Check out my DIY tank lids!

I thought I would share these nifty little DIY tank lids I made for my tanks that didn’t have covers. I’m not sure if anyone has ever thought of this or tried this before, but I was looking for a very cheap lid for tanks and decided to use some corrugated plastic. This stuff if basically plastic cardboard. I got a huge sheet that barely fit in my hatchback sedan at Home Depot for about $20, though you can get it in smaller sizes for cheaper, even at places like Walmart. I measured the inner rims of each of my tanks and cut out rectangles to fit. I then cut out a 2x2” hole in each corner for my heater, filter, light, etc. I also made a little feeding hole in the front that’s about 2x3”. The lids sit perfectly in the tanks!
This stuff is pretty sturdy, though obviously if you have large or strong fish that may jump you’d want to weigh it down or use a more conventional lid so that they can’t knock it off. I have small fish like guppies, endlers, and dwarf Gouramis, so I thought I would try this. I also just wanted to minimize some evaporation. Since it’s plastic, water rolls right off of it and doesn’t soak into it.
I think I may paint them black too so they look like actual lids and go with the tank trim. What do you think?

 

That is a great idea I may start using this on my tanks. What type of paint would you use to make it safe for the fish?

 

That is a great idea I may start using this on my tanks. What type of paint would you use to make it safe for the fish?

Thanks! I’m not sure about the paint, I’ll have to look into it more. I suppose it’s possible that some store would sell black corrugated plastic too...

 

Thanks! I’m not sure about the paint, I’ll have to look into it more. I suppose it’s possible that some store would sell black corrugated plastic too...

I'd think any paint would be safe if you only painted the top? They have that in white too. We built bird boxes out of it to put rescued Hawks, owls and other Raptors in. Pretty tough inexpensive stuff. Great idea trinity28!

 

I'd think any paint would be safe if you only painted the top? They have that in white too. We built bird boxes out of it to put rescued Hawks, owls and other Raptors in. Pretty tough inexpensive stuff. Great idea trinity28!

Oh that’s true, I could just paint the top. Thanks!

 

Update: I painted them black today (just on the top) and I think they turned out well!

 

Update: I painted them black today (just on the top) and I think they turned out well!

Wow, that 'classys' it up! Looks nice!

 

Wow, that 'classys' it up! Looks nice!

I think so too! Thanks!

 

Looks awesome! If I wasn't doing a diy light setup I'd def be doing that!

 

Looks awesome! If I wasn't doing a diy light setup I'd def be doing that!

Thank you!

 

Great idea!! Thanks so much for sharing.

 

Wow looks good! I wish I'd thought of that- I had glass cut in various sizes to mix and match and manage to cover the top of mine, a used setup that came with a wooden cover to sit on the tank, but no actual lid to cut down on evaporation. That's a much simpler solution, though- and if I didn't have the hood thingy to sit on top to hide everything, that would have looked better than what I did.

looks cool! easy to cut with just a box cutter?

 

looks cool! easy to cut with just a box cutter?

Yes, I cut them with a box cutter. Although it’s harder to do vertically than it is horizontally because of the ribbing. I used scissors for a few small areas I couldn’t cut all the way with the box cutter

 

That was way easier-looking for the bits for the heater, etc., than trying to cut acrylic sheet. I've tried doing that and I just make a mess of it. Looks as if you've got the lights inside the tank? Without needing a light on top, that looks just fine, especially when painted to match the frame.

 

That was way easier-looking for the bits for the heater, etc., than trying to cut acrylic sheet. I've tried doing that and I just make a mess of it. Looks as if you've got the lights inside the tank? Without needing a light on top, that looks just fine, especially when painted to match the frame.

Yes, I have submersible lights inside my tank, so I didn’t have to worry about a light on the top. The cord to the light comes out of one of the corners I cut out.

 

I thought I would share these nifty little DIY tank lids I made for my tanks that didn’t have covers. I’m not sure if anyone has ever thought of this or tried this before, but I was looking for a very cheap lid for tanks and decided to use some corrugated plastic. This stuff if basically plastic cardboard. I got a huge sheet that barely fit in my hatchback sedan at Home Depot for about $20, though you can get it in smaller sizes for cheaper, even at places like Walmart. I measured the inner rims of each of my tanks and cut out rectangles to fit. I then cut out a 2x2” hole in each corner for my heater, filter, light, etc. I also made a little feeding hole in the front that’s about 2x3”. The lids sit perfectly in the tanks!
This stuff is pretty sturdy, though obviously if you have large or strong fish that may jump you’d want to weigh it down or use a more conventional lid so that they can’t knock it off. I have small fish like guppies, endlers, and dwarf Gouramis, so I thought I would try this. I also just wanted to minimize some evaporation. Since it’s plastic, water rolls right off of it and doesn’t soak into it.
I think I may paint them black too so they look like actual lids and go with the tank trim. What do you think?

This is awesome!

 

Looks like a nice DIY for the fish room or any other tank without a lid!

 

Great job, looks nice