dang! 1/8" is real thin! I think it will be temporary until I find something better

Just be careful when moving it, that thin it won’t take much of a hit to break, but for 16$ no biggie.

 

[Waters]

I would go with acrylic over glass. There are a few sponsers here that make a really good product. I actually got mine from Artfully Acrylic. They will make it to whatever custom shape you want, including cutouts for cords, filters, etc although they are expensive.

 

[ca1ore]

If you go plastic, you want polycarbonate not acrylic. Latter will warp like crazy, former will not.

 

[Pedal Dangit]

If you go plastic, you want polycarbonate not acrylic. Latter will warp like crazy, former will not.

Thanks, but where do you go for something made out of polycarbonate?

and to update, the super thin piece from lowes is definitely a temporary solution. at 35" it bends and bows even with 3 sides of support. I'm afraid to even wipe it clean sitting on top the tank. scary. way too thin

 

[ca1ore]

I believe most of the commercial places that make tops use polycarbonate, but you'd have to ask them if going that route. It's also regularly available by the brand name Lexan (versus lucite or plexiglass for acrylic). Just google it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Acrylic although more costly is easier to clean, lightweight and safer than glass regarding shatter potential.

 

[HB AL]

I would find a glass shop around you and see how much $, they are surprisingly economical, and can probably make what ya need from scrapes laying around. going acrylic is gonna be much more $ than the glass, unless the price difference is not an issue. I have 3 separate glass covers (no type of seems to block light) on my tank making it easy to acces the different zones of the tank without removing a big heavy piece of glass.

 

[Velcro]

Polycarbonate, hands down. Order a cut to size piece from tap plastics.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would find a glass shop around you and see how much $, they are surprisingly economical, and can probably make what ya need from scrapes laying around. going acrylic is gonna be much more $ than the glass, unless the price difference is not an issue. I have 3 separate glass covers (no type of seems to block light) on my tank making it easy to acces the different zones of the tank without removing a big heavy piece of glass.

That's how I acquire mine. My 360g was $24 total