The best fish tank lids and covers are mesh lids, net screens and glass or hooded tops that stop fish jumping out, cut evaporation and keep the room’s dust and pets out of the water. In Australia they fall into three types: mesh or net lids that let light through, sealed glass or hooded tops, and lids that come built into a tank set. The right one is the one that leaves no gap a fish can find.
The number that matters is the opening. A lid should cover the whole top of the tank and leave nothing wider than a few millimetres, because small fish squeeze through small gaps. Each pick below lists real sizes and prices, so you can match it to your tank’s length and width.
It covers six lids and covered tank sets sold in Australia, all researched rather than tested in my own tanks. It leaves out custom-cut glass, which most shops make to order. To see what goes under a lid, start with the best fish tanks and starter kits, and see the Tank Setup hub for related guides.
A mesh or net cover is the cheapest way to stop jumpers and let light through, from $47 to about $210. A sealed top keeps water in but needs a vent for heat. Forum members agree that a lid is the safer default, and that the fatal problem is usually a small gap, not the lid itself.
The Best Fish Tank Lids, Compared
| Lid | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua One Mesh Lid | Mesh lid with plastic frame | Most open-top tanks | Three sizes up to 125 x 65 cm, mitre box included |
| D-D Jumpguard Pro | Screen cover | A light, low-profile cover | 75 x 75 to 180 x 90 cm |
| Red Sea DIY Aquarium Net Cover | Aluminium frame and net | Rimless, ultra-clear tanks | 120 x 80 to 180 x 80 cm, 8 mm netting |
| Waterbox Mesh Lid Cube 10 | Pre-cut mesh lid | A small cube tank | Pre-cut, ready to assemble |
| Fluval Edge 2.0 23 Litre | Tank with sealed glass top | A tidy, closed nano tank | Feeding door, ventilation grill |
| Aquael Leddy 40 Day & Night Set | Tank set with hinged cover | A complete starter set | 40 x 25 x 25 cm, cover with feeding flap |
1. Aqua One Mesh Lid – Best all-round mesh lid for most open-top tanks
The Aqua One Mesh Lid is a plain, cut-to-fit lid: a plastic frame with nylon mesh that sits over the rim of an open-top tank. Hurstville Aquarium lists the 65 x 65 cm at $84, the 95 x 65 cm at $94 and the 125 x 65 cm at $107. A mitre box is included so you can cut the frame at 45 degrees, and Aqua One says it can be customised around rim-mounted equipment.
That customising matters, because a lid with an uncut hole for a filter is a lid with a gap. One Fish Forum thread involved two fish dying in a gap beside built-in equipment. Mesh also lets light through, unlike a solid hood. Compared with the D-D Jumpguard below, it is cheaper and heavier, and the frame is more visible from above.
Pros
- Three sizes from $84 to $107
- Mitre box included, so you can cut it to fit
- Mesh lets light through and airflow in
Cons
- You must cut and fit it yourself, or leave a gap
- Evaporation is higher than with a solid lid
- Frame shows more than the D-D screen
2. D-D Jumpguard Pro – Best light, low-profile screen cover
- Hurstville Aquarium lists the 75 x 75 cm at $120, the 120 x 75 cm at $159.95 and the 180 x 90 cm at $209.95.
- D-D describes a very lightweight, low visual impact cover that is easy to construct and keeps high light penetration.
- It is built specifically to prevent fish loss due to jumping, per the maker.
- The listing gives no mesh hole size, so small fish and shrimp may need a finer cover.
It costs more than the Aqua One lid at similar sizes, for example $159.95 against $107 for the 120 to 125 cm sizes, and the price buys a lighter, cleaner look over the top of the tank. I found no owner reviews for it. Against the Red Sea net cover below, it is a screen, not a net, and it sits closer to the water surface.
Pros
- Very lightweight, so it is easy to lift off
- Low visual impact from above
- High light penetration for planted tanks
Cons
- More expensive than the Aqua One mesh lid
- Mesh hole size is not stated
- No independent owner reviews found
3. Red Sea DIY Aquarium Net Cover – Best net cover for rimless and ultra-clear tanks
Red Sea sells this as a kit: aluminium frame sections, corners, hangers and a roll of transparent 8 mm netting, plus a spline roller. Nature Aquariums lists the 120 x 80 cm kit at $114, the 150 x 80 cm at $135 and the 180 x 80 cm at $149. The frame is meant to blend in on ultra-clear rimless tanks, and the kit includes parts for one cut-out for a filter.
Hurstville Aquarium lists the same style as a Tank Net Screen at $115 for 120 cm and $179.95 for 180 cm, so the 180 cm size is about $31 dearer there. Hurstville notes it cannot be delivered because of its size. Compared with the Aqua One lid above, it is dearer but nearly invisible over a rimless tank, and you cut the net yourself.
Pros
- Transparent net blends in on rimless tanks
- Kit includes a cut-out for one filter
- $114 for a 120 cm tank at Nature Aquariums
Cons
- Kit assembly is DIY, with a spline roller
- Bulky item that Hurstville cannot deliver
- Price differs by $31 between shops at 180 cm
4. Waterbox Mesh Lid Cube 10 – Best pre-cut mesh lid for a small cube tank
This is the smallest and cheapest pick: $47 at Nature Aquariums for a pre-cut mesh lid, made for the Waterbox Cube 10. Waterbox says it is ready to assemble with a few tools, keeps fish from jumping out, and keeps curious pets or small children out of the water while letting oxygen exchange through the mesh.
