My DIY Acrylic Cover for Rimless tank

Joshsmit56001 · 11/11/2017, 08:56 PM

So I️ finally finished my acrylic cover for my rimless tank. Still need to drill and tap a few more holes then flame polish edges!

Tell me what you think!

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hellssephiroth · 11/11/2017, 10:47 PM

That turned out pretty nice. Good work! Are those metal screws though? I'm always paranoid I guess of using metal anything near the tank water just in case.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/11/2017, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellssephiroth

That turned out pretty nice. Good work! Are those metal screws though? I'm always paranoid I guess of using metal anything near the tank water just in case.

Stainless temporarily. I️ have nylon screws coming Monday.

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Jeramirez85 · 11/12/2017, 12:59 AM

Looks good. Agree on the metal hardware but you already are aware.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/12/2017, 09:06 AM

Thanks guys. Really needed this as I️ kept having snails show up on the outside of my tank, even down to the floor. Also might want to get some “jumpers” in the future.

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BAR reject hehe · 11/12/2017, 04:02 PM

Awesome job! Can we start contracting you for more of these wonderful buildouts??

BAR reject hehe · 11/12/2017, 04:03 PM

Oh by the way, what kind of lights are those?

Joshsmit56001 · 11/12/2017, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAR reject hehe

Oh by the way, what kind of lights are those?

Don’t think I️ have the capability for mass production yet lol. The lights are Maxspect Razor LED.

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JTL · 11/13/2017, 09:16 AM

Did you cut that from one sheet? I made a similar cover but used strips of poly carbonate and glued them together with Weldon. Not as clean looking as a one piece. I also cut a channel around the parameter put the mesh in with a screen spline.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/13/2017, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

Did you cut that from one sheet? I made a similar cover but used strips of poly carbonate and glued them together with Weldon. Not as clean looking as a one piece. I also cut a channel around the parameter put the mesh in with a screen spline.

Yes cut from one sheet. I thought of using screen spline but decided to use screws instead. Less risk for screwing up the piece with the router.

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JTL · 11/13/2017, 11:53 AM

A router is the way to go. Someone else on RC made an acrylic top and said next time he was going to do out of one piece. A lot of waste but much stronger without the seams. I used my table saw.

I see you live in Lake Crystal, lived in Bloomington, MN and used to go thru there on my way to Sioux Falls. Mankato, Madalia, St James. Boy I made that trip a lot of times.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/13/2017, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

A router is the way to go. Someone else on RC made an acrylic top and said next time he was going to do out of one piece. A lot of waste but much stronger without the seams. I used my table saw.

I see you live in Lake Crystal, lived in Bloomington, MN and used to go thru there on my way to Sioux Falls. Mankato, Madalia, St James. Boy I made that trip a lot of times.

That’s awesome. No longer in MN?

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JTL · 11/13/2017, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshsmit56001

That’s awesome. No longer in MN?

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Nope, live in small town in FL on the Gulf. Check out my avatar.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/13/2017, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

Nope, live in small town in FL on the Gulf. Check out my avatar.

That’s where I need to move.

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bakeredout · 11/14/2017, 08:04 PM

Great job! It looks great. I'm lurking after spending some time away from the hobby... trying to sort of relearn everything.

Joshsmit56001 · 11/14/2017, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakeredout

Great job! It looks great. I'm lurking after spending some time away from the hobby... trying to sort of relearn everything.

Thanks! I did the same thing. Just got back in a few months ago. Love my rimless.

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11/11/2017, 08:56 PM	#1
Joshsmit56001 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lake Crystal, MN Posts: 654	My DIY Acrylic Cover for Rimless tank So I️ finally finished my acrylic cover for my rimless tank. Still need to drill and tap a few more holes then flame polish edges! Tell me what you think! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef

11/12/2017, 09:06 AM	#5
Joshsmit56001 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lake Crystal, MN Posts: 654	Thanks guys. Really needed this as I️ kept having snails show up on the outside of my tank, even down to the floor. Also might want to get some “jumpers” in the future. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef

11/13/2017, 09:16 AM	#9
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	Did you cut that from one sheet? I made a similar cover but used strips of poly carbonate and glued them together with Weldon. Not as clean looking as a one piece. I also cut a channel around the parameter put the mesh in with a screen spline. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

11/13/2017, 11:53 AM	#11
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	A router is the way to go. Someone else on RC made an acrylic top and said next time he was going to do out of one piece. A lot of waste but much stronger without the seams. I used my table saw. I see you live in Lake Crystal, lived in Bloomington, MN and used to go thru there on my way to Sioux Falls. Mankato, Madalia, St James. Boy I made that trip a lot of times. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

11/11/2017, 10:47 PM	#2
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	That turned out pretty nice. Good work! Are those metal screws though? I'm always paranoid I guess of using metal anything near the tank water just in case.

11/12/2017, 12:59 AM	#4
Jeramirez85 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 50	Looks good. Agree on the metal hardware but you already are aware.

11/12/2017, 04:02 PM	#6
BAR reject hehe Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 50	Awesome job! Can we start contracting you for more of these wonderful buildouts??

11/12/2017, 04:03 PM	#7
BAR reject hehe Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 50	Oh by the way, what kind of lights are those?

11/14/2017, 08:04 PM	#15
bakeredout Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 12	Great job! It looks great. I'm lurking after spending some time away from the hobby... trying to sort of relearn everything.