jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Anyone know how this is done? It doesn't look as simple as regular aluminum screen kit framing to put on. Something like in this video: Link to comment
rocksmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 You could see if Chris at PicO could just make you a custom one. I got one with my 5g from him. I also made a ghetto one for a nanocube by cutting the acrylic to shape with a Dremel and hot gluing the mesh on. Doesn't look as nice, but it has held up fine. Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 You could see if Chris at PicO could just make you a custom one. I got one with my 5g from him. I also made a ghetto one for a nanocube by cutting the acrylic to shape with a Dremel and hot gluing the mesh on. Doesn't look as nice, but it has held up fine. True, custom is an option. Might go that way as my DIY skills are pretty shabby lol. Do you happen to have any pics of your ghetto lid? I looked at your 5g PicO and thought the lid looked awesome, till I realized you said it was made by Chris haha. Link to comment
rocksmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Yeah, I did not make the 5g one. Lol. I don't think I have a picture, but I will take one later today for you. Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 I did a search and found someone using some sort of glue: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html This also looks really clean: Link to comment
specore Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I did a search and found someone using some sort of glue: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html This also looks really clean: That looks like an aluminum frame holding the mesh that they just glue acrylic pieces to Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 That looks like an aluminum frame holding the mesh that they just glue acrylic pieces to Yeah you're right haha. I missed the black frame. Link to comment
rocksmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Here's my DIY: http://s34.photobucket.com/user/stacylambert/media/screentop.jpg.html'> Certainly not as nice looking as the ones Chris makes. I don't mind because between the black tank frame and the metal halide you don't really see it. I also made it by myself so the mesh isn't very taut. If you decide to make one, make sure you have one person gluing and one person holding the mesh. Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Here's my DIY: Certainly not as nice looking as the ones Chris makes. I don't mind because between the black tank frame and the metal halide you don't really see it. I also made it by myself so the mesh isn't very taut. If you decide to make one, make sure you have one person gluing and one person holding the mesh. Thanks! I can see the hot glue mess haha But actually doesn't look bad I'll probably get one made rather than DIY. Everything I make ends up really messy. I plan and plan and plan, but when the time comes to do it, I usually end up winging it and not even take proper measurements lol. Link to comment
rocksmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Yeah, I'm sure there are prettier ways to attach the mesh, but I had hot glue and it worked. lol. Link to comment
Dramad1 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 You could cut out your frame and then notch a groove with a router about 1/4-1/2" in front the edge and then go get a small roll of that rubber rope they use on metal frame screen kits and then press the netting in as you would on a typical metal frame kit..just an idea Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 You could cut out your frame and then notch a groove with a router about 1/4-1/2" in front the edge and then go get a small roll of that rubber rope they use on metal frame screen kits and then press the netting in as you would on a typical metal frame kit..just an idea Hey that's good idea. Most of the ones I've seen on acrylic don't use the spline you normally use on screen kits. I think this would turn out much cleaner than using glue lol. You would need thicker acrylic though. The acrylic I have with me, and the spline are about the same thickness, so that wouldn't work haha. Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 BRS offers a DIY screen top like these. Not acrylic, but more like a screen for a window. I think it is aluminum. Nice, though. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-1-4-netting.html Link to comment
GTi Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Here's a thought. 3M does tiny clear hanging hooks with transparent adhesive pads. While I'm not sure how well the pads would hold up to salt water, the hooks could be superglued directly to the acrylic and the net attached to the hooks. Alternatively, you could cut pairs of notches along the edge of the acrylic and hook the mesh on to these pegs. I'd thought about an acrylic/mesh top but never got around to it (currently using a BRS kit) - if we manage to work out a relatively simple way to do this that has good aesthetics, that would be cool! Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 BRS offers a DIY screen top like these. Not acrylic, but more like a screen for a window. I think it is aluminum. Nice, though. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-1-4-netting.html Yeah I made one of those using parts from Home Depot. But with regular black screen, which wasn't gonna do lol. I got some clear mesh from someone in the Hardware Classifieds though, so I wanted to try an acrylic frame if it could be done. Here's a thought. 3M does tiny clear hanging hooks with transparent adhesive pads. While I'm not sure how well the pads would hold up to salt water, the hooks could be superglued directly to the acrylic and the net attached to the hooks. Alternatively, you could cut pairs of notches along the edge of the acrylic and hook the mesh on to these pegs. I'd thought about an acrylic/mesh top but never got around to it (currently using a BRS kit) - if we manage to work out a relatively simple way to do this that has good aesthetics, that would be cool! Hey that's a great idea, might try cutting notches and seeing how well the mesh holds on to them. Link to comment
RonLarimer Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Could you just sandwich it between two layers? Link to comment
GTi Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Hey that's a great idea, might try cutting notches and seeing how well the mesh holds on to them. The fiddly part is getting the right number of notches and spacing so the mesh is evenly taught in both main directions. Make sure to post how well this works out so I know whether to try it! Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Could you just sandwich it between two layers? I'd imagine the mesh would come loose unless you somehow glue between the mesh holes. Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Just get Chris @Pico Aquariums to make you one, way worth it Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Just get Chris @Pico Aquariums to make you one, way worth it Wow that definitely looks worth it So clean. Is the mesh just held on by those black things? Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Wow that definitely looks worth it So clean. Is the mesh just held on by those black things? Yup they're plastic screws, you can take them out and replace the netting if it gets too dirty or a hole or something Link to comment
4x5 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I found a company who make acrylic signs and that sort of thing, and got them to water jet a frame that I designed. Then I used a glue gun to glue the net in place. Pretty easy. Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I was planning to do an acrylic frame using the sandwich method. My thought was to use weld-on 16 to bond the mesh to the acrylic. But after reading this thread I think I may try plastic screws instead. Tom Link to comment
jabeuy Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I was planning to do an acrylic frame using the sandwich method. My thought was to use weld-on 16 to bond the mesh to the acrylic. But after reading this thread I think I may try plastic screws instead. Tom Make sure to post back here on how you did it! Link to comment
Reefwiser Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Shawn did they make a groove so that the lid sat down on the top flush? That's what it looks like. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.