Aqua Nano 30 Diy Lid

[Ch4rlie]

An update.
 
A warning for anyone considering doing the same or similar to this diy project.
 
Do NOT get 3mm perspex, get thicker, minimum 4mm or maybe 5mm perspex or better still, glass. 

 
Have found that the lid starts to curl/bend now under the heat of the light and from the heat/condensation of the water possibly.
 
Annoying but thats what happens sometimes. A learning curve! (literally!) 
 
So, gonna try and get 5mm perspex and will take a template of my lid to a glass cutter as get a quote just to see if viable to do this depending on costs involved.
 
Will update as soon as get any further.  

 

[Shelster]

Ugh nightmare! What a shame, hope the thicker Perspex isn't too expensive to do.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yeah, annoying but hey, it happens.
 
Here's a pic to show what I mean.
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Went to a glass cutting store, showed them my design and asked for a quote and timescale to do this job.
 
First problem, they cannot drill 4mm holes I wanted, only 6mm, hmm said ok I want a quote for that then.
 
Second problem they cannot do the 3 cutouts for bottom of glass where wiring and light fittings would be. Forget that part then, just the main top half with 21 holes and rounded edges then, with 6mm holes, they ummed and ahhed and clearly not giving me much confidence.
Saw them writing sums that was going to be over £45 at least.
 
Then I said, thats enough, you are not giving me confidence that you can do this job and clearly can only do squares and rectangular glass then?
Pointing to shop sign that say glass cut to size and design.....
 
Useless!
 
That has completely put me off going to specialist to cut glass or perspex. Just gonna do it myself.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Right, update time!
 
Finally had some time to do this project of getting a new Nano Mark II lid done.
 
Ordered 5mm perspex, 300 x 400 mm, just the one sheet this time, cost about £11 including delivery, so no margin for errors! 
 
Getting started, wish me luck!
 

 
4 hours later....
 
Mark I lid (left) next to Mark II lid (on right)....
 

 
A few slight modifications but most noticeably is the extra row of ventilation holes, now has 28 hole compared to 21 previously and 2 hinges instead of 3 this time, looked better and cleaner IMO.
 
Comparison of thickness between the 2 lids, and obviously of the warping of mark I lid...
 

 
A few niggles sorted out later and here are the final results, pretty good 

 

  
 

       

 
Did make a couple of schoolboy errors but not gonna worry too much about it, was pretty peeved at the time and turned the air blue and would have made a nun blush as was determined not to make any mistakes this time but of course I did! 

 
Having made this new Mark II lid and being of much thicker perspex really do think the end result is much better, only time will tell if this starts to warp under the heat of light and with water condensation, gonna keep my fingers crossed this is it! 

 
Hope you have enjoyed reading this and learned a couple of things even if you are not considering doing a project remotely like this one. 

 

[pike01]

good job Charlie your very precise in your planning and making . does the mark ii cover stay clear with all the holes?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Thanks for your comments 

 
Mark II cover tend to have condensation on the underneath side (top stays dry), even with all these holes. Really the holes are more for ventilation rather than to stop condensation.
 
Probably not a lot you can do about that as its due to the warmth of the water and the air/water flow but does not bother me in the least.
 
Annoying thing is, the corners of this 5mm perspex is very slightly warped now, only by about 2mm. Can just about live with this as am fussy. 

 
If it get worse or anything, will update but waiting for a few more days just to be sure.

 

[pike01]

I have 2 Perspex 5mm covers on my 4ft tank they are both like bananas

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ah, truly annoying isn't it! 

 
Hmm, seems perspex, even at 5mm, is not the answer if you do not want banana lid covers! 

 
I do not really want to go with anything thicker than 5mm as will look a bit off if go for say 7 or 8mm and probably would be hard to work with. 

 

[kevingrods]

THIS LID IS AMAZING!!!

 

[Ch4rlie]

THIS LID IS AMAZING!!!

 
Thanks Kevin, am pretty pleased with it myself 

 
Just goes to show, if I can do this, ANYONE can, I'm not that good at DIY (no joke).