Make a top for my cage!

[Lferg]

I got a larger tank for my Burm today FOR FREE!! It's 4X3X3 and made from 1/4 thick glass. It's a large step up for for him. What in the crap am I suppose to do for a top for this thing? I have to keep in the humidity and make it secure. I am on a serious budget. ANY suggestions are much appreciated.

[Xbloodrain67X]

A picture would help :p

[cmz1234]

Custom build a top using wood or melamine.

I would suggest using melamine for easy clean. You can make the top of the cage look like a coffee table, with legs made from 2x4's painted white and the melamine top. When I built my cage I measured everything out then started to brain storm, and made sure my designs worked.

[Slyther83]

I made a top years ago for my 150 gallon glass tank.

I framed wood around it so that it sat just below the top plastic lip that lines the tank. I used bolts to go through t-nuts in the wood to sit snugly underneath that plastic lip so that the top could not be lifted off.

You can then add a hinged top to the wooden frame you've attached to your tank. If you need a heating source other than flexwatt, you could consider running stationary ribs front to back on this frame so that you could mount a heat panel or enclosed CHE.

I made a few sheets of ventilated polycarbonate as windows in the top that I framed into the wooden hinged lid.

The polycarbonate isn't cheap, somewhere around 15 bucks for a 12"x"18" sheet or so, but the wood and sealer would cost you 20 bucks. I think a can of polycrylic would do the job, just let it air out for a week before you put the snake in.

Melamine sheets are gonna cost you a lot more money than sealing your own wood... I'd guess 2-3x more expensive that way.

[Lferg]

I ended up making one out of 5mm plexiglas. Silicones the hinges and locks, cut ventilation holes and heat lamp holes. It looks awesome. I'll have to get a picture up. I'm really orpine of how it turned out.

[Lferg]

This is what I made...

[Slyther83]

I like the look of that top you made, but I'm worried about the lock/hinge attachment.

I know silicone is very strong for glass joints in aquariums, but are you sure it has that same strength in this type of application? I could see a juvenile popping that off, plexiglass has some flex to it and those locks are only set an inch into the top.

[Lferg]

I like the look of that top you made, but I'm worried about the lock/hinge attachment.

I know silicone is very strong for glass joints in aquariums, but are you sure it has that same strength in this type of application? I could see a juvenile popping that off, plexiglass has some flex to it and those locks are only set an inch into the top.

You were right. I pulled on them last night just as a test.... They popped off after I applied a bit too much force. Now they are clear Gorilla glue.

[cmz1234]

If the Gorilla glue starts to wear off you can buy grooved molding and create an edging, this can also be done around the cage to add done look. I like your top, I'll make sure to recommend this to others. How thick is the plexiglass?

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[Lferg]

If the Gorilla glue starts to wear off you can buy grooved molding and create an edging, this can also be done around the cage to add done look. I like your top, I'll make sure to recommend this to others. How thick is the plexiglass?

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I think it's .092" which is about 5mm? It's pretty darn sturdy.


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