Non-Standard Tank Size: Canopy Suggestions

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Aug 26, 2012
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I recently purchased a second-hand "75 gallon" aquarium. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be a slightly-larger-than-75-gallon homemade tank. Outside measurements are 48" x 20.5" x 21" (length x width x height). Glass in 0.5" thick. Also, there is no cross-brace.

The two inches of extra width is annoying, but I had been hoping I could work with it. I had been planning to use a glass canopy. However, it seems that glass canopies of that size normally come in two pieces and are designed to use the (non-existent) cross-brace as support.

I'm not all that handy when it comes to DIY-type stuff. If anyone has any suggestions or tips on either installing a cross-brace or coming up with some sort of alternative canopy, I'm all ears!

(I should probably also mention that -- due to the fact that I'm a bit impulsive and impatient -- the tank already has water in it, so I can't really do anything that requires me to move it around.)
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
how about just building a hood for it? there are several diy articles on ac about it. there also articles on putting ina cross brace or maybe even leave it a open top.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with all points.
With water already in it, there's really not much you can do that would enable you to add a brace. And even if you did add a brace somehow, I'm gonna bet the stock canopies won't fit leaving you with another DIY job.
 
Just get some glass cut and add a plastic hinge. just like the glass versa top. Silicone or crazy glue a draw pull on top to open it.
 
I built a brace for a tank that didn't have one, solely to support a glass top. I used wood (pine) and used a piece of 2" wide stock and 1" wide stock. The 2" wide piece should be of a length that it just fits inside the tank at the top. The narrower piece should be of a length equal to the outside width of the tank. I nailed and glued them together like an upside down "T", like _=_ so the wider piece at the bottom was flush with the top surface of the tank, and provided a lip for the glass top to rest on, and the longer piece supported the weight on top of the walls of the tank. I stained and sealed the wood to protect it from water, and it worked well. It doesn't have to attach to the sides of the tank, just rest on top to hold up the glass tops.
 
Thanks, everyone. I'll take a look for those articles and see what I can do. And yeah, I'm certainly not complaining about the extra volume, :D just found myself wondering what to do about a hood/canopy. I wouldn't mind leaving it open-topped except I do worry about: a) a cat deciding to go after the fish; b) trying to hang lights from the ceiling. I think it's still probably an option, I just need to make sure I don't leave any chairs or other convenient platforms next to the tank for the cats to use as a springboard.
 
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