Looking for good screen cover for 24x24 rimless tank

[Oceanavekid]

What are some good covers for my 24x24 rimless 30 gallon?

I see bulk reef and marine Depot sell kits. I'm not sure which one to get tho

Trying to let a lot of light in and keep goby from jumping out

[ca1ore]

I had better luck with screen frames from HD, and a roll of netting I bought off eBay.

[slief]

If you want a REALLY nice screen cover, Artfully Acrylic makes some REALLY nice custom ones but they aren't cheap. They make off the shelf ones in a wide range of sizes for a wide range of popular tanks.
http://artfullyacrylic.3dcartstores....Lids_c_52.html

This is one of their custom ones over my frag tank.

[reefinder]

Bulk reef supply way to go easy to put together

[devildog999]

I'd go with artfully acrylic. They are a bit pricey (you'll likely pay around 100 bucks) but well worth the cost. For one, you have a rimless tank so a BRS one would look pretty crappy with your setup. The ones from artfully acrylic are made from, yup, acrylic and are not very noticeable. Not to mention, the screen is held in with a simple gasket like seal so the screen can be replace if needed.

[Oceanavekid]

Originally Posted by slief

If you want a REALLY nice screen cover, Artfully Acrylic makes some REALLY nice custom ones but they aren't cheap. They make off the shelf ones in a wide range of sizes for a wide range of popular tanks.
http://artfullyacrylic.3dcartstores....Lids_c_52.html

This is one of their custom ones over my frag tank.

Looks good

The frame is acrylic and the rest is netting?

Put in 24x24 and it says 4ft is what they recommend

Seems a bit big

What's up with the feed door and custom cutouts?

[devildog999]

Originally Posted by Oceanavekid

Looks good

The frame is acrylic and the rest is netting? Correct. Save the gasket on the bottom that holds the screen in

Put in 24x24 and it says 4ft is what they recommend

Seems a bit big Did you check to see if they offer something for your tank manufacturer? I have the SC Aquariums 50g which is also 24x24 and they make one for that specific aquarium. Take a look at that aquarium and see if the overflow is in the same place. If so, that should work with your tank but you can always ask them directly. On a side note, 24"x24" is 4 square feet

What's up with the feed door and custom cutouts? You do not HAVE to get feed doors or other custom cutouts, they are alternate options. If your tank will work with the lid that works with my tank as mentioned, there are drop down boxes when ordering that give the option for such cutouts

[Oceanavekid]

Not sure Visio has a screen cover for it, sent them a message. I do like the screen cover posted above. I have my radion clipped onto my tank and have a bulkhead on top

Would I tell them that info and have them cut those parts out?

[devildog999]

Your best bet would be to take a picture of the top of the aquarium. Also, measure everything and give them those measurements. They'll make it as easy for you as possible. Back of aquarium is x inches. Left side top is x inches. Right side top is x inches. Bottom is x inches. When it comes to the overflow, say it is x amount of inches from side to overflow box. Overflow box is x amount of inches long and then it is x amount of inches from other side of box to other side of aquarium. Also make sure to tell them how deep the box is. This way they can account for the entirity of the box but also make sure it is not covered by the top. Giving them a picture will help them put a visual idea to the measurements you are giving them.

Originally Posted by Oceanavekid

Not sure Visio has a screen cover for it, sent them a message. I do like the screen cover posted above. I have my radion clipped onto my tank and have a bulkhead on top

Would I tell them that info and have them cut those parts out?

[slief]

Originally Posted by Oceanavekid

Looks good

The frame is acrylic and the rest is netting?

Put in 24x24 and it says 4ft is what they recommend

Seems a bit big

What's up with the feed door and custom cutouts?

The frame is polycarbonate that is machine cut with a slot for the screen and machined out tabs that rest on the edge of the tank. The rest is a clear screen. I also got the optional feeding door/cover which gives me a nice little lid that I can open when I feed the fish in that tank. It's really beautifully made. I was really pleasantly surprised when it arrived. I had seen them in pictures but pictures don't do it any justice. I have the BRS screen top on another tank and while it's functional, there is nothing nice about it. 24"x24" is 4 square feet so their size recommendation is spot on as they go by square footage.

