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Fixing metal mesh top?

KaylaEliuk

KaylaEliuk

New member
I have a tank that I am going to clean really well and then put Eowyn in (my BP, she really needs the upgrade, and this tank should last her a long time)
The only problem is that the metal mesh on top (it is the kind with the sliding doors, so there is no lid to replace) has holes cut in it for heat lamp cords to go through.
I was thinking of making a patch and using aquarium sealant of some kind, but I thought I would ask what would be the best way to fix this. She is so strong, so I want to make sure it is escape proof as much as possible.

I would appreciate any input, including any good sealants or ones to stay away from!
 
I tried my hand at repairing one of those sliding-screen top cages. I ended up using 1/4 inch metal screen (from Lowe's) and I just used a soldering iron to melt holes all around the plastic top, then I threaded wire through the holes and through the 1/4 inch screen to "weave" it into place.

Hope that made sense lol.
Good Luck!
~Beau
 
Aquarium sealant should be just fine, and it will be safe for her once it cures. Just make sure it's thick on both sides so she can't pop it out like a cork. Hot glue is another common choice, though I think it could possibly weaken over time.
 
BeauBoi said:
I tried my hand at repairing one of those sliding-screen top cages. I ended up using 1/4 inch metal screen (from Lowe's) and I just used a soldering iron to melt holes all around the plastic top, then I threaded wire through the holes and through the 1/4 inch screen to "weave" it into place.

Hope that made sense lol.
Good Luck!
~Beau
Click to expand...
This would be a good idea, but there is no plastic around the edges of it! It is glass that overlaps at all edges. I don't know how to explain it
Thank you!

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Dragonling said:
Aquarium sealant should be just fine, and it will be safe for her once it cures. Just make sure it's thick on both sides so she can't pop it out like a cork. Hot glue is another common choice, though I think it could possibly weaken over time.
Click to expand...
Thank you! That is what I was thinking.
I wouldn't use hot glue because she is so strong.

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Where would I find aquarium sealant? I looked on home depots website but no resulta came up, so I don't know where I would get it

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Metal Mesh can be a pain to work with - especially some of the woven ( looks like this stuff http://www.bwire.com ) material. I find that these sharp edges can be hazardous at times, and it is also hard to glue due to the low surface area. I suggest just going away from the metal mesh all together if you can do so. There are so many lids on the market - how about something plastic or rubber that may be a softer alternative...?
 
There was no way to do that since the metal mesh is not a lid. It is build right into the tank. This tank has sliding doors. So I made a patch for each hole and used aquarium sealant. There are no sharp edges at all

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Sorry I misunderstood - I just hate working with the sharp edges on that stuff when it gets loose.... Perhaps it is worth buying a new tank of some sort?

Glad you found the solution you needed here on the forum!
 
I cut off the sharp edges with wire cutters and then bent all the edges upward and flat so they are not sharp at all. . And then I did the patch from inside, and really coated everything with sealant.
And the tank is tall, so it isn't really an issue.

And while I could potentially shell out over 100 dollars to replace a tank I already had for free, I am planning on buying a PVC cage for her when she is fully grown. So there wouldn't bee much point.
Thanks for the tips! :)

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Just for future knowledge....

You can pay way too much for a small, metal squeeze-tube of "aquarium" silicone from PetSmart/Petco...

Or, I forget if Lowes carries it, but at Home Depot, down the aisle with all the glues and like adhesives should be a squeeze tube of silicone. In the past Home Depot had 2 options, 1 that said aquarium and one that did not. What you're specifically looking for is 100% silicone. Wal-Mart might even carry it in squeeze-tube form.

Alternatively, if you want to invest in a caulk gun and use 10 oz tubes, look for either DAP brand 100% rubberized silicone (I only find it at Ace Hardware and a place called Elliot's Hardware) or GE Silicone I...not Silicone II, but Silicone I. GE Silicone I can be hard to find at times, but it should still be 100% silicone (SAME thing as aquarium silicone). Silicone II has mold and mildrew inhibitors in it and it supposedly is and isn't toxic to fish.

Edit...a Home Depot Link...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-oz-Silicone-Aquarium-Sealant-00688/100128841

This is a 12 pack, but you get the idea: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-...r-Rubber-Sealant-12-Pack-7079800683/205881786
Same here, just in clear: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-oz-Clear-100-Silicone-Rubber-Sealant-12-Pack-7079800684/205207319
 
HerpsOfNM said:
Just for future knowledge....

You can pay way too much for a small, metal squeeze-tube of "aquarium" silicone from PetSmart/Petco...

Or, I forget if Lowes carries it, but at Home Depot, down the aisle with all the glues and like adhesives should be a squeeze tube of silicone. In the past Home Depot had 2 options, 1 that said aquarium and one that did not. What you're specifically looking for is 100% silicone. Wal-Mart might even carry it in squeeze-tube form.

Alternatively, if you want to invest in a caulk gun and use 10 oz tubes, look for either DAP brand 100% rubberized silicone (I only find it at Ace Hardware and a place called Elliot's Hardware) or GE Silicone I...not Silicone II, but Silicone I. GE Silicone I can be hard to find at times, but it should still be 100% silicone (SAME thing as aquarium silicone). Silicone II has mold and mildrew inhibitors in it and it supposedly is and isn't toxic to fish.

Edit...a Home Depot Link...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-oz-Silicone-Aquarium-Sealant-00688/100128841

This is a 12 pack, but you get the idea: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-...r-Rubber-Sealant-12-Pack-7079800683/205881786
Same here, just in clear: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DAP-2-8-oz-Clear-100-Silicone-Rubber-Sealant-12-Pack-7079800684/205207319
Click to expand...
Oh wow that's really helpful! I ended up buying mine at petsmart and it was like 10 bucks for the tube. But it was a good sized one and while I made sure I used a butt-ton of it, I only used like half the tube.
I guess I got lucky!

But this is totally handy for people who do this in the future

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