[Guest]

thinking of cutting a small slot in the acrylic top of my small 10 gal quartine tank for ventilation was wondering though would regular window fiberglass screen work or would FF's be able to get through it if so what would work? thanks.

 

[Mantellaprince20]

flies can get through window screen. I use mosquito mesh (netting) for mine. If you have any sporting good stores or surplus stores you should be able to find some. It is like 5 dollars for a yard, and even fly larvae can't get through it.

 

[Blort]

There was some discussion in this thread:

http://www.dendroboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3925

I ordered some of the REI no-seu-um stuff. It was $3.50 for a yard. If you are in a city with an REI and can waith a couple of weeks, they will ground ship for free. If not, you are probably better off with a local store.

 

[Guest]

now that i think about it is there anywhere you can get like a window screen frame? or maybe if i just made a small frame for some screening out of acrylic and then just had the rest of the top glass so i wouldn't have to worry about warping and FF's escaping. any ideas on how i can add a small vent on top?

 

[dmartin72]

Check out Page 338
http://www.mcmaster.com/

 

[Guest]

You can make a nice screen for pretty cheap. What I do is go to lowes and buy one of the window screen frames they sell. They are like 8' long. I buy a bag of .140" screen spline and a 4 pack of screen corner pieces. Just cut the frame into pieces and connect them all to the corners. A hacksaw comes in handy. Then you put the screen over the frame and push in the spline to hold it in, you can buy a cheap spline tool but I just use a screwdriver. Also, I forget which size corners to buy... It depends on the tank size really, but don't forget to match it with the same size frame. When you have everything together, it's not hard to figure out. You cam make a pretty small screen section using this.

 

[Guest]

thanks for the info do will i be able to cut the frame with a dremel tool? or is it too thick? as i live in an apartment and don't really have a hacksaw haha. and will the .140" screen prevent FF's from escaping?

 

[Guest]

Well hacksaws are only a few bucks at those stores too if you wanted to pick one up. A dremel should be fine! The stuff is made of aluminum, it's just like a thick soad can. I have been told to use one of the coated frames since they don't corrode as easily.

 

[Guest]

will the .140" screen prevent FF escapes?

 

[Guest]

Well, the .140" is the size of the spline I use. Spline is this black rubber rope stuff.... You use it to hold the screen into the frame.

 

[Guest]

Actually, here is a thread on another forum I use. It shows how to make the screens step by step.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/7 ... 1100272057
To make a really small width screen, you may need to use some silicone and a couple mods on the frame corner pieces which should be easy with a dremel.

 

[Guest]

thanks for all the help, and the website.

 

[Guest]

No problem!