Tank Screen Top Foil Treatment Tutorial

Ok, in response to requests I am posting my Screen Foil Treatment step-by-step picture tutorial here in the caging forum. :) I hope it proves useful.

SCREEN TOP TREATMENT PROCESS

Step 1 - Supplies. Screen top, aluminum foil, Duct Tape, box cutter or Xacto knife, and clear vinyl (optional. Wouldn't show up in pictures)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/Supplies.jpg

Step 2 - Tear 3 layers of foil, sized basically to your screen. (had to use two sets of three layers for this square top) Lay them shiny side down.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...cts/Foilon.jpg

Step 3 - Tape down the edges with Duct tape.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Tapeedges.jpg

Step 4 - Continue with strips of tape to cover the top completely.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ts/Covered.jpg

Step 5 - Cut the ventilation opening on one end of the top with the box cutter or Xacto knife. Be VERY careful not to cut into the screen! The opening should cover about 1/4 of the top - typically 5-6" square.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...Cutopening.jpg

Step 6 - Tape the edges of the opening to secure the foil. (Indentations mark the edges of the hole)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Holeedges.jpg

Step 7 - (Optional) Cut the window opening near the center of the top. This lets light in without sacrificing humidity.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Cutwindow.jpg

Step 8 - Use the cutout piece of foil/tape from the window as a template to cut vinyl, adding 1/2-1" extra to edges.
(NOT SHOWN - I pre-cut my windows, and vinyl doesn't show up in pictures.)

Step 9 - Lay the vinyl UNDER the foil inside the opening (against the screen) relatively centered.
(NOT SHOWN - camera wouldn't pick up the plastic)

Step 10 - Tape the edges of the window, similar to taping the ventilation opening edges.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...indowedges.jpg

The Finished product! This screen top was to an 18x18 ExoTerra tank.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/Finished.jpg

To show what a more usual screen top looks like treated, here is my 20gal Long locking top:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...kscreentop.jpg

And my 10g locking top for contrast. The window of this one was larger to let in more light in a dark room:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...gscreentop.jpg


This is the most effective screen top treatment for regulating humidity in glass tanks! Second would be plexiglass, but that can be pricey. :)

Wonderful post Adriana! Sticky worthy for sure! :gj:

Agreed and stuck. :gj:


dr del

I am so going to do this

Thank you... that means a lot to me. :) It's my ambition in life to help people with the care of exotic pets, especially reptiles.

I hope this tutorial will help many owners, new and old, to be that much closer to a stable and well-working tank enclosure.

Probably a dumb question but is duct tape safe to use with a 50watt infrared heat lamp?

That's why I put in the vinyl window. My lamps hang above that.

The tape will wrinkle over time with the heat, but it won't catch fire or anything as long as you're not putting the lamp right on it. :) Besides, lamps should only be used as supplemental heat for ball pythons as it is. RHPs and UTHs are the preferred heating methods.

Does anyone know which side to put the vent hole on? I'm figuring the hot side since I want to keep in as much warm air on the cool side to maintain ambient temps.

Wouldn't you also be able to just use a bigger piece of vinyl and clear tape (rather than duct tape) to make it look more attractive, or does the foil serve some specific purpose?

The foil serves the purpose of reflecting the heat back down into the tank. :) Also, unless it was clear duct tape I can't think of any clear tape that would hold up and stay stuck.

And typically, the vent opening is over the hot side. :)