Undergravel filter plates / Cheap trick ;-)

[FRANCOIS]

If you used to have undergravel plastic plates for filters, you know that they are designed to fit near perfection the bottom of the tank, and since they are designed to allow maximum air circulation without getting the gravel through.... well in short, if you still have those plates, you will notice that they can fit near perfection the top of the tank as well if placed properly, they also include the small hole for air lines to go through. ET VOILA, you know have a safe top for your terrarium, cheap, allowing muchos air to go through. Just add some rocks on top to weigh the plates and prevent escapes.
I have used them for over a year on some set-up, never had an issue, no escape!!!
Thought I would share this little trick ;-)

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Great idea!

I actually use these in a few of my tanks. (I know so many here frown on that...) but I find under gravel grates excellent for my species that need lots of moving aerated water. Never thought to convert the extras to lids.

 

[Molch]

great idea!

another use for old undergravel plates is to use as a false bottom under the substrate of terrestrial tanks, either directly on the tank bottom or set on some pebbles if you want the false bottom to be deeper. You can even put a drainage tube where the hole for the uplift is.

 

[Molch]

I actually use these in a few of my tanks. (I know so many here frown on that...) .

well, I had an undergravel filter in my 30 ga firebelly tank for 12 years before I went to bare bottom last year. Water quality was always fine and I never heard one complaint from the newts. I kept the air pump pretty low so the bubbling wouldn't be too annoying.

One disadvantage is that rooted plants tend to do less well with undergravels. But I had mostly hornwort and java moss, so it didn't matter as much...