Thinking About Removing Screen Cover

I’m looking for a good/safe way to remove my screen lid with plexiglass.
A few questions:

1.What brand is safe?
2.Where do I buy it?
3.How thick does it have to be?
4.Can I just continue to leave my screen cover, and cut the plexiglass to fit over the screen?

I do have a florescent light in my enclosure to regulate day/night times. My room gets no sunlight at all. Also I do use a red bulb at night.

Thanks

1. Not sure there are different brands, I think plexi is plexi.
2. Lowes or Home Depot.
3. Not very. 1/8"or 1/4" either should be fine.
4. That's exactly what I would do. Take your measurements with you and they should cut it for you.

Exactly what Frankie said. Home Depot will usually do the first few cuts for free, so you should be able to bring in your dimensions and get it cut with no issues.

Most plexi they sell the made by the same company, but that all depends on where you go and where you are located. But yeah i would go ahead and leave the screen on and put the plexi on top of it.

Thanks for the Information!

If you want it to look nice take out the mesh (pliers and wire cutters). Cut the plexi alittle wider than the opening (to insure covering and for looks). Hot glue to the underside of the lid. You can add a clear caulk on the top to make it look cleaner too.

If humidity is too high (prob will be because of no ventilation) holes will need to be drilled (just like in tubs) to help with this. I have access to a shop and laser cutter so the holes were easy to do. If not this then a nice new 1/4 inch bit on a corded power drill should have enough power to do what you want without cracking the plexi. Slow and steady wins the race.

The florescent light will be fine. I would get a lamp stand or lamp clamp kit to have the red bulb lifted off the plexi. Having the lamp sit on top with no real air ventilation might cause the plexi to melt.

the lamp directly on plexi will cause it to melt. I would suggest at least an inch between the plexi and the lamp more if you can.. speaking from experience here lol. Good luck.. if you do have to drill holes make sure you go really slow and back out of the holes just as slow as you went in .:snake::snake:

Just my opinion, but I would ditch the light, ditch the tank, and get a sterilite tub. That will help your husbandry issues tremendously.

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Originally Posted by Sammy412

Just my opinion, but I would ditch the light, ditch the tank, and get a sterilite tub. That will help your husbandry issues tremendously.

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Essentially adding the plexi lid is making the tank into a "tub". I would do the same but some people want a nice display cage. And with this little mod (and a few others) it will help change the tank from zero to hero.
As long as the husbandry is correct (not sustaining or alright) there is no reason a tank can't be used, it will just take alittle more time, work and money.
Also to help keep temps up without a red bulb buying cork board and covering the 3 side walls and cool side of the tank will help insulate the tanks ambient temps so the heat doesn't dissipate thru the glass so quickly.

plexi glass will bow/warp with time and humidity, it is why frog owners don't use it. get a glass aquarium lid for the tank and modify it for ventilation and security (keeping your pet inside). also a sterilite tub would be cheaper and you only need a drill or soldering iron for holes.

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Originally Posted by Dragoon

plexi glass will bow/warp with time and humidity, it is why frog owners don't use it. get a glass aquarium lid for the tank and modify it for ventilation and security (keeping your pet inside). also a sterilite tub would be cheaper and you only need a drill or soldering iron for holes.

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This is true but after a few years in heavy humidity climates it does (frog cages). If I had a tank I think 15 bucks every 2 years wouldn't be bad. The other opinion is glass but it much harder to cut. Lexan or Glass would be a longer lasting option, but plexi should get the job done.

Lowes and Home-Depot both sell Lexan, but if I remember right it is only in larger sheets.

Putting plexi over the top isn't makeing it a tub, the heat will stil escape through all the glass

And ill speak from experience when I say your better off spending 20 on a tub and setting it up then the 30 you'll spend on plexi.. the tank will be heaveir and your back will thank u I used tanks untill recently and they are so much easier to clean! Light and movable I totally reccomend tubs. And as for the light, if u really need one you'd be better off getting a tub because then u can ditch the light and not worry about the light.

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

Putting plexi over the top isn't makeing it a tub, the heat will stil escape through all the glass

And ill speak from experience when I say your better off spending 20 on a tub and setting it up then the 30 you'll spend on plexi.. the tank will be heaveir and your back will thank u I used tanks untill recently and they are so much easier to clean! Light and movable I totally reccomend tubs. And as for the light, if u really need one you'd be better off getting a tub because then u can ditch the light and not worry about the light.

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Where are you buying plexi? I got mine for 8$ and they cut it for me there in the store

however before you get the plexi make sure your hydrometer is working right.. mine wasnt and I bought my 8% plexi for nothing lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Muddyredneck

Putting plexi over the top isn't makeing it a tub, the heat will stil escape through all the glass

And ill speak from experience when I say your better off spending 20 on a tub and setting it up then the 30 you'll spend on plexi.. the tank will be heaveir and your back will thank u I used tanks untill recently and they are so much easier to clean! Light and movable I totally reccomend tubs. And as for the light, if u really need one you'd be better off getting a tub because then u can ditch the light and not worry about the light.

