Topper for a 90G?--How to suggestions?

[DragonsFly]

We have three PP's, all either jumbo now (the two original rescues, Major Tom and Billie Jean, which we've had for about 7 years) or very large (the third rescue, Mr. Jones). They live in a 90G, which has been great for just the trio, but I'd like to make the substrate even deeper for them (preferably before the fall, since I expect that is when they will all go down to molt (they've all been up for maybe 4 months now; they all tend to "sleep" through the winter, and the biggest one was down for about a full year last time).

I'd like to make the sub deeper, but that will mean losing a lot of climbing room. So. . . thinking about putting a topper on one side/half(?), for more climbing room. Has anybody posted a how-to for this? I mean, it isn't as simple as just turning one smaller aquarium upside down on the 90G on one side, and finding a hood that fits the remaining space on the 90G, right? I mean, there's usually lights on the topper, etc.

You can tell I'm completely clueless about this. All of the crabitats we've had so far I've just kept the hood that came with the aquarium and worked within the designated volume of the aquarium. Any and all advice, recommendations, and/or directions to already-posted how-to's greatly appreciated!

[GotButterflies]

I don’t remember the title of my post, but I have toppers on all of my tanks. I used Exo Terras, which were awesome to use because accessing things through the doors is easy. I removed the screen tops, flipped them upside down and attached them via duct tape to my tanks. Two of my tanks are 75 gallons. (Same footprint as 90, just shorter than the 90). I bought the exo terras used.


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[DragonsFly]

Thanks! What size Exo Terra? Do they tend to leak humidity through the doors? Did you have to do anything in particular to make sure the hood fits well and is crab-proof over the remaining portion of the 75G?

[aussieJJDude]

Thanks! What size Exo Terra? Do they tend to leak humidity through the doors? Did you have to do anything in particular to make sure the hood fits well and is crab-proof over the remaining portion of the 75G?

Anything medium and up would suit - your looking for it to be the same width as the 90g to make your life a little easier and just sit it on the rim.

As for leaking humdity, they will - they have ventilation holes and the gap in the door as you mentioned. Having had a similar tank setup before, you shouldn't notice a massive reduction, or at least to make you worry!
9 on the tank topper - its size - that you end up purchasing.

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[GotButterflies]

I have 99% humidity - but I live in Florida...so I guess I am lucky in that aspect. I also have them in their own room. I use the medium exo terras. They are 36" long, 18" in depth.

I cut a piece of plexiglass for the bottom part of the exo- terra. Then, I left the glass lid on the the one side of the the tank. Hopefully that makes sense?

[DragonsFly]

I use the medium exo terras. They are 36" long, 18" in depth.

I cut a piece of plexiglass for the bottom part of the exo- terra. Then, I left the glass lid on the the one side of the the tank. Hopefully that makes sense?

Wait--no--what?

So, the exo-terra is upside down on top of the 75G. So the bottom of the exo-terra is on the top. But it doesn't have a solid bottom on it already? You have to make a bottom for it?

Oh--or do you mean that you took the bottom OFF of the exo-terra to use that as a lid for the half of the 75G that was not covered by the exo-terra?

Nope. 'm confused. Sorry I'm so clueless. I guess pics might help?

[GotButterflies]

Ha! I know, slightly confusing ~sorry!

Took screen tops off of exo terra
Flipped exo terra upside down.
Exo terra is 36” long. This means it covers more than half of the tank. In order to keep the glass lid on the half of the 75 gallon, I installed a plexiglass shelf on the inside of the exo terra to sit over that part of the tank. I will try to take pictures later!


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[GotButterflies]

I’m sorry...my son’s team made it to 2nd place in the tournament. I’ll post pictures today!


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[GotButterflies]

I covered the plexiglass in a coco fiber mat.



I removed the middle part of the glass top so that I can remove the glass pieces to take my water bowls out to do my weekly water changes (which are due now! )


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[DragonsFly]

Okay, so I'm slow. I've been trying to figure this out with the pictures, though.

So, you made a shelf to cover part of the open bottom of the (upside down now) Exo-terra; the part that would otherwise be sitting on top of part of the second half of the aquarium. This is so that, when you take out the glass pieces that cover that second half of the aquarium, whatever might have been sitting on top of them (under that part of the Exo-terra) wouldn't just fall into that second half of the aquarium, Is that right?

So then, you just have two separate glass plates covering that half--the formerly hinged glass aquarium lids for that half, which you separated so they are just two pieces of glass sitting on top of that half of the aquarium, but slotted in under the "shelf" on the bottom of the Exo-terra (and under the light hood) is that correct?

Then you have a smaller hood with lights, sitting sideways on one side of that half of the aquarium. I'm guessing that is both providing light and also holding down the glass lids, correct?

So when you go to access that half of the tank (for water changes, as you say, or whatever else), you just slide out one or both of the glass lids, from under the light hood, but also from under the part of the Exo-terra that has a shelf for a bottom.

Have I got it?

[GotButterflies]

You’ve got it for the most part! The glass lids sit where they are supposed to sit- on the inside lip of the tank. The light sits sideways bc that’s the only way it would fit. I remove each of the pieces of glass carefully to do water changes, and then slide them back in one at a time to rest on the lip when I am done. You don’t have to do it the way I have done it!


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[DragonsFly]

Yes, thanks; it gives me good ideas to go from!

[GotButterflies]

You are welcome! Good luck!