- 1). Measure the interior dimensions of the fish tank. An ideal screen will rest inside the top rim, sitting on the lip of the tank.
- 2). Subtract twice the width of the framing from the length and width measured. The frame pieces connect with corner pieces which means each side of the frame contains a corner piece at each end that shortens its required length by the width of the framing. For example, on a fish tank that is 36 inches by 24 inches and using 1/2-inch-wide framing, the 1/2-inch width would be multiplied by two to yield 1 inch, which is then subtracted from each measurement. The result would be a required length of 35 inches, and a required width of 23 inches.
- 3). Cut two pieces of frame as long as the length of your tank, minus twice the width of the framing, and two pieces as long as the width of the tank, minus the width of the framing.
- 4). Insert a corner piece into both ends of each of the two long pieces of framing.
- 5). Connect the two side pieces together using the two short pieces of framing, completing your rectangular frame. Test the frame in the tank to ensure it is the proper size.
- 6). Cut a piece of mesh that is approximately 3 inches longer and 3 inches wider than the frame. Use 1/4-inch mesh if you have fish you feel will slip through 1/2-inch mesh, or 1/2-inch mesh if you do not have any small fish to contain.
- 7). Lay the mesh atop the frame, aligning the grid of the mesh with the right angles of the frame.
- 8). Cut four pieces of spline to match the four sides of the frame, and press the spline down into the slot in the frame pieces, securing the mesh in place in the process.
- 9). Trim off the excess mesh that extends beyond the spline.
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