DIY aquarium lids?

I am planning to buy a glass aquarium for a planted tank along with a plant growing light. Will using a DIY plastic lid affect the light's plant growing properties? What is the best material to use for the lid?

 

Plexiglass makes for a good homemade aquarium lid. Lowes & Home Depot sell it cheap. Cut to size & customize filter gaps & tubing holes.

 

Acrylic might bow a little, glass won't. Acrylic might be less expensive? Both would make a good lid. I also use a reptile screen lid sometimes. I guess it just depends on the reasoning for adding a lid. If you want to keep heat and or water evaporation in or protect the light I would go with acrylic or glass. If you are protecting from jumpers, a screen would also work in addition to the aforementioned materials.

I have recently researched the influence of acrylic/Plexiglas on light dispersion/absorption. In most cases, a clear sheet of Plexiglas up to 6mm (thickness) with light striking perpendicular: transmits around 92% of the light. Wavelengths (nm) from 400-1100. (Just the visible light spectrum; whole different results when dealing with UV)

Apparently, even up to 1inch thick Plexiglas does not drastically increase the absorption percentage from the 92%.

It goes without saying that this is through non-tinted clear acrylic. Any water evaporation or dirt/stains will reduce this percentage.

Depending on the plants you are keeping, if you keep the lid clean you will be fine with most basic aquarium plants.

 

Glass is definitely cheaper than Lexan and plexiglass at my home depot. PVC is cheap, but it bowed on mine (it is only 1/8" thick, so maybe a thicker piece would work?). My covers are 23x11.5 inches so maybe a smaller span would fix it.

 

The clear corrugated plastic (like what is used on greenhouses) can work out well also, especially if you find the thinner stuff (easier to cut). If you're just preventing jumpers, another relatively inexpensive option is the plastic grid that goes into fluorescent light fixtures, what some call eggcrate (often also used for making background pieces.)

 

Wanted to add I was starting to work on this myself but have to go lidless - most suppliers are sold out right now and not able to import in some areas.

Also, all these suggestions are great. I also wanted to suggest something like this to keep the lid in place: Amazon.com : Innovative Marine Screen Cover Lid Clips (10 mm) : Pet Supplies

They're listed as marine, but no reason you can't use them without salt

 

I use corrugated plastic from lowes. Got a 4x8 sheet I think and have made 3 kids with it and still have leftover. Once in awhile while the inside and it transmit light well.

 

I use corrugated plastic from lowes. Got a 4x8 sheet I think and have made 3 kids with it and still have leftover. Once in awhile while the inside and it transmit light well.

What kind of kids come from corrugated plastic???

LOL, isn't spell check a wonderfully unhelpful tool sometimes. "No phone, I said 'java moss' NOT 'jack mass'!"