[slief]

Originally Posted by devildog999

Your best bet would be to take a picture of the top of the aquarium. Also, measure everything and give them those measurements. They'll make it as easy for you as possible. Back of aquarium is x inches. Left side top is x inches. Right side top is x inches. Bottom is x inches. When it comes to the overflow, say it is x amount of inches from side to overflow box. Overflow box is x amount of inches long and then it is x amount of inches from other side of box to other side of aquarium. Also make sure to tell them how deep the box is. This way they can account for the entirity of the box but also make sure it is not covered by the top. Giving them a picture will help them put a visual idea to the measurements you are giving them.

Spot on. I drew a picture of my top of my tank with internal measurements. I wanted to be able to access my overflow without removing the top so they made the lid to fit around that. Granted, I have a lid on my overflow which is flush with the top of this rimless tank so they had to make the lid cut to fit around it anyway. In the picture I posted above, you can see that in the back left corner of the tank (upper right of the picture above). The drawing was simple and the lid turned out spot on perfect.

Here are a few other pictures. You can see how the support tabs are machined into the polycarbonate frame. They even included a notch for the power head cords in the location of my choice.


You can see the way they did the lid to fit around the overflow on this tank.


The feed door.


Another shot showing the whole lid.

[Oceanavekid]

Originally Posted by slief

Spot on. I drew a picture of my top of my tank with internal measurements. I wanted to be able to access my overflow without removing the top so they made the lid to fit around that. Granted, I have a lid on my overflow which is flush with the top of this rimless tank so they had to make the lid cut to fit around it anyway. In the picture I posted above, you can see that in the back left corner of the tank (upper right of the picture above). The drawing was simple and the lid turned out spot on perfect.

Here are a few other pictures. You can see how the support tabs are machined into the polycarbonate frame. They even included a notch for the power head cords in the location of my choice.


You can see the way they did the lid to fit around the overflow on this tank.


The feed door.


Another shot showing the whole lid.

Definitely like that top a lot more than the other two from bulk reef and marine Depot. Once I get my synergy overflow box put on I'll take the measurements and send it to them. Thanks for the recommendation. It's the best top by far I've seen. It's pricey, but looks like it's worth it

[Orm Embar]

I used clips and the BRS DIY screen top on my Red Sea Reefer 170. I did use 3" of black eggcrate in the back with cutouts for powerhead cords. I think it looks quite classy, although Artfully Acrylic would indeed look nicer. Then again, the BRS DIY kit is significantly cheaper. There was another manufacturer of acrylic lids with the clear mesh as well (Octo Aquatics).

[devildog999]

Pricey but you pay for quality! But hey, that's like EVERYTHING in the reef hobby!

Originally Posted by Oceanavekid

Definitely like that top a lot more than the other two from bulk reef and marine Depot. Once I get my synergy overflow box put on I'll take the measurements and send it to them. Thanks for the recommendation. It's the best top by far I've seen. It's pricey, but looks like it's worth it

[Oceanavekid]

Originally Posted by Orm Embar

I used clips and the BRS DIY screen top on my Red Sea Reefer 170. I did use 3" of black eggcrate in the back with cutouts for powerhead cords. I think it looks quite classy, although Artfully Acrylic would indeed look nicer. Then again, the BRS DIY kit is significantly cheaper. There was another manufacturer of acrylic lids with the clear mesh as well (Octo Aquatics).

Never heard of them have any pictures?

[Oceanavekid]

Originally Posted by devildog999

Pricey but you pay for quality! But hey, that's like EVERYTHING in the reef hobby!

Seems to be how saltwater fish keeping is. Just in tank and lights i'm over $600
My tank isn't 100% set up and I'm close to $1000 just in set up alone -_-

[Kyl]

Just wait till you get into corals haha!

[devildog999]

My current build cost me $695 just for the tank and stand (SC Aquariums 50g); it be for seahorsies. Still another $489 needs to be spent on light (have 2 months before I have to drop that as the tank is cycling). $200 on rock and sand. And I need to spend another $200 on an Ecotech powerhead (okay, it's actually $295 but if I keep rounding down, it sounds more affordable).

Originally Posted by Oceanavekid

Seems to be how saltwater fish keeping is. Just in tank and lights i'm over $600
My tank isn't 100% set up and I'm close to $1000 just in set up alone -_-

[acropora]

It's difficult to see how thick they are in the photos. Ok at closet look I see that its netting.