Lexan canopy, not too bad

[PintoHawk]

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/kallahawk/fish/top_3.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/kallahawk/fish/top_2.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/kallahawk/fish/top_1.jpg

We gave up on doing the wooden canopy, it became way too complicated and pricy. I was super disappointed until I discovered this Lexan stuff, it's like a plexi-glass, but really strong, better than using real glass. I was able to cut out the holes for the filter & heater with a jigsaw, and sand the edges & corners so I won't get cut/scratched. Pretty groovy, IMO. It fits like a glove. Only thing I don't like is how it gets SO foggy because the water is heated. I was thinking I might cut a couple tiny vents in the top, on each side, to let the condensation escape a little bit.

We are still building the light box for the top, which will be ready by tomorrow night I think. Need to make it stable enough to sit on top and not be bothered too much by my curious furry creatures. ;)

Not too bad eh? The 29x12-inch piece of Lexan costs me $25 but I think it was worth it. That wooden attempt was making me crazy.

[PintoHawk]

Oh, and you can see my male/female divider really well in these pictures, too. I used cross-stitch canvas (60cents/sheet at Wal-Mart) and aquarium-safe silicone to attach it front and back and bottom. It's a little crooked but I am happy with it. :D

[thegrandpoohbah]

Looks good, let us know how it holds up to the heat from the lights.

[amaruq]

Fantastic ideas!!!!! I love the plastic canvas idea!!!!!

Where do you get Lexcon?

[PintoHawk]

Amaruq - Thanks! I got the piece of Lexan from my local glass shop.

Poohbah - Thanks; It shouldn't melt from the flourescent lights because the box encasing the light will keep the bulb several inches above the Lexan anyways (the guy at the glass place told me that floursecents don't get hot, is that true?) and he told me it'll take a LONG time to melt it at all, regardless. ;)

[thegrandpoohbah]

I don't think it can melt it but I've heard of lexan warping from the heat. And yes, fluorescent lights can get hot.

[_Aaron_]

I don't think it can melt it but I've heard of lexan warping from the heat. And yes, fluorescent lights can get hot.


I have Lexan/plexi on a few tanks. They will warp if the light source is too close & gets hot. It will also melt but takes a bit to do so.

[Melody]

Looks great!

[RatMan]

Looks good; I have lexan on my 2 small tanks; The only real problem and it has been addressed by a few people is that the heat of the water over a period of time can make it flex and bend under weight,one way to prevent that is with a few cross peices to make it stiff, if the span is long like 36 then you might want 3 braces, it is also depending on the thickness of the lean as to how easy it will warp.

A hair dryer on high will bend it to some neat shapes if you take your time and use your imagination.

[CACAdmin]

Looks good. Also fairly easy to add another opening if you wanted to add anything else to the tank later. Let us know how it works out for you.

[PintoHawk]

A hair dryer on high will bend it to some neat shapes if you take your time and use your imagination.
Ohhh now you'll get me started on a new project.. that sounds like fun! LOL

Looks good. Also fairly easy to add another opening if you wanted to add anything else to the tank later. Let us know how it works out for you.
VERY easy, just use the jigsaw to cut and some sandpaper to smooth the edges. ;)

[PPulcher]

In my experience, acrylic or plexi will bow not with the heat from the water (I keep unheated tanks mainly) but with the humidity of the water. Plastics like styrene don't bow or warp. I use styrene panels meant for overhead lighting over my tanks. They do degrade after a few years where lights were on top, but they don't melt. I suspect the UV does a number on it an makes it brittle.

I don't know about lexan. But isn't lexan is the stuff that was recently banned for use in baby bottles and the like as it contains Bisphenol A?

[PintoHawk]

But isn't lexan is the stuff that was recently banned for use in baby bottles and the like as it contains Bisphenol A?
Ahhh.... whuh? I better google this....

Wiki says:
Lexan may leach bisphenol A, a chemical that some studies linked to cancer. These studies indicate exposure to low levels of BPA causes a range of serious health effects in laboratory animals. An expert panel of 12 scientists has found that there is "some concern that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A in utero causes neural and behavioral effects," according to the draft report prepared by The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction. For the general adult population, the expert panel found a "negligible concern for adverse reproductive effects following exposures."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan

Do you think this would harm the fish, then?

[PPulcher]

It's hard to say. The jury is out, but I think the ban on the baby bottles was the precautionary principle in action.

Having raised both my kids with the bottles in question, I sure hope it's okay

[PintoHawk]

Update on the lexan canopy:
It has bowed slightly.
The light box I usually rest on top gets REALLY warm during the day.
The condensation under the canopy is immense, when I pick it up and tilt it, I get a mini-waterfall run off the underside.
I am still very happy with it, and I will probably use it again in future on another tank. :)

[CACAdmin]

You'd get the same condensation from glass lids (which I have on 2 tanks).
Glad to hear that overall you're still pleased with it. Thanks for the update.