It only fits one tank, so it is a poor buy unless you own a Cube 10. I found no owner reports, so the durability claim is the seller’s. Compared with the Fluval Edge below, it leaves the top open to light and air, which planted nano tanks need, though water evaporates faster.
Pros
- Pre-cut, so no measuring or cutting
- $47 is the lowest price here
- Lets light and air through
Cons
- Fits the Waterbox Cube 10 only
- Durability claim comes from the seller
- Water evaporates faster than under a solid top
5. Fluval Edge 2.0 23 Litre – Best sealed glass top for a nano tank
The Fluval Edge 2.0 solves the lid problem by building it in. Hurstville Aquarium lists the 23 litre model at $299, with a sealed glass top, a quick-access feeding door, an overhead ventilation grill that Fluval says lets lighting heat escape, and a housing that hides equipment. A removable cover gives access to the tank and filter.
Because the top is sealed, evaporation drops, and jumpers cannot escape, but the trade is a small tank and a lid you cannot swap. It is a full aquarium, not just a lid, so it costs far more than the Waterbox lid above. I found no owner reports. Against the Aquael set below, it is dearer, smaller and much tidier looking.
Pros
- Sealed glass top with a feeding door
- Vent grill lets lighting heat out, per Fluval
- Equipment hidden in a housing
Cons
- Only 23 litres, so the choice of fish is small
- $299 buys the whole tank, not just a lid
- No independent owner reports found
6. Aquael Leddy 40 Day & Night Set – Best complete set with a hinged cover
Nature Aquariums lists the Leddy 40 set at $219.99. It is a 25 litre glass tank with an under pad, a filter, a 50 watt heater, a 7 watt Day & Night LED tube and a hinged cover with a fish feeding flap. The lid is part of the set, so there is no separate fitting job and no cut-out to get wrong.
The catch is size: 40 x 25 x 25 cm holds few fish, and the bundled heater suits tropical setups only. A feeding flap does leave one opening, so keep it shut. The listing sizes the range up to 105 litres. Compared with the Fluval Edge above, it costs $79 less, and its hinged cover is easier to lift than a sealed top.
Pros
- Hinged cover with a feeding flap is included
- Complete set for $219.99
- Day and night LED lighting
Cons
- 25 litres is small for most fish
- Feeding flap is a gap when left open
- Heater is only useful for tropical fish
How to Choose
Start with your tank type. An open-top or rimless tank needs a mesh, net or screen cover, and the Aqua One lid is the practical choice. A tank set with a built-in hood needs no separate lid. For a glass lid, Hurstville Aquarium sells Aqua One lid support corners for 6 mm glass at $11.95 for a set of four; the glass itself is cut to order, and members advised leaving spacers for airflow. If you are still choosing a tank, see the best small fish tanks.
Then check every gap. Look at the filter cut-out, the heater cable and the feeding hole, and block or seal each one. Lights matter too: a mesh lid is fine over a planted tank, but a solid hood shades it, so see the best aquarium lights before choosing. And top up with treated water, using a good conditioner.
Evaporation depends on room temperature and airflow. Forum members who described manageable evaporation were mostly in UK climates, and an Australian summer with fans, air conditioning or a hot room can swing that a lot. Hurstville Aquarium in Sydney and Nature Aquariums both sell mesh and net covers, and the larger ones are bulky items that are often pick-up only. Ask before you order, and measure the outside of the tank rim first.
Fish Tank Lid Guides
Choose the tank first with the best fish tanks and starter kits or the best fish tank stands, and plan the filter with the best aquarium filters. The Tank Setup hub lists the rest.
- how to move fish to a new tank
- what you need for a fish tank
- fish tank sizes chart
- how much a fish tank costs in Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every fish tank need a lid?
Most do. A Fish Forum member known as Byron said that all fish, even corydoras and loaches, will jump out if spooked, and other members said lids also cut evaporation and keep contaminants out. One global moderator runs many tanks open without problems, so it is not universal, but a lid is the safer default, especially for small or active fish.
Is a glass lid or a mesh lid better?
It depends on the fish and the light. Glass returns condensation to the tank and reduces evaporation, but a member advised leaving spacers for airflow. Mesh and net covers let light through and keep jumpers in, though water evaporates faster. Members said glass on runners also works less well on bowed-front tanks.
How much water will an open tank lose?
It varies. In a Fish Forum thread, one member with a 40 litre tank said they could go seven days without a top-up, and another said smaller open tanks lose water noticeably faster than larger covered ones. Practical Fishkeeping’s advice is to top up with reverse osmosis water, because only water evaporates and the minerals stay behind.
How do I stop fish getting trapped in a gap?
Seal or block every gap. In a Fish Forum thread, a neon tetra and a zebra danio died wedged between the glass and the filter of a Juwel Rio 125. Members advised aquarium sealant along the gap or foam behind the filter, and I would size any lid cut-out to the equipment so nothing is left open around hoses.
Which fish jump out of tanks most often?
Almost any fish will if startled. Byron said even corydoras and loaches jump when spooked, and another member said endlers were the most escape-prone of the species they kept. Search summaries of other forums list danios, rainbowfish and rasboras as known jumpers, though I could not read those pages. Floating plants can help, but they are no substitute for a lid.
For most Australian tanks, buy the Aqua One Mesh Lid if the tank is open-top, or the Red Sea net cover if it is rimless and you want the cover to disappear. Choose the D-D Jumpguard Pro if you want the lightest option. Pick a tank with a hood, like the Aquael Leddy, if you would rather not fit a lid at all. Seal every gap, because a small one is the one that costs fish.
