Question On Lids

[IC Casey]

So, I have a 3g JBJ pico tope set up for my gf's betta. It's planted (java fern, crypts, anubias) with a 13w light and the stock picotope HOB filter set to a low flow rate with a sponge over the intake.

I had a custom glass lid built to cover it, as bettas are notorious jumpers. It has about 2 inches of room at the back, however, to let air through as well as leave room for gas exchange. So it doesn't cover the ENTIRE top.

My question is, is this sufficient to keep from suffocating the betta and the tank, as long as the water is kept about an inch from the top of the tank? I can probably take a picture later if i find my camera, to give a better idea.

[Dr. Awkward]

I have the exact same set up on two of my tanks. It works for air exchange, but I recently had a fish find the gap in the back and jump out. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to make new lids with window screen instead of glass that cover the entire top.

[IC Casey]

Yeah, I already told her it was the best option I could come up with, and there's still a likelihood of it finding the gap at the back and jumping out there. The only other thing I thought of was having the top drilled, or re-done and made of acrylic or plexiglass and then have holes put in it.

[Dr. Awkward]

If you do plexiglass you'll want to get as thick a piece as you can find. I tried it with a 1/8 inch piece and the heat from the light makes it bow down into the water. It only takes a few hours to warp so I was constantly flipping the lids over to keep them from falling in the water.

[bristlenosedude]

Go to the fabric store and get some of the stuff that is used for needle point. It has holes in it. Cut it to cover your opening plus some to lay on the exixting top.

[IC Casey]

If you do plexiglass you'll want to get as thick a piece as you can find. I tried it with a 1/8 inch piece and the heat from the light makes it bow down into the water. It only takes a few hours to warp so I was constantly flipping the lids over to keep them from falling in the water.

interesting. what light did you use? i have a clip-on light so it's a little bit above the glass now. of course, the plexi is weaker.

right now i use a set of 4 rubber bumpers/stoppers to keep the lid from slipping/falling in, since it fits fairly exactly. they're adhesive so i stuck them on the underside of the lid and they hit just inside the glass walls of the aquarium so it lines up and doesn't slide. then i stuck on a handle from a 2.5g lid i had lying around so it's easy to take off and put back on without smudging up the glass.

[alta678]

Can you buy the little stick on lid handles? If so, where? I like the idea of the little rubber/plastic feet to hold the lid up a bit. I have some 2 1/2 gallon tanks for my Bettas with this type lid.

[Dr. Awkward]

I have clip on lights on both tanks that sit about 3-4 inches above the lid.

That's a good idea with the rubber bumpers. I'm trying to work out a similar deal with some rare earth magnets I just bought, trying make a little ledge out of them to keep a better fitting lid from falling into the tank.

Dr. Awkward added 1 Minutes and 46 Seconds later...

Go to the fabric store and get some of the stuff that is used for needle point. It has holes in it. Cut it to cover your opening plus some to lay on the exixting top.

I tried that too, same problem with the warping and falling into the tank. It needs some sort of sturdy edge around the mesh to keep it from warping.

[alta678]

Do they make reptile type metal mesh lids this small? You can set a light directly on those.

[Dr. Awkward]

I'm looking at building something like this (http://www.ehow.com/how_2108854_reptile-terrarium-lid.html), but it would fit inside the opening of the tank instead of resting outside it - so the light and filter still fit - with a rubber lip instead of wood so it doesn't look like I made it in shop class.

The JBJ tank has a bowed front so a store bought reptile lid might not fit very well, but you might be able to alter it to suite your needs.

[IC Casey]

Can you buy the little stick on lid handles? If so, where? I like the idea of the little rubber/plastic feet to hold the lid up a bit. I have some 2 1/2 gallon tanks for my Bettas with this type lid.

I only had one because I had a lid for a 2.5G I never used. Speaking of, if anyone needs any 2.5G lids, I have one with a handle and one without.

;-)

You might be able to find something at Lowe's or home depot made for a different application. I couldn't find any adhesive ones when I was there, though. The closest thing was stick-on hooks, and they didn't look that good and don't support much weight.

The only problem I've had with the rubber bumpers is moisture getting under one of the bumpers and weakening the adhesive. It's happened to the same area twice, so I don't know if it's my lifting or what.

[alta678]

I found the little stick on handles on line under the title "glass canopy handle" from amazon.com!

[kSpieler]

You can make the same type of rubber bumper by just putting a spooge of silicone on the glass and letting it dry.

Odd, I have never had a betta jump before, Arson has been in the same open bowl for over 4 years.:confuzeld:

[kSpieler]

Bleh, wouldn't let me edit post...

Anyhow, here's a peekture :D