DIY cover for pico/nano size tanks.

[Alex808]

What’s up everyone. If you’re trying to find a super cheap option to a tank cover. I may have just the thing for you. It isn’t aesthetically pleasing but as far as price goes and ease to build. This is has been a tried and true for me.

If you go to any Walmart or hobby store that carry poster frames, you should be able to find the simple cardboard framed with plastic border. There are 2 kinds though and you may need to rip a corner open to look at the plastic inside. That’s what I did and have to do every time I go and purchase more. Reason being because some of them use a very flimsy floppy plastic and the one we’re looking for is thicker and more rigid.
If you can find exactly what I have in the picture. You’re good to go.

Once you have that. Acquire a good blade or exacto knife. Take measurements and mark your lines.
Don’t try to push the blade through the plastic. Instead, MAKE SEVERAL PASSES WITH YOUR BLADE. The plastic will neatly crack along where you cut once you bend it a little bit.

Once you have the large rough cut that will fit on top of your tank, you can very gently do the same thing for your equipment to fit through. Same method though. Make a pass in the same place over and over so that you can simply pop out sections as you go.

If your tank still has the plastic rim with the inside border for glass tops to sit on. You can make one of these to neatly sit in there and more pleasing to the eye. Hope this helps anyone wanting a cheap option.

 

[mta_morrow]

What’s up everyone. If you’re trying to find a super cheap option to a tank cover. I may have just the thing for you. It isn’t aesthetically pleasing but as far as price goes and ease to build. This is has been a tried and true for me.

If you go to any Walmart or hobby store that carry poster frames, you should be able to find the simple cardboard framed with plastic border. There are 2 kinds though and you may need to rip a corner open to look at the plastic inside. That’s what I did and have to do every time I go and purchase more. Reason being because some of them use a very flimsy floppy plastic and the one we’re looking for is thicker and more rigid.
If you can find exactly what I have in the picture. You’re good to go.

Once you have that. Acquire a good blade or exacto knife. Take measurements and mark your lines.
Don’t try to push the blade through the plastic. Instead, MAKE SEVERAL PASSES WITH YOUR BLADE. The plastic will neatly crack along where you cut once you bend it a little bit.

Once you have the large rough cut that will fit on top of your tank, you can very gently do the same thing for your equipment to fit through. Same method though. Make a pass in the same place over and over so that you can simply pop out sections as you go.

If your tank still has the plastic rim with the inside border for glass tops to sit on. You can make one of these to neatly sit in there and more pleasing to the eye. Hope this helps anyone wanting a cheap option.

Very nice DIY!
Looks great!