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Glass lid help =/
#1
Alright, well i am the do it yourself type and i am going to buy the glass from ace. It is an 18x18x24 zoomed vivarium. Now here is the question. I want to leave a portion of the lid vented (mesh) so eventually i could run a line through it for a mister. Even possibly installing something for airflow using the mesh area. How do i go about making a say.... 80% glass / 20%ff proof mesh lid?

Is there any pre-made ones out of curiosity? I have looked with no success
thanks guys
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#2
This is what I did....

Pop the screen top out...

You need Glass, Mesh, and Acrylic...

This is what the opening should look like with the mesh popped out.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Measure the size of glass and acrylic you need cut. Mine were cut at Lowes.

Place pieces in the openings

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Acrylic can easily be drilled for misting and you have to cut a notch out of the acrylic to get it to fit in place.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Crude pictures... but they should illustrate the point. I cut the mesh 1/2-1 in longer on each side so that I had plenty of room for siliconing to the acrylic and glass... These were all tight fits when I had them cut so I did have to use a little sandpaper to make everything fit perfectly. I didn't even silicone the glass, acrylic, or mesh to the zoomed. The whole top piece can easily be removed and you have a perfect 1" vent strip.

Make sense?
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#3
awesome thanks a lot man, i do have another question though. What did you use to seperate the glass from mess from acrylic? The little black piece with prongs?
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#4
If you take off the zoomed top you will see the two black pieces sticking out on either side.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]
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#5
oh duhhh hahaha i havent looked at my lid since i began my build. Ill check it out when im off of work. Thanks so much
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#6
....guess i was just lazy. I just slapped a piece of glass over the screen top and can slide it forward or back to adjust humidity.
"He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom" LaVey
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#7
I'm a big fan of not "hard mod-ing" anything unless I really have to. Either way is cool. It's just a matter of preference and options.

I'm just glad he got a front opening viv, instead of a "fish tank". heh
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#8
what do you guys think about just slapping a piece of FF proof mesh over the current mesh. Then putting a thin piece of plexi glass over 80%. The plexi glass fits in really well.
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#9
would work...sure.

Most plexiglass will warp and bend with moisture and heat, over time. Some people have better luck with some different brands of plexi, but overall, most people don't like all the warping.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#10
If you ever want to stop by and see how my tanks are set up feel free.... they are far from FF proof though. BUT I could show you where I made my mistakes.
"He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom" LaVey
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#11
hahaha your so close its tempting! lol i think ill try the plexi and see how it goes. But i will make sure nothing is permanent (besides the mesh).
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#12
What I did on my Exo was get a screen window kit from Lowes and cut the frame just deep enough to connect the corner pieces like people do for the vents at the top of verts. That gives me a couple inches of screen in the front of the top and used 2 pieces of glass to cover the rest. I took out the screen that came on the Exo and siliconed the glass and screen frame in. It has worked great for me.

I'll try to get a couple pics tomorrow to show you what I am talking about, as this tank is broke down and up in the attic.
Scott Bryant
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#13
awesome thanks boombotty, i would like to see it
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#14
Just got in the attic and took some pics. Sorry they aren't great, I had no light.
This shows the screen kit on the front.
[Image: IMG_2940.jpg]

This is a closeup of one of the corner pieces of the kit.
[Image: IMG_2945.jpg]

This has worked out very well for me for the several years I had this set up.
Scott Bryant
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#15
hmmm ill run to menards tomorrow and see what i can find
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#16
Menards has plastic window frame kits for fairly cheap, then just need some screen (same section) a screen roller and some of the gasket material if it doesnt come in the kit. I don't think Menards carries glass though. May have to hit Home depot or Lowes.
"He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom" LaVey
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#17
I have a ultra fine metal mesh for sealing the air vent by the front doors to help ff proof. Aquarium airline tubing split down the middle like a C works ok as a door gasket if needed. Hot glue gun comes in handy as well for applying both the gasket and metal mesh. If you need any I can trim you off some. (metal mesh)
"He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom" LaVey
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#18
Okay for the front opening door i just took some silicone and ran it all the way down (cleaned it up with my finger and papertowl). Then once it cured i took a razor blade and cut a line all the way down. It seems to have worked pretty well. As for the mesh... where can i get some for my lid? You said home depot or lowes? Thanks!
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#19
Let me refraise my question lol.. what kind of mesh am i looking for? Menards did not have any of it. An ultra fine mesh or what exactly?

thanks!!
Azureus - Imitators "Cainarachi Valley" - Leucomelas - Black Jeans
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#20
dynekevin Wrote:Let me refraise my question lol.. what kind of mesh am i looking for? Menards did not have any of it. An ultra fine mesh or what exactly?

thanks!!

The kind you want is usually referred to as no see-um mesh. How much do you need? If it is just a small amount there is no sense in buying a whole roll, I'll send you a strip for the cost of shipping.
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