Order Process

Here's a walkthrough of our Order Process to get you your perfect fitting Top Lid...

There are 3 types of Top Lid orders, Professional Lids, Luxury Lids, and Custom Lids. A detailed summary of each type are below.

Professional Lids:

Benefits

• No Measuring: we have tank measurements so you don't need to take them yourself.
• No Approval: since we have the tank measurements (for most tanks), we will use the exact Cutouts and Add-Ons you specify through our website, and there's no model approval needed.
• Limited Add-On Options: able to add an Auto Feeder Cutout for future-proofing, or Evap Cover for evaporation reduction / catproofing. Not as many Add-On options as Luxury Lid.
• Slightly Discounted: since we save cost producing standard lids, we pass along the savings to you.

Order Process

• Go to any product page on toplids.com
• Click the "Professional Lid" button (it should be preselected by default)
• Select the Product Options you'd like before adding to cart
• Checkout just like normal
• Once ordered, your project will be automatically input into our system and started
• We will begin production of your order
• Starting the 2nd Friday following your order, we will send you a "Project Update Email" every Friday afternoon / evening containing production status, as well as an ETA for shipping
  • This Project Update Email will not be sent on the 1st Friday following your order because during the first week of your order, we are programming all of the pieces of your order (lids, evap covers, food cups, light / auto feeder inserts, etc) into our production schedule, and we will not know an ETA estimate until this is complete
• Once production and quality check is complete, we will ship your order to you
  • You will receive a tracking email directly after being shipped with a tracking link, and a link to submit pictures for Warranty Activation on arrival

Luxury Lids:

Benefits

• No Measuring: we have tank measurements so you don't need to take them yourself.
• No Approval: since we have the tank measurements (for most tanks), we will use the exact Cutouts and Add-Ons you specify through our website, and there's no model approval needed.
• Fusion Vent Frame: most structurally supportive, lightest weight, lowest profile, lowest maintenance, and highest light penetration lid frame style on the planet.
  
• Endless Options: choose any Cutout or Add-On that you'd like, and place them exactly where you'd like.
• Special Add-Ons: add signature Top Lids options that you can't find anywhere else, like Black Screen, Colored Engravings, Custom Overflow Covers, etc.

Order Process

For Custom Lid orders which require measuring and / or a Design Approval, our team will reach you shortly after order to confirm and guide through which measurements we will need. You'll then take pictures of a measuring tape on your tank, just like our team has shown you, and will send them to our team how we show you. If you have any questions on how to measure, feel free to ask your Top Lids Rep.

The Top Lids Engineering Team will then email a Design Model to your inbox. The email will include a link towards the bottom that, when clicked, will open a separate page to view your Design Model. This Design Model will include the design of your Top Lid, as well as all relevant measurements to ensure a close fit (within 1/4" of all equipment around the tank). 

This Design Model will need to be formally approved through the Approval Link in the bottom of the email in order for Top Lids to move forward with cutting and production of your Top Lid. If you have any changes you'd like made to your Design Model, click the "Reject" button, and type in feedback in the "Notes" section that appears, and click the "Next" button. Once everything looks good, click the "Approve" button and then the "Next" button, and we'll start production of your Top Lid.

It is your responsibility to measure your tank in the same way our team shows you. Top Lids is not responsible and will not assume any liability for measurements that are sent from the Client that end up being incorrect or inaccurate.

It is your responsibility to double check the design, measurements, and all other relevant points of your Design Model against your aquarium and all of your equipment to ensure a close fit. Top Lids is not responsible and will not assume any liability for a Design Model which is provided which does not accurately fit your tank, or is for some other reason not exactly what you'd like your Lid Design to be. Top Lids can only produce the Lid Design that is approved.

It is your responsibility to promptly provide either Design Feedback or Design Approval through the Approval Link in order to ensure lead time of your Custom Top Lid. If Feedback / Approval is not provided promptly (at the sole discretion of Top Lids based on their production schedule at that time), then all original lead time claims will be voided, and an updated lead time will be provided to you in your Project Update Emails after Approval is made.

Cutouts and Fitting:

For all Cutouts on every Top Lid (Professional Lids, Luxury Lids, and Custom Lids), there is a Tolerance, or an extra space, added around the corresponding piece of equipment or part of the tank. This Tolerance is used to ensure ease of use while moving your Top Lid on and off the tank.

If a Top Lid Cutout was made to the exact dimensions of the equipment it was fitting around, then...

1. ...the equipment would most likely get stuck on the inside of the cutout when putting the lid on, most likely not fitting at all.
2. ...for Universal Light Inserts and Universal Auto Feeder Inserts, they would catch on the inside of the cutout, and likely fall into the tank when moving the Top Lid.
3. ...for Custom Lids, there would be 0 margin for error when the Client (you) are measuring your tank, which is not realistic for many Clients who are not as familiar with precisely using a tape measure, especially for measuring something at odd angles like an aquarium.

This is why all Top Lids are made with Tolerances.

Tolerances are added around...

1. ...every Top Lids Cutout.
2. ...the bottom of the Top Lid (clear portion inside the outer Lid Tab) for Rimless and certain Eurobrace Tanks.
3. ...the outside of the Top Lid for Rimmed and certain Eurobrace Tanks.

The standard Tolerance added to each of the above portions of every Top Lid is between 1/8" and 1/4".