[melev]

I have a 3" lip around the top of the tank as it is Euro-braced. Here's an older picture.



A three-panel system is plausible. While I was mulling this over about a week ago, I thought about making acrylic I-beams, as they would be less prone to bend. Using 3/8" acrylic, I still think it will bow over the expanse of the tank, which is why it would actually be better to make it once piece as the fabric is light. However, moving the entire thing would be a hassle.

Maybe I should just convince my fish to stay in the water where they'll live longer.

[ellebelle]

It seems to me that the problem with a 6' tank is the bowing horizontally, not vertically. What if you did it in even more than three panels? What about doing 4-6 panels? A panel only a 1' to 1.5' wide shouldn't bow. You could even make a series of doors, i.e. if you made it a 6 panel construction, you could have the panel one door open to the right, the panel 2 door open to the left, 3 to the right, etc., etc., etc. That would also give you the freedom to feed whereever you like, and (more importantly) take lots of top down photos.

[KathyC]

Lissa - Marc's issue would be the 'vertical' measurement of 30 inches possibly sagging. The 72" length isn't an issue as the frame for the netting would sit on top of the edge of the tank. I'm with you that we need top down shots!!

Marc - if the edge of the tank is 3 inches, then we're only left with 24" to span..correct?
I'm heading out to my plexi place today and will grab a small piece of 3/8 and prop it up under my lights to see how much abuse it takes. Will assume all of your bulbs are 400w. Also curious to see how much light gets past the 3/8 thickness.
I still like the 3 panels for ease of movement.

[melev]

I should do the same test with a piece of acrylic. I'll measure the width, but 24" sounds about right. The lights are 250w, 400w, 250w.

The main thing is I don't want to have to make it twice. So I try to figure out in advance all the flaws before I proceed.

[KathyC]

Well, it's been like this...I haven't been home during the time my lights have been on for the last 2 days...which takes all the fun out of running the test.
I did just finally set up a piece under the lights, so I'll see what has transpired (or not) late Friday night (hey, it's the weekend, time for fun!).

Since one of my current 1/4" frames is spanning slightly over 20" and hasn't had any sagging issues, I do believe that a 24 inch one using thicker material will ultimately work out fine.

One nice item I found during my recent trip to my fabricator was acrylic square rods (in many different sizes). I especially liked these as they were crystal clear on all sides and I think those might work the best for your application of spanning the 26 inches. Just wish I had grabbed a piece of that...next trip out, for now we'll try the slightly thinner material.

Did you test with what you have yet?

[melev]

No, not yet. I was busy with a few other fun projects today. I'll try to test it out over the weekend as well. I have some 3/8" in the garage.

[KathyC]

Me Mantis? ..umm..no. Have all the stuff but haven't gotten around to building the replacement one for the 75. I'm still using the original one made with the aluminum edging. It's on my to-do list..way near the bottom.
The acrylic/mesh cover I made for the cube is holding up very well even though it sits about 10 " under my MH.

I do have more mesh if you want to try this type cover Mantis..PM me if you want some.


btw..haven't lost a fish since I added these to my tanks and they are 'soft' enough that even if a fish soes jump he just bounces off instead of klonking his noggin on something hard...

[Dmitry]

What did you cut the acrylic with so nicely? That to me seems like the hardest part!

[JHOV2324]

Ms. Kathy....i'm starting this project this weekend....what did you cut the acrylic with and can i get all the supplies at HOMEDEPOT.

[KathyC]

Quote: Originally Posted by JHOV2324 Ms. Kathy....i'm starting this project this weekend....what did you cut the acrylic with and can i get all the supplies at HOMEDEPOT.

Well...I didn't quite cut the acrylic myself....I go to a plastics fabricator out in Farmingdale and he cuts it into 3/4" x 48" strips for me. Whatever cutting I do is with a utility knife..I score the thinner stock, and I cut the thicker pieces with a jigsaw..but I'm only cutting across the 3/4" width.

I can tell you that it is possible to cut acrylic neatly - they use as 88 tooth blade on a circular saw. Trick is to move quickly through the material or you melt it...
Lots of places that sell acrylic will also cut it for you-- try looking in the real Yellow Pages to find one by you..look under Plastics Fabrication ..don't count on them being open on Saturday though!!
I also buy my glue at my acrylic place. Don't forget - you need to buy # 3 Weldon to glue the corners and you need the thicker stuff to bond the 2 pieces the netting is sandwiched between (the # 3 will not work there)

--->Learned a trick to keep the Weldon glue from totally evaporating..(been there done that..) He told me to run a bead of silicone around the edge of the lid of the can after you close it

And Daisy..in case you're here..I picked up the acrylic today to do the cover for your tank (no Jhov, you can't have it...lol)

One last tidbit cause I'm too busy to start another thread..I found out today that my acrylic place carries StarBoard..and that it also comes in black.