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Thread: Aquarium lids hack

  1. #1
    Registered Member dprais1's Avatar
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    Dan

    Default Aquarium lids hack

    I always hate glass lids. They shatter, they chip, they either look absolutely clean or just dirty.
    Like many others, I now use corrugated plastic panels designed for greenhouses.
    In the past I've cut them with a very sharp utility knife. Time consuming and they leaves sharp edges.
    This time I used a circular saw with a plywood blade (fine toothed). Wow does this work great. Takes seconds to make a cut, easy to get a perfectly straight cut and no sharp edges at all.

    I also always cut a 1" hole to make taking off the lids easier. Using the same concept as above I used a diamond hole drill bit instead of a wood hole drill bit. Perfect smooth hole instead of ruff raggedy hole.

    Lastly these panels can be expensive. Although I haven't received my new ones yet, I ordered 5 sheets, 2' x 4' from greenhouse megastore for about 85.00 and free shipping.

    Hope this helps some people.

  2. #2
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    harry g

    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    Looked at there site & they have so much to pick. Can you tell me which ones you use & if they are clear. Thanks Harry

  3. #3
    Registered Member dprais1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    I ordered the "easy ship twin wall polycarbonate" in the 6mm. I have 6mm right now and it pretty much sits flush.

    I haven't received my order from them yet I was using a spare leftover.

    In my experience they are pretty clear, I probably wouldn't use them for a planted tank with high light requirements but to grow crypts or moss they would be fine if you have a decent light.

  4. #4
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    harry g

    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    Thanks Dan i will give it a closer look.

  5. #5
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    Can you show me a picture of one of the lids?
    Mama Bear

  6. #6
    Registered Member dprais1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    IMG_05122020_135535_(640_x_960_pixel).jpg

    The condensation is from water getting between the panels when I hosed it off after cutting.

    Easy to cut a notch for cords as seen in upper left corner.

  7. #7
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    Shoot, even I could do this. All I need to buy is the plywood blade and the hole saw. Thanks for the great I idea.
    Mama Bear

  8. #8
    Moderator Team AquaticNerd's Avatar
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    Jake

    Default Re: Aquarium lids hack

    I recently switched to using something similar on my aquarium as well (actually both a DIY Netting with the plastic on top). You can usually find them at your local hardware store. This is the one I used:

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/PALRAM-2...4040/305560353

    I don't own a circular saw or hole saw, but I do have a Drywall T-Square which is 48" long, so I used that as my straight-edge and used a sharp utility knife to cut it. It took all of a minute to cut it to size. I prefer have as small of holes as possible for my makeshift lid, so instead of drilling a large hole, I just drilled two 1/4" holes about 2" apart and tightened zip tie through it with enough slack as to create a place where I can fit a couple fingers to lift it up.

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