I want a glass cover for my new 36 gallon bow front tank. I can only find rectangular covers. It came with a black plastic cover that is ok, but it looks cheap and I will have to find a way to cut the back of it to accommodate my need for a larger filter. It has a piece you can punch out, but that's still not big enough. Too much trouble for an ugly plastic cover. I've searched a bit on the internet and can't find a glass bow front cover. Ideas?
I guess you could go to a glass store and have them cut you one. I have never had a bow front so I have not had this problem, but that is at least one solution.
Thanks Miami...I was hoping that they're available because my smaller bow front came with one so I was thinking maybe as replacement parts they might be around. I'll keep the glass shop in mind though.
zambize, easy way to do this, go to the home depot or any large hardware store and buy a piece of plexi glass that's a little bigger than the tank you have then get a coping saw or a small saw that you can use to custom cut the plexi glass to your liking, pretty easy to do and you can even drill a hole in it in the front and slide a small wooden peg into the whole and glue it there, or you can glue a little ornament to it so that you can lift it when needed, works best if you cut one piece for the front of the tank as the bow, then cut a second piece you can slide in behind it, and it's done, the second piece can be cut to accommodate the filter you want to put on the back of it, and your light can sit right on top of it. all for about an hours worth of work and around a 10$ expense, looks as good as glass, less expensive.
Brandon
another option is to go ahead and buy the factory made rectangle glass flip lid and then cut a piece of plexy to fit in the arched curve area at the front of the tank......and just leave it sit in the grove and then you can flip the lid up just behind the plexi...................Boss
And you think a girlyish girl can do all this sawing and gluing? LOL Actually, I love any excuse to buy a new tool, and I don't have a coping saw...
The plexiglass is a good idea because I have to be super careful with the glass top on my other bow front tank to not break or chip it when I'm moving or cleaning it. It would be nice to not worry about that.
Just be warned, i cut my hand open trying to saw pieces of plexi that I bought from home depot... they wouldn't cut it for me over here. So be careful.
I personally would try ebay first, for a piece that exact size... i would imagine the curve angle is the hardest to find already matching your tank. Even making one to match the curve seems like a task. Unless you use the plastic one as a guide.
Second idea... email the manufacturer of your tank and ask them for one.
zambize, i think going with the plexi is a great idea, i am actually doing that for a 55 gal tank i just picked up for 40$ from a friend, he moved and had no place for it so i took the tank, am going to use it as a breeding setup for the discus should they get to that point. if you take the lid that you have and use a sharpy marker and outline the bow from the top you have onto the plexi it will give you the right size to cut.
Brandon,
ps be extremely careful plexy even though it's plastic can still cut you like spongebob said.
cutting plexi involves grooving it with a plexi knife, and then snapping off pieces using some strength... when the pieces break off, they are verrrry sharp and i've cut myself badly doing it, so please have someone who has done it before do it for you.
Yep. I'm with the plexiglass idea too. I found a huge peice of plexiglass in the garbage someone was using as a schedule board for wipe-off markers. I cleaned it up and I've used it to make a few tops for my aquariums. I used my Bosch power jig saw to cut it, and though the plexiglass kind of melted as it was being cut it was easy to do.
For a way to feed and get into the tanks I cut out a rectangular section and used clear tape as a hinge, though there may be better hinge ideas at a hardware store as others have mentioned. I like the idea of using a rectangular flip up glass lid to fit onto the plexiglass top.
The only thing about plexiglass is that it melts if you have a very hot light close to it. Most PC or VHO lights probably won't be hot enough to melt it though. It was when I was experimenting with halogen shoplights that I had melting problems, and I soon learned that those lights are bad for fish anyway.
Lots of cover options, thanks! I have a handy man who is in and out quite a bit, perhaps I can get him to risk filleting his hand for my new cover. I'll give him your suggestions.
serial32 and I went to our local glass shop and while I was Paying for a piece of lexan....serial got a crap load of pieces for free out of their garbage can.....some pieces where 1 1/2 feet wide and 3-4 feet long.....if you could trace the shape and bring it back to them and bat your pretty little eye lashes real nice .....lol I'm sure they would cut it for you for next to nothin..........because as others have stated .....lexan and plexi are kinda hard to cut, especially on a curve and can be very sharp and or crack in the wrong place .. ....I cut some with a roto-zip but it took some work to keep the tool from "walking" all over the place..............Boss
A plastics supply place may be able to do the same as above. I got the background form my tank from a plastic supply, and they cut it out of scrap pieces for me. 2 pieces 24"x28" for around $30.
