Locking Lids?

[Samper]

Does anyone know how to build a locking lid for an aquarium?

[mistermikev]

what ever do you mean? could it be as simple as putting a lock on your lid? If it is I got that one knocked out!!!

[Samper]

It's not that simple from my perspective.

[golfish]

locking as in sealed tight or locking as in keeping the kids from throwing pennys in it? I hate it when they do that.

[Reefland]

What are you trying to lock down Samper?

[Samper]

A Timber Rattlesnake and a Yellow Jungle Boa so they need to be tight. I know I know it's a far cry from marine life but....
I've asked in a bunch of herp forums for help but noone wants to help someone with fewer than 10 posts. Since I'm keeping them in aquariums I thought maybe someone who keeps an octopus or something might chime in.

[Samper]

double post sorry.

[Samper]

I've had to dig my rattlesnake out from under a couch once and.....that didn't go over too well. There was about 60 lbs of weight on the top of the aquarium and I have no idea how she did it. The boa is also an escape artist. Now it's either lock em down or get rid of them.

[tray262]

What kinda lid are we talking about ? a screen mesh ? or are you the plywood W/ holes typ guy ? This is like a canopy but with a locking lid, build it all the way around the tank.


oops I didn't put a leader from the eye bolt note, the eye bolt is what the zip is going thru, and is also the support for the lid,

[Samper]

I'm not exactly sure how you have attached that to the aquarium. I think that I may build a frame around the entire aquarium. I'll build a rectangular base slightly larger than the tank. 4 corners that form an angle around each corner of the aquarium then another rectangular frame for the top. If I do this I can attach hinges a lid and a lock of some sort. Without a wood frame I don't know how I would get the lid to lock down.

[tray262]

There is a lip that goes around the tank, I think you should be able to drill around a hole at the top of the lip without hiting glass that's where I was showing the zip ties going thru. , I'll look at mine tonight.

[Samper]

So you think I can put holes for zip ties in back to act as hinges?
And another hole in the front for an eye bolt with a lock on it?
If so I think I see what you mean.

[rjs5134]

It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but if you have a screen top, you could put ratcheting tie down straps from Home Depot around the tank and tighten them when not accessing the tank. I'm pretty confident they couldn't get past them.