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We r still moving off topic. It's not tub vs tank it's how to make a lid and what material if not plexi.
As for the tank loosing heat I also wrote applying Cork board to the 3 sides will help retain heat so it won't dissipate thru the glass.

As far as price a sheet of plexi at HD is about 12-15 dollars

sorry for the multi-posts but i just realized that I never actually made a real response to the OP

I just did this yesterday so I can tell you it will work.. here is what I did ( a HUGE thanks to Mike for his suggestion and the tips from everyone else :) )

got the measurements of my lid
went to the store and got the appropriate size sheet cut to my dimensions..
came home and very VERY carefully drilled holes in the plexi (I went with about 5 so there was ventilation)
set it on top of my tank lid to make sure it would get my humidity up to where I wanted
the holes should be no larger than a pencil eraser

at that point I discovered my hydrometer was shot and that my humidity had been fine however the plexi does raise my tanks humidity from around 70% to almost 100%, my acurite told me HI% so I dont have the best measurment lol. But I am willing to put a lot of money on the fact it will raise humidity well for you too.

what substrate are you going to use, coconut husk and cyprus mulch are the best for humidity according to what I have found on here, and been told. I actually switched back to aspen because the plexi did such a good job.

as for your light assuming you have got to have it for your temps I recommend hanging it over the plexi at least 4 inches up..it will melt the plexi if it is too close.. trust me on that one ;) it would be better if you could go with out it. the other option is to cover only 60% of the lid with plexi and keep the light on the end that is uncovered.

Hope that helps you out a bit.

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Originally Posted by MommaK

Where are you buying plexi? I got mine for 8$ and they cut it for me there in the store

however before you get the plexi make sure your hydrometer is working right.. mine wasnt and I bought my 8% plexi for nothing lol

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i forgot they had that thin stuff, lol the last time i bought plexi it was 35-40 bucks for like a 4x3 foot sheet of the "unbreakable" window quality that i used for my retics cage (somethin about the play in the thinner stuff made me opt for the thicker stuff lol) but ur right slightly off topic just a suggestion cause i know goin from cleaning the 55gallon to a tub is sooo much easier that 55gallon killed me and im not a weak dude lol plus theres more risk in chipping/breaking

but op good luck with whichever u choose i hope it works out for ya

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MommaK

sorry for the multi-posts but i just realized that I never actually made a real response to the OP

I just did this yesterday so I can tell you it will work.. here is what I did ( a HUGE thanks to Mike for his suggestion and the tips from everyone else :) )

got the measurements of my lid
went to the store and got the appropriate size sheet cut to my dimensions..
came home and very VERY carefully drilled holes in the plexi (I went with about 5 so there was ventilation)
set it on top of my tank lid to make sure it would get my humidity up to where I wanted
the holes should be no larger than a pencil eraser

at that point I discovered my hydrometer was shot and that my humidity had been fine however the plexi does raise my tanks humidity from around 70% to almost 100%, my acurite told me HI% so I dont have the best measurment lol. But I am willing to put a lot of money on the fact it will raise humidity well for you too.

what substrate are you going to use, coconut husk and cyprus mulch are the best for humidity according to what I have found on here, and been told. I actually switched back to aspen because the plexi did such a good job.

as for your light assuming you have got to have it for your temps I recommend hanging it over the plexi at least 4 inches up..it will melt the plexi if it is too close.. trust me on that one ;) it would be better if you could go with out it. the other option is to cover only 60% of the lid with plexi and keep the light on the end that is uncovered.

Hope that helps you out a bit.

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I'm glad it worked for you. And the HIGH is normally anything above 85% or 90%. Some tinkering like your doing will get you in the zone that you want to be in. Like anything else it just takes alittle bit of time, but once you get there you will be happy with the solution.

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

I'm glad it worked for you. And the HIGH is normally anything above 85% or 90%. Some tinkering like your doing will get you in the zone that you want to be in. Like anything else it just takes alittle bit of time, but once you get there you will be happy with the solution.

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I just took the plexi off for a day and a half to let the cyprus dry out a bit and then put it back on and everything is great :) thanks again for the help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MommaK

I just took the plexi off for a day and a half to let the cyprus dry out a bit and then put it back on and everything is great :) thanks again for the help.

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Assuming you placed the Plexi on top of the mesh and it seems to be easy to move? Just to help other members on other ways besides a permanent removal of the screen and replace with plexi.
And if you wouldn't mind would you post some pics of it? I would post up pics of the removal w/ plexi I did to my girls lid but she sold her crested w/ the tank. =(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

Assuming you placed the Plexi on top of the mesh and it seems to be easy to move? Just to help other members on other ways besides a permanent removal of the screen and replace with plexi.
And if you wouldn't mind would you post some pics of it? I would post up pics of the removal w/ plexi I did to my girls lid but she sold her crested w/ the tank. =(

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yeah I will post pictures when I get home ( not paying attention to class at the moment :P)