can i use acrylic plastic for a tank hood??

as it says in the subject can i use it or no?

 

Define hood ? a lid for closing of the entire tank like laying a sheet of acrylic over the tank to stop evaporation ? or a to build a box with hinges that opens to gain tank access to feed and then also to house a lighting system above the tank ?

 

a hood to stop evaporation

 

Sounds like you want to build a lid not a hood.
It's not a good idea. Most gas exchange is at the surface. Evaporation is just a part of the hobby.

 

I haven't built a full hood, but do have acrylic covers to prevent my fish from jumping. To aid in air flow, I drilled numerous small holes in it. It works very well and have noticed no difference in the months I have had them installed.

 

should be fine. overflows take care of most of the gas exchange in my tank. keep lids clean tho i had plastic lids for about a 1 1/2 years with no prob, took them off to increase par that may have been filtered out but no idea how much it actually helped. if lid is for fish look at the DIY topics to find the plastic chicken wire build. it looks good.

 

you could make something out of large hole/mesh screen to take care of jumping fish instead of plastic.

 

I would not use acrylic. Unless you are getting it for free it's kinda $$$ for the application you are wanting to use it for. Not only that if you have halides above it and run a thin sheet it will warp. You will have to clean it ALOT as well. Plus you will need to vent it (drill holes in it)

Like others have said find some mesh to use.

 

no i need to use it for evaporation problems i am topping it off with around a half of gallon of water a day!!! i have a 29 gallon tank. T5 lighting and i need to stop the evaporation

 

Evaporation is your tanks friend never ever close off a marine tank with a cover top F/W either for that matter not a wise idea water is cheap .