I found some time this morning to modify the frame that I got from Ikea so that I could have simple access to the top. Here is a picture of it without the top. Basically to take it off I have to lift up one side of the top and the other side will slide off easily, fairly simple. It just "snaps" back into place. I did this with the placements of the dowels at an angle and glued the dowels into one side.
Here is a picture of the dowels glued in:
And a close up of the quality of the mitre when it's back on:
After it's all back together with "livestock" in the tank...
And finally, full view of the room. That little 5 gallon nano on the left will be taken down after this tank is set up.
Thanks for looking!