Any suggestions for an inexpensive hood?

I am wanting to set up a 10 gallon tank for a few cories and a betta. I'm trying to do this tank kinda simple and inexpensive.

I have plenty of substrate and decor left over from doing my other tanks
I have multiple extra air pumps and I just bought a really good sponge filter on sale. I'm testing it in my other 10 gallon as we speak - or I type :lol: I have a floating thermometer- I have suction cup ones on my other tanks because I like them better, but for a simple tank . . .

My other tanks are pretty decked out with stuff, but I am not really wanting to go the whole hog with equipment for this tank.

All that's left is tank, hood, and heater

I plan to get a simple glass 10 gallon- I think I can get one for $8 or $9, once again I probably don't need top-of-the-line for this tank.

But the hoods are expensive!

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

on my 5g i just cut a sheet of acrylic to size and cut a slot for the filter . i just had the acrylic laying around so i dunno how much it would cost but i doubt it would be very much . you can use plexi also

Do you mean just lids or an actual hood? Often hard to tell for me as a hood generally means a different type of thing over here. If you mean an actual hood you can construct one from pine and it should be fairly inexpensive (5 smallish peices of wood and 2 hinges from a hardware store).

I'm thinking of more of a lid. Simply to keep the betta from jumping out.

doesn't the tank just come with a glass lid?

Glass or acrylic from a hardware supplier or LFS shouldn't set you back too much cash.

Go to a well stocked hardware store or home depot buy a small sheet of plexi-glass and have them cut it to size. I think the money you are going to spend is when you get fancy with the hinges and handles for the actual cover. Just keep it simple, its no biggie.

:up: Depending upon how much is too much, you could buy a simple glass cover from the LFS for around $10...

:down: Might come out cheaper if you just get a single piece of glass from your local hardware store, but the LFS glass covers will be well worth the difference in price.

All my tanks (even if that is only two) have come with lids from the pet shop and they all have handles which is one big benifet so I would go for pet shop lids.

If you could make it fine, but as I have notice that the lfs price is triple the internet prices so i try not to get anything of the sort at the lfs. I also try to find stuff used from e-bay or aquabid .

Thanks

I found a glass hood online for $10, but it would cost more to ship it than buy it. Maybe I'll just see what I can find at stores.

I go to my local glass shop and have them cut 1/8" to the dimensions I need.

For instance a 10 gallon standard is (IIRC) 10"x20". So you would have a piece of glass cut to 8"x20". Then have them drill a 1" hole in the front. It would look like this...



Now it may not be worth it to do this for a 10 gallon. But for larger tanks where the LFS want's your first born for a piece of glass it is definately worth it. Especially if your trying to save a buck.

AAO

Cool, I'll have to save that diagram so that if I ever get the massive aquarium of my dreams . . .

I guess its kinda the same concept as the splash guard- hoods that have the glass section where you can put the light on top. But it also has a little door in the front and spaces you can cut out in the back.

My 29 and 10 hoods are like that, but some tank sizes these hoods are not available for.

You ought to stick that diagram in the new do it yourself shop section or something.

If you haven't gotten a hood yet...
Cut two strips 3/4" x 1/2" x 10 1/2" for the sides
Cut two strips 3/4" x 1/2" x 21 1/4 " for front and back, 1/2" overhang is on the front and back.

Nail the front and back to the sides, using brads.
Cut some screen to fit the top, staple and cut the slots for wherever you need them.

That is for a standard ten gallon tank. They sell screens like this that are metal but expensive and you may have these items at home. I would use a plastic screen and not the metal or aluminum kind.

Just another thought. ;)

Thanks guys, I ended up putting the betta in a 10 gallon that I already have that has a fluorescent hood with splash-guard. (it was empty) He's alone in there and very happy, so I'm happy! :D

You know I bought a piece of plexiglass with the holes cut for my filter and heater cord for my 40 gallon tank, 36x18, for just 30 dollars.