To canopy or not to canopy?

[datawog]

Annoyingly enough, I can't FIND a manufacturer's top for this tank. Closest I could find was a 35g black plastic aquarium hood for about $60, which didn't fit by like half an inch or something ridiculous like that. $60 on a hood I would have to jury-rig just to fit, and literally tear apart in order to add lights.... or $10 custom diy setup... that's where I'm coming from. My nana has a workshop in her basement so any wood I might need I can just get from downstairs, saving me money there. I'm thinking now that when I go in for the eggcrate, I'll ask how much it would cost to get 6 10x12 panes of glass, or preferably ones that would have 10" bases that taper to 8" or less at the top. Silicon them together, have them rest on the inside lip of the plastic rim, see if I could get the top 50/50 glass and mesh. I think that would look pretty nice. That all depends on the cost of the glass though... even if it is cost-prohibitive, I think I'll keep that idea on the back burner until I can afford it, even if I just wind up building a flat mesh top for now. No matter which I do, I won't be doing any modifications to the tank itself so its resale value won't be effected (I bought for $60 used, could probably make the same if I ever wanted to sell it, but whether as a terrarium or an aquarium I will always be using this thing).

Reason I'm going with eggcrate is one very simple reason: weight. 4 inches of aquarium gravel would be... what, 20lb? More? I've resisted the urge to set this tank back up again as an aquarium (it was my sparkling gourami tank before I had to take it down so I could travel... sigh.... poor little lady's stuck in a 5g right now) because of how much of a pain in the *** it is to deconstruct an aquarium when I have to move. And I tend to have bad luck with living situations, having to move about twice a year. So the last thing I want in there is an extra 20lbs of rocks that doesn't do anything except save me a bit of time in the startup. It's going to have enough weight in it with all the plants and wet substrate in there, I'd rather wait the extra time it will take to get it put together and possibly be able to move it by myself, than purposefully add a layer that really doesn't do anything but add more weight and make it even more of a pain in the *** to transport.

[JHansson514]

I would just go with the screen top and acrylic if needed to retain humidity. The canopies always look nice and kind of give the tank a finished look, but with frogs it is often easier not to go that route. Plus, you want to keep in mind the lighting for the tank. If you are using heat lights it is probably best to leave it open on the top so the heat from the fixture can dissipate easily. Besides, a canopy can always be added later if you really want one. And I'm sure you could find a way to make the canopy rest on the top. I was given a homemade aquarium stand and canopy. The wood for the canopy goes around the outside edge of the glass (encasing it if you will) and there are a couple small wooden blocks screwed in on the inside so the canopy only rests on the plastic frame of the tank (I can send you a picture if that makes the explanation clearer). The other option of having an aquarium lid and replacing the center strip with screen sounds reasonable, but my only concern would be whether or not there would be enough ventilation in the tank. It you're having trouble finding a glass lid from a major retailer your best bet would be a small mom-and-pop aquarium store. They usually have odds and ends like that, or they can at least order them for you.