How to cut the vinyl / plastic on glass canopy's for HOB filters?

[kingmed]

Went out and bought a set of glass canopy's for my 55 gallon a few weeks ago since my old lids were breaking at where you open them up and they were starting to look horrible. The glass canopy sure makes things look alot better and with the light fixture on top it makes it stand out better. Haven't cut the plastic in the back yet and before I started I wanted to get some advise on how to do it before I screw things up.
I will be using Aqua Clear HOB's at least one AC110 and maybe two 110's or one AC110 and one AC70 don't know which would be best? I plan on if I can making the tank into a shell dweller tank full of multi's and if this doesn't work out I will have regular tropical fish and maybe some top dwellers that like to jump, so in either case I will or should make it tight, also should I cut out a spot for the heater or just rig it to fit in one of the filter slots? First off what should I use or what would be the best thing to use to cut the holes out with, I noticed on line where some one cut slots but lifted up the tab instead of cutting it all out I guess to help make it a tighter fit? I figure I will use a black marker to mark my area of cutting but I don't want to ruin the plastic on my first try. Thanks and any advise from anyone who has done this before would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Narwhal72]

I generally set my filters on the tank where I want them and put the glass canopy (without the backstrip) on the tank. Then I line the backstrip up with the back of the canopy and mark the edges of each filter with a marker to mark the required opening.

Then I trim from the back edge towards the U shaped channel that slips over the glass on both sides of the opening. Then I bend the part to be removed back and forth until the plastic fatigues and breaks away. You will need heavy duty scissors or tin snips to cut the backstrip. A utility knife also works but is more difficult.

You can leave a little gap to allow the power cord for the heater (or any airlines,etc..) to slip through around the filter.

Andy

 

[XanAvaloni]

I hate those things. As soon as you cut it for one filter you realize the filter would work WAY better on the other side of the tank and, duh, there's another hole to cut. Yes the manufacturers are not responsible for my bad planning.

However if you are starting with the multies why not just leave the strip intact and leave it off for now? Then when/if you decide to switch to another fish and need to guard against jumping, or just redesign the tank in general, you only have to cut it once. By the means Andy suggests above. Definitely recomend the tin snips, that plastic is very tough to do with scissors unless you have the hand muscles of the Incredible Hulk.

if you have a big swiss army knife the saw blade works too.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I just remove filter sized pieces of the strips with heavy duty scisors. I run prefilters on my AC's so makes it easier when I yank out the intake tubes a couple times a week to wash the sponges. Xacto or utitlity knife if you want to make cut outs.