Covering Lid

[piratetoothgir]

I’m looking for a proper lid when I get my 40 gallon.
Should it be glass, or screen top? I am wanting dome lamps for the lighting, and planned on two daytime bulbs, and a red nighttime bulb.

[aussieJJDude]

If you wanting to place the bulbs right on top of the tank to reduce any possible light spill over, I'd gi with screen with a plexi/saran wrap cover to retain humdity. If your hoping to mount the light so its away from the lid, glass is always a good option.
What i personally like about screen is that its also used as a 'climbing surface' for the crabs and offers more space they can utilise. But choose what you like and fits your budget better.

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[piratetoothgir]

Totally going screen, but won’t the lights melt or burn the Saran Wrap if they lay right on it?

[aussieJJDude]

Sorry... forgot to mention to lay the wrap around the lights.

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[Hermiesguardian]

Totally going screen, but won’t the lights melt or burn the Saran Wrap if they lay right on it?

I have a screen on my 40 gal. And plexi glass covering it. And I have reflexit insulation covering the plexiglass with a round hole cut out of the reflexit where the light sits about an inch above the lid. It doesn't even come close to melting the plexiglass. And last week a crab was crawling upside down on the inside of the mesh.

[piratetoothgir]

Okay, I'll totally be doing all this then.
When I get the tank, I am trying to be as neat as possible, so the wrap will be taped around the edges, and triple layered so it doesn't tear or look wrinkled.

[wodesorel]

Plastic can still release toxic gases even without getting to the melting point!

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[Hermiesguardian]

Plastic can still release toxic gases even without getting to the melting point!

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So the light shouldn't sit a couple of inches above the plexi glass?

[Sylah]

Sharing what I have and it works pretty well. My handy friend made it for me out of plexi glass. I made foil cardboard covers for whatever uses (trap moisture when I don’t have light on, etc). It goes on top of my screen lid.

[GotButterflies]

I personally like glass - it helps keep humidity in better. To each his own...