Habitat - Indoor :: Help with screen top for 150 gallon tank

[balraug]

Hello all,

I have a new (actually used) 150 gallon tank that I am in the process of setting up. The person I bought it from had only used the tank for fish so he had solid lids for it. I am trying to find a screen top for the tank, but am not having any luck.

There are two support bars on the tank which leaves 3 spaces each 22.25 x 16.5 inches. I can some nice looking glass inserts (Aqueon Versa-Tops) that would fit perfectly, but I obviously don't want glass top for my RES.

Are 22.25x16.5 inch screens commercially available?

If not, can anyone offer suggestions as to the best way for me to make them myself?

I have also looked at a single screen top, but the largest I could find is 72x18 and with the trim on my tank it is actually 72.5x18.5 inches.

Thanks in advance!

[steve]

I'm not sure about that size. For a standard window screen, you can buy kits at hardware stores to make your own or go to a window/door shop and have them make one for you. You can also make one out of a simple wood frame (I've seen some nicely stained ones to match the tank frame/stand) and use hardware cloth or chicken wire for the screen mesh (allows more UVB rays to enter).

[balraug]

It is a standard sized tank, so I was hoping to find standard sized screen inserts. But maybe I'll have to go the DIY route. I'll check out the local hardware stores to see what they have for kits.

There is no rush. It will be some weeks before I am ready to move my turtle in.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Kansasslider]

I used wire shelving. Cut it to size with a grinder and painted it with spray paint.

[steve]

Ah, forgot about that! Good idea.

[balraug]

Thanks. Something else for me to think about.

[Kansasslider]

Your welcome. The possibilities are endless. Wood, plastic, metal,etc. Let us know what you decide.

[balraug]

I've found some 36x18 inch screens that might work out. According to the reviews they are actually bigger than the stated dimensions, so I am hoping that I can just customize them slightly and use 2 to cover the tank.

The next question was how to cut holes in the screens for the inlet/outlet of the filter and also the cords for the heaters and the tube for my air-stone (I'm planning on having some fish in the tank as well). While thinking about that, it dawned on me that it might be easier to use some sort of strapping to make a frame to sit on top of the tank and then put the screen on that. The benefits of that being, 1) more room for an in-tank basking area and 2) the option to cut holes in the wood for all the tubes etc and let the screen still sit flat. I'm sure I'm not the first to think about this, any tips for a newb?

[Kansasslider]

In the first picture you can see the notch in the wood for the filter hose. I put plexi on the front and it sits in the rim lip. Its an atba.

[balraug]

I was pretty focused and was only looking at the photos for the top. I wouldn't be surprised if subconsciously I got "my" idea from your photos! Thanks for sending what I was looking for before I even asked for it.

[Kansasslider]

Your welcome.