Canopy builds and help

[speedo2wet]

I've been searching for quite sometime and either missed the boat or I'm just blind. I'm trying to build a canopy for my 220
Gallon and need ideas and knowledge on where to start. Anything would be helpful, just point me in that direction.

Thanks

 

[SGT_York]

just a plywood box no need for anything else, I like a full length piano hinge so the whole front section lifts off. use wood trim to meet your asthetic desires and add some fans. I also cut the sides to hide my plastic trim.

 

[speedo2wet]

Easier than I'm trying to make it I take it

 

[SGT_York]

Find a picture that you like and copy that. If you need help post the pic as ask specific questions.

Best of luck.

 

[callsign4223]

I built a 2x4 frame for the top to attach to the plywood to and used 2 vertical 2x4's to hold the back side up so that I could leave the back open. Then I attached plywood to the sides and used a small plywood scraps at the front to rest the canopy on so that the plywood sides come down over the plastic trim. 2 cabinet hinges on the top hold on the front. I still need to rig up something to hold the front up when I'm working inside, my head gets sore after a couple of minutes of letting it rest on top of my head.

 

[mfinn]

just a plywood box no need for anything else, I like a full length piano hinge so the whole front section lifts off. use wood trim to meet your asthetic desires and add some fans. I also cut the sides to hide my plastic trim.

I've made some pretty decent canopies using this method.
I like to keep the back side open as much as possible.
I also cut doors in the front for quick access.

Not as fancy as some, but very functional.
What I really like about this style is when you flip the front half up, you don't have to reach over any part of the canopy to get into the tank.

 

[speedo2wet]

Thanks for the responses. The more I kept thinking about it the more I realize I have lost in the functionality aspect of the build. You know, how to build it with as less of wood as possible and the most open space when needed. Of course all sides need to be covered. I'm gonna try to build a 1x2 frame then cover it like your explaining. I was thinking the side openings were to be magnetized, so once taken off it would just show the frame.

 

[fishdave739]

Did mine with a 2x4 frame so the back is strong enough to be completely open as is the front. Doors are on some heavy duty bearing drawer slides that open to 4ft. on a 6 ft. tank. Push a little button on the slides and the doors can come completely off for full access. I have some added trim to match the stand but you could easily so something like this in a much more "minimal" way.

 

[billdogg]

^^^Nice^^^

I need to rebuild the canopy for my 150 and that looks like the solution I hadn't thought of yet.

Oh - and there's some weird dude standing in your tank with a camera

 

[Portsie]

Here's mine. It's overbuilt, but I had the 2x4's laying around so that's what I used.

 

[Skuba]

Random canopy question. I got a 18x20 with a radion xr15, being there's no 18" t5 bulbs worth spit I was wondering how a canopy that tapered up to 24" would look? 2" on each side doesn't sound like much. But since I got the vision in my head and stink at putting it to paper I thought I'd ask people with canopy experience.

 

[DirtinLa]

Just my .02

I have a 150 it came with a canopy

the canopy is extremely heavy to lift up and down even though it's hinged

I installed 3 lift up doors acrossed the front thinking that would solve a lot of

up and down of the main canopy, but it hasn't. The tank is 29" deep and we have

to use a grabber to move things around so you MUST raise the main canopy to do that.

also be certain to vent for your lights, not only above the lights but even fans on the

side to cool them. I am running for 4 AI's and AI thinks I am having cooling issues.

also most LED's are designed for 12" min above the water, with a canopy you may only

get 8 or 10 inches.


so my synopsis, while it looks nice, not certain of the practicality of a canopy. perhaps

once everything is in the tank and you're not like us constantly adding and moving things

around our canopy will be fine.

Right now I have been looking for ways to automate the raising and lowering of the canopy.

linear actuators on ebay are a possibilty LOL

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions

Fred

 

[RocketEngineer]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2234535