I built a custom top like that for my biocube. It was a total pain in the ass but it was only $25 for me. I just bought the pieces from the hardware store and got the net from BRS + the special corners.
yeah, i though about getting it from the homedepot as well, but i though the redsea kit would make things easier; they did in a way because of their fancy courners, taps, and zig zag kit. its just the securing the net aspects that is tricky, especially if your design is complicated.
I tried the net kits and, similarly, I was unable to design it the way it was intended. It was just impossible. I don't know if you have found a solution yet, but I got a custom lid from Clearview Lids/Artfully Acrylics that is mint. Fits very snugly, low profile, and sturdy.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah i do want to get a custom lid but i just want to make sure i am happy with my lights and flow setup before committing as it would influence the decision
@@TheBioReef I have the DD one. It's too late I know and for that I am sorry. My friend put mine together for me. But for sure it's worth spending the extra money on something by TopLids or something like that. The other alternative we have in Europe is the Banana Fish Guard which looks so clean and is cheap - it basically makes a net eurobrace. Likely my choice on future builds
Instead of feeding heavily and using potassium nitrate is better to use a sodium nitrate, thats bechause an excess on potassium can cause metabolic blocking and even knowing that that the aquarium sucks up a tone of nitrate using a lot of potassium nitrate cauld elevate your potassium levels to a point in which could be so dangerous for the corals
Sorry to hear about the trigger! Curious to see how the corals do. When I started my wb 110 and transferred sps over all went ok till i got Dino (ostropsis) due to low nutrients. At the time I didn’t have uv and so it wiped out a lot. Wishing you the best and know your succeed but everyone has some ups and downs
Thanks Mike. Yep I don’t want to run into Dino’s because of the low nutrients, which is why I am dosing nitrates and phosphates to keep things in balance
Used the Red Sea top also… let’s just say there’s a learning curve.🙄 Hint-don’t cut spline to reach completely into the corners-leave it a bit short and it’s easier to get the spline into the channel at the ends near cutouts and corners. Be careful when rolling the spline into the channel-you can cut the netting with the roller if too much force is applied. And use something heavy to flatten and hold netting still as you roll the spline-if it’s too loose you’ll end up with too much sagging. Have cursing tip jar nearby for your favorite charity…🤪
hahaha - cursing jar would have made the family some serious dough. The first attempt with the spline was disastrous... i had one more shot at it, but elected to just go with the zip ties... the kits really only allows for a learning curve of 2 tries :) yep, i cut the spline short and never actually had it run around corners, but length on the cutouts is so short that you can't actually push the spline in and roll it - there is no room to roll. I had to essentially try to vertically push it down in this narrow space - this required putting in a lot of force which ended up cutting the netting... regardless.. it looks good from the top and is functional so no big complaints; its a decent product, and i think if had only a couple of cutouts, the spline would have been a good way to go. But with 5 cutouts including the overflow - it really compounds the difficulty of using spline to hold the net tight.
@@TheBioReef I had three cutouts-the weir and two rms multilight mounts on the right and left sides of a Waterbox frag 105 tank. Finally satisfied on my third try-first had a droopy net, second had cut netting while spline rolling, and third has 1 inch segment of netting around the rms arm that was cut but not enough to make me try again. Joys of diy reefing. Looked into the custom net tops but boy are they pricy-could add a third xr15 for the same dough.😤
