Custom Glass Tops?

[smokinjoe2122]

I have a wierd tank, a 29 gallon hex, that I'd like to make a custom glass top for, so I can get better lighting... Does anyone know a place online where I can get them dimensions of openings and cuts and have them make me a custom tank top?

 

[Crazy fishes]

Any glazier can do that; just pop into the shop and they frequently do it there and then. Work out the thickness you would like eg. 4mm, 6mm etc

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[smokinjoe2122]

Any glazier can do that; just pop into the shop and they frequently do it there and then. Work out the thickness you would like eg. 4mm, 6mm etc

Hope this helps

Regards

Yeah, I've been told by many that autoglass makers can make glass tops. My question has been about the thickness of the glass... The only light I can find is a 96w 20" light from coralife (without getting into a wall/ceiling attached ballast, ect... What thickness would be good for a top to allow the most lighting to get into the tank, but also being a good thickness that it wouldn't be easy to crack or break?

 

[Crazy fishes]

6mm is a nice thickness that is relatively sturdy. 4mm is ordinary plate stuff which is really only good for baffles in a sump. You could get it made in two halves so the lighting fits between them. It will also allow ventilation for gaseous exchange and heating.

Hope that helps a little more

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Wait, umm, why do you think you need a custom glass top for better lighting?

 

[smokinjoe2122]

Wait, umm, why do you think you need a custom glass top for better lighting?

Because I have a crappy little fluorescent light on top of clear plastic within a plastic top for my tank. Its a hex tank @ 29 gallons and I have things protruding the top of the tank. So I need a custom glass top so I can upgrade my lighting, which will upgrade the amount of heat coming out of the fixture, and melt the plastic. Or so people have told me.. I don't want an open top because I have a bengal cat who loves jumping on things....I am open to any other suggestions though, because getting exact dimensions for notches and openings, and trying to get glass to hinge off of glass sounds like a pain in the butt....

 

[wendywc]

I've bought a thick sheet of acrylic at Home Depot (hardware supply place) and have cut my own top before. I used a marker for the shape and a Dremel with a wheel cutter to cut it down to size. I then switched the wheel cutter to a polishing wheel and sanded/polished all of the edges smooth. Pretty simple and those acrylic sheets are cheap. If I remember correctly, it was $5 for a 15" x 15".

EDIT: Pus I did notch out two holes too. One for wires and another for the filter inlet.

 

[smokinjoe2122]

I've bought a thick sheet of acrylic at Home Depot (hardware supply place) and have cut my own top before. I used a marker for the shape and a Dremel with a wheel cutter to cut it down to size. I then switched the wheel cutter to a polishing wheel and sanded/polished all of the edges smooth. Pretty simple and those acrylic sheets are cheap. If I remember correctly, it was $5 for a 15" x 15".

EDIT: Pus I did notch out two holes too. One for wires and another for the filter inlet.

While I'd love to do something like that myself, I do not have the tools to do so, nor does anyone I know. I do CAD for a living as part of my job everyday, so maybe I will draw up something with CAD and take it in somewhere... For those with glass tops that you either had to get custom made or made yourself, did you leave it open in the front for feeding / access, or did you come up with a way to make it hinged??

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, I wouldn't use glass/acrylic. Trapping the air in a marine tank with less of an ability to carry oxygen is a bad idea IMO. Using egg crate that's used to protect office style flourescent lighting fixtures should be used for a cover, not something solid. You can find it at your local Lowes/HD or from mcmaster.com and you can cut it to size with a big heavy kitchen knife. You use the knife almost like an axe and it literally cuts the bits of plastic away. Works great