lid doesn't fit tank????

[jcmonkeygirl]

I just bought a used 20 Long tank for my mother's birthday. It didn't come with a lid or light so i went to the LPS and bought a versa hood for it. I brought it home and it doesn't fit!!!!! The lid is for a 20 long and i know this tank is a 20 long. The owner of the pet store said that it must be an old tank and there is nothing i can do. Do you guys have any suggestions so that the lid and light don't sit lop sided ontop of the tank????

[NJ Devils Fan]

What are the dementions of the tank and what is the length of the light?

[jcmonkeygirl]

31" hieght
32" width
76" length

it looks just like any other 20 long
from one lip to the other is 73.5"
the lid is 74"

[NJ Devils Fan]

If those measurments are in inches, then that is a several hundred gallon tank. I think you meant centimeters, not inches. How do you mean it is lop sided?

[jcmonkeygirl]

I don't know, i will have to look at my measuring tape again. When i say lop sided i mean that one end of the glass lid is sitting in the lip of the aquarium and the other end is sitting on top of the black top of aquarium. So that is slants down instead of laying flat.

[NJ Devils Fan]

There probably are little perferations on the back part of the lid that you can cut off to make them fit.

[Dangerdoll]

Originally posted by NJ Devils Fan
There probably are little perferations on the back part of the lid that you can cut off to make them fit.

Like NJD says, sometimes they are little posts that sick out of the bottom of the hood (the part placed in the lip of the tank)? Generally, these are put there by the manufacturer with the thought that the consumer will be able to adjust the hood to their particular tank in order for the hood to be placed snugly, removing some or all of the posts, whatever the situation calls for..

[jcmonkeygirl]

You were right it is cm not inches. The hood is glass with no perferations on it at all. It is just two pieces of glass joined in the middle by plastic.

[Dabbler II]

take the mesurments and your glass top to a glass shop and they can cut it to the right size for you

[TomFromStLouis]

When removing small amounts of material with a chainsaw, please be sure to measure carefully. In fact, expect some flying glass. you may want to stand in the next county when attempting this procedure. ;)

[kveeti]

Is this what your canopy looks like??
http://www.all-glass.com/products/hoods/versahood.html

How much is the glass out by? A long time ago I got a piece of glass to fit in the rim of my 10 gallon, it was a smidgeon too wide, I don’t know, maybe 1/16 inch. I took the back off the can opener, the kind with the stone wheel in the back for sharpening knives, and ground the end of the glass down. It seemed to take forever but it worked and I could keep trying it on the tank so that I could stop when it fit exactly. Now, your plastic middle part might be a problem, is that too wide too? I don’t know what you can do, unless there’s a bit you can pare off with a knife, or make a notch or two or something.

[phpKerouac]

Rather than trying to cut glass, why not just shave some of the plastic on the top? Any razor or sharp knife should make quick work of it. although i like the chainsaw idea, i think this one might be more effective. I think even if you take too much off, the lid might still fit!

later

[jcmonkeygirl]

thanks amos for the idea! and it is the lid on http://www.all-glass.com/products/hoods/versahood.html.
My boyfriend had the same problem with his 20Long (the tank and lid were brand new) and he just pulled the plastic and kindof jammed the lid in there. It worked for him. I am going to try some of these ideas until i get it to fit. thanks for all the help!