Lids!

[Research Monkey]

Setting up a reefer 250 (original) and i've been going back and forth between lid options (kraken, clearview, custom red sea, etc. etc.). Sort of a "budget build" so I have a bit of a hard time spending $200+ on a lid but if the quality is there, thinking it would be worth it? I've had experience with IM lids and even purchased the "custom" IM lid for a 10 gallon tank I put together.

What do you guys use?

 

[joseserrano]

Custom lids are build way better. Also don’t sag over time

 

[mattyzang]

i got a toplids one recently. quality seems super high, but it was also like $450. i opted for the cat proof anti-evaporation option which added a couple hundred bucks to it. it's some other material i don't think the other lid companies use, it's not acrylic so supposedly it doesn't warp

worth? i mean i like it a lot more than the dumpy screen top i had. the real worth will be if my kitten doesn't jump up there and fall into the tank, she's still too small so time will tell

 

[eliudvlopez]

I bought the Red Sea lid kit for like $70. Pretty solid stuff, looks very clean, I’ll share a photo shortly


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[drexel]

Make sure it's made from polycarbonate, otherwise it will warp and get hazy. I bought mine from Matt at Octo Aquatics (the first guy to start making lids). He's in Arizona and has great customer service. These lids aren't cheap, but they are sleek and look good.

 

[superman858mm]

I have a Clearview rs250 for sale $100. Lmk if u want it.

 

[Jimbo327]

Kind of depends on your tank size and how clean you want it to look. I would spend a bit more with a custom top if it is a nano or a short tank where you can see the top all the time. If you have a big tank or tall stand, where you don't see the top or it is cost prohibitive to get a custom that size, then I would probably go with a DIY kit from Redsea or DD jumpguard Pro.

 

[Jimbo327]

Make sure it's made from polycarbonate, otherwise it will warp and get hazy. I bought mine from Matt at Octo Aquatics (the first guy to start making lids). He's in Arizona and has great customer service. These lids aren't cheap, but they are sleek and look good.

We need a pic of this lid and a ballpark figure!

 

[Poochaku]

if you go with a kit, I think the D+D aquatics one is way better than others.

 

[mattyzang]

Polycarbonate is the thing I was thinking of, so some other places use it apparently

this is mine minus the evaporation lid

it’s not as nice as no top on the rimless tank, but I like my fish in my tank so I’ll take it 👍

 

[Letsgotothezoo]

Krakenreef lid is best in my opinion.
https://krakenreef.com/

 

[Titanwerx]

I have one from Octo Lids And one from clear view. Both were nice but I think I liked Octo more.

Octo

Clear view

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[criseom914]

Check Reefin Ain’t Ezy lids. They make awesome custom lids!


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[drexel]

We need a pic of this lid and a ballpark figure!

I'll take a pic tomorrow when the light comes on. Matt has a quote form on his website, just fill it in and he'll give you a quote. It will probably take some time to make, but they last and look great.

 

[Kobin]

I'm currently using a clearview lid on my frag tank and one of the cheap DIY kits from BRS on my display. Custom lids are worth it and hold up better over time. Only thing I have a problem with for my lid is that the mesh isn't perfectly aligned which I've noticed with recent clearview lids. I heard both octoaquatics and krakenreef have great lids and will probably try them out when I need a new one

 

[drexel]

Sorry for the extra blue pic, but I only have a single bar over my tank right now, but this is my Octo lid. I tried black mesh for a moment, but the light reduction was far greater than clear mesh, so I put new clear mesh in after I destroyed the original mesh.


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[Jimbo327]

Wow, that custom lid looks super nice. That's a show lid!

I think if you have rimless or shorter tank, getting that custom lid is worth it. If you have a canopy or eurobrace or tall tank, I think a DIY kit may make more sense $ wise. But if you got the cash, go for the custom.

I really like the black mesh look, but if the light is going to be blocked a lot, then I guess clear mesh is better. Does your lid have a feeding port?

 

[drexel]

Yeah, totally agree about using DIY with canopies or non visible tops. No feeding port, I usually just lift up a corner when feeding from the top. I use an auto feeder in my sump’s return section, which helps keep the rimless look nice and clean.


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