tank tops

weezel77 · 11-26-2012, 11:47 PM

somehow i managed to break my glass top. i have a bunch of plexi glass laying around. was wondering what my light will do to the plexi. light sits about 3 inches off of top of tank. the light is a t5 ho with one 6000k lamp and 1 roseate lamp 650 nm. total watts is 78. lights currently are running for 10 hours a day. with what i have is that gonna warp and melt the plexi?? already had 2 suicides. and not wanting more.

lochaber · 11-27-2012, 12:15 AM

Plexiglass/acrylic tends to sag if it's not braced.

If you are good at working with it, you could run some thin strips (~1/2" or so?) perpendicular to the sheet, and that should make it much more rigid, but it might not look real pretty.

Taari · 11-27-2012, 12:22 AM

The humidity makes it sag. I've still used it, just flip it each time I do a water change, but that's usually on QT or spawning tanks that I don't care about the way they look, because it's not pretty at all.

bgallodoro24 · 11-27-2012, 12:38 AM

I use acrylic on all my tanks in fishroom and it does sag a lil. I'm not that worried about it. It is much cheaper, safer, and easier to work with than glass. For me anyways. I had to do alot of customizing.

11-26-2012, 11:47 PM	#1
weezel77 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Bend Posts: 55	tank tops somehow i managed to break my glass top. i have a bunch of plexi glass laying around. was wondering what my light will do to the plexi. light sits about 3 inches off of top of tank. the light is a t5 ho with one 6000k lamp and 1 roseate lamp 650 nm. total watts is 78. lights currently are running for 10 hours a day. with what i have is that gonna warp and melt the plexi?? already had 2 suicides. and not wanting more.

11-27-2012, 12:22 AM	#3
Taari Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Washington Posts: 333	The humidity makes it sag. I've still used it, just flip it each time I do a water change, but that's usually on QT or spawning tanks that I don't care about the way they look, because it's not pretty at all. __________________ When I can no more stir my soul to move, and life is but the ashes of a fire When I can but remember that my heart once used to live and love, long and aspire Oh, be thou then the first, the one thou art, be thou the calling, before all answering love And in me wake hope, fear, boundless desire.

11-27-2012, 12:38 AM	#4
bgallodoro24 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lumberton, MS Posts: 415	I use acrylic on all my tanks in fishroom and it does sag a lil. I'm not that worried about it. It is much cheaper, safer, and easier to work with than glass. For me anyways. I had to do alot of customizing. __________________ Fluval Pimp #37

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11-27-2012, 12:15 AM	#2
lochaber Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 734	Plexiglass/acrylic tends to sag if it's not braced. If you are good at working with it, you could run some thin strips (~1/2" or so?) perpendicular to the sheet, and that should make it much more rigid, but it might not look real pretty.