my DIY canopy or hood [Archive]

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midazolam

10-07-2007, 01:40 AM

I am about ready for fish (finally). First I need a canopy for my 75g. It had to do several things in this order.
1) keep my wife's cat from drowning himself (MOST IMPORTANT!)
2) look nice - be something more than a 2x4 box framed with plywood
3) be functional - keep fish in, well ventilated, hold my lights

Here's what I came up with. Sorry the pics are grainy, I used my phone camera.

First, I made a rectangle minus 1 side with 1x4 that measure the exact measurements of the top of my tank.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy1.jpg

Then I cut 1x6 to go around the 1x4 and used 1x2 to make the back cross brace. The cross brace in the back leaves enough of a gap for all my hoses and cords to run out the back. The 1x6 is resting on the ground, the 1x4 is half an inch fromt he floor, the result is a 1/2 inch lip that goes around the top of the tank. The lip will prevent it sliding off when the cat jumps on top. I painted it black to match my stand and furniture.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy2.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy2b.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy3a.jpg

I used half inch lip because that made the gap at the top exactly the height of a 1x2 which yielded the final product. I made two slotted platforms out of 1x2. Both sections just lift in and out. You can't really see the lip well in any of the shots.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy3c.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy3b.jpg

I used an AH supply 2x55w kit, you can see how it fits in here. I put the ballast in the back. I designed the hood like an arbor of sort so it would ventilate well. In this pic you can see how the two platforms lift in and out. They aren't held in place by hinges or anything (KISS).
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopylights.jpg

Here is the finished setup on top of the tank.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy4a.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/jnmccombs/canopy4b.jpg

Lemme know if anything is unclear.

phidelt85

10-07-2007, 09:48 AM

I like it. Very simple and sleek and very functional. Do you have glass tops on the tank or are you concerned with the water being so close to the lights?

midazolam

10-07-2007, 11:01 AM

I like it. Very simple and sleek and very functional. Do you have glass tops on the tank or are you concerned with the water being so close to the lights?

I have glass tops. I might just cover the back half, or maybe none. Or maybe all. I'm not sure, but the back half only or none is in the lead right now. I just don't like messing with the glass for some reason.

korbi_doc

10-08-2007, 09:36 AM

:D Very nice, you've done a very professional-looking job, & it looks terrific.....
as to the top, think I'd put glass at least on the backside, 'bout 3/4s across.....when my 110g had just eggcrate cover, it evaporated quickly, but more important, the heater worked harder to keep up temp; so I put a hard plastic sheet over it & there was a 5 degree difference in tank temp....surprised me...lol....

Dottie ;)

midazolam

10-08-2007, 12:36 PM

GrillMaster

10-16-2007, 08:01 PM

Hi ya mid...

Nice job on the canopy! How ya like those AH Supply lights? I had the same ones over my 55G. Best lights on the market IMO...:)

tc
Mark

midazolam

10-16-2007, 10:05 PM

Hi ya mid...

Nice job on the canopy! How ya like those AH Supply lights? I had the same ones over my 55G. Best lights on the market IMO...:)

tc
Mark

They are crazy awesome. Can't believe how much light they put down into the tank. They seem to be doing the job, as my red plants are staying red.

I'm starting to get algae on the background which is difficult to manually remove due to the texture of the cement. My SAE's are keeping the plants clean but my wife insists they are hungry and keeps sneaking them food..heh. There's a fish auction here this weekend and I might go try and pic up some L177 or juvenile L018...I really like the zebra's and know a guy that has some locally for a reasonable price, but I hear they aren't much on the algae patrol.

Or I could just turn my photo period down like I know I need to, but I just can't seem to stop staring at the tank :)

luenny

10-16-2007, 10:20 PM

Nice job. Looks better than some of those sold in the LFS over here. Especially like the holes between the planks that let some of the light escape to the top.

rlong

10-17-2007, 06:55 AM

Nice job. Looks better than some of those sold in the LFS over here. Especially like the holes between the planks that let some of the light escape to the top.

Hi,
Nice job! Although, I am have a diferant opinion of the light coming out the top. I might have put a second set of slats under the top layer and alternated them to block the light but still leaving space for ventilation.

Oh, and since I'm a wood lover. I would have stained rather than painted or even black dye and a clear coat. That would have left the grain showing.
Just thought I would share this picture of some dye samples;
http://randy.long.name/images/wood/Dye-samples.jpg

GrillMaster

10-19-2007, 12:09 AM

Hi,
Nice job! Although, I am have a diferant opinion of the light coming out the top. I might have put a second set of slats under the top layer and alternated them to block the light but still leaving space for ventilation.

Trust me when I say the light coming out of the top means nothing at all! That is just secondary light. The reflectors that comes with the AH Supply kits will not allow any light to escape out of the spaces in his canopy! :)

midazolam

10-19-2007, 01:01 PM

Trust me when I say the light coming out of the top means nothing at all! That is just secondary light. The reflectors that comes with the AH Supply kits will not allow any light to escape out of the spaces in his canopy! :)

yeah those pics exagerate the amount that comes out because it was taken w/my cell phone.