glass top for 10 gallon

[MtuPup]

So, I'm looking to start into the world of dart frogs, reluctantly i built up a ten gal tank and overlooked the top. From the reading I've done, everyone says go glass...now my question are we talking a store bought top or is this something I'm going to have to fab...and if i go the fab route what do i need to know before i go and get the glass cut. thanks for any input.

[zeus_roush]

I just have the glass cut at local hardware store. I ask them to polish the sides so the glass can not cut me. I the just attach a regular plastic handle like you get with the marineland glass top. The glass I get is 1/4" thick.

[sinflspeed]

You might want to spend a few dollars more and get the pre made from a petstore. I say this because it should come with the plastic piece that you can cut (normally for a filter). You might need to drill holes for ventilation to help control temperatures inside the aquarium. Darts are tempramental(ha ha). This also gives room any wires running into the terrarium.

[MtuPup]

I've decided to forgo a 10 gallon and just do a 20 long. but I am concerned about the ventalation issue as well as being able to pass cords into the enclosure for the water pump(s).

Anyone know where to go online to get a top? My searches(however very quick) have come up short of anything. Once again any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[sinflspeed]

Pet Solutions Best bang for the buck.

[Green Ghost]

MtuPup, I'd just go to the LFS and buy a glass top. Unless you want to do something that you cannot do with the standard glass tops, I don't think it's worth the effort to fabricate one yourself.

If you haven't see a glass top yet, it has a plastic part that slips on to the pieces of glass that cover the rear half of the tank to make them longer. Like Sinfl said the plastic pieces are there to let you cut out the plastic to create a snug fit for your tubes/wires etc...

For your ventilation you can either cut out the plastic at the back and put fans there or another solution would be to lean the fan on the top of the glass in the gap where the top piece finishes. Since the two pieces of glass sit on rails one above the other one piece slides over the other. That creates a small gap between the piece on top and the piece below. Lean one edge of the fan on the top piece then lean the other edge of the fan on the bottom piece of glass so that the fan is slanted towards the gap. It'll blow air between the pieces of glass without having to make any modifications on the glass top.

The only reason I would fab a glass top myself would be to make a 3 rail system instead of two. Third rail would be screen not glass and sit on the middle rail between the top and bottom glass pieces. Then the top piece of glass could be slid back to ventilate the tank with the middle piece (screen) still closing off the tank to prevent any escapes.

[thriftyaaamom]

Originally Posted by MtuPup

Anyone know where to go online to get a top? My searches(however very quick) have come up short of anything. Once again any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Here are two resources I have bookmarked:

First Class Aquatics LLC

Jungle Box: Conversion Kits

or if you do want to DIY in acrylic here is a good site to buy the materials needed:

TAP X-30 Polyurethane Foam: TAP Plastics&

[MtuPup]

i appreciate all the help. For now, I think I'm going with a Versa-Top just for ease and laziness. They seem to pop up on a lot of dart frog supply websites. I'll be getting a bit fancier for my big(75 gal or larger) dart frog viv when I graduate from college in December and settle into a more permanent residence - my fraternity brother don't exactly understand my need for a wall of frog tanks that I've started in my room.

Once again, thanks again for the input.

[Futurehabitatcreator]

off topic but didn't want to start a new thread for this..

what does LFS stand for?

[sinflspeed]

Guessing "local fish store"