I decided since I had this week off work that I would get to work on my canopy. The design idea isn't mine, I borrowed parts of it from lots of great canopy's I have seen over the years. I did tweak it to accomodate my needs. 
The wood...Tiger...aka Astronium for the panels and "D" grade western red cedar for the face framing and some of the frame. I chose this because of the weight and beauty. Assembled this thing would be way too heavy if constructed entirely out of Tiger.
Astronium is a common tree with an area of natural distribution from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America and South America to the Andes Mountains in the west and south to Argentina. There are no US CITES regulations (reciprocal international eco-region treaties concerning threatened or endangered species) with references to Astronium. It is one of the most plentiful species on the planet.
Nice stuff.
The canopy with the sliding doors in place.
Each 2' section slides up and completely out for easy tank maintenance. No doors to get in the way or slam down on you. I will most likely leave the doors off for ventilation and I am always messing with something in the tank.
This is with the doors slid partly up to give an idea of how it works.
There are panels on the front and both sides and all can be removed.
I still have much work to do before it is finished but I am liking it and the test fit looks good as well. Next will be the stand.
All Acro's are currently out of the tank getting a nice Interceptor treatment. I found a couple redbugs and it was extermination time. It has been a busy week.
More to come...
The wood...Tiger...aka Astronium for the panels and "D" grade western red cedar for the face framing and some of the frame. I chose this because of the weight and beauty. Assembled this thing would be way too heavy if constructed entirely out of Tiger.
Astronium is a common tree with an area of natural distribution from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America and South America to the Andes Mountains in the west and south to Argentina. There are no US CITES regulations (reciprocal international eco-region treaties concerning threatened or endangered species) with references to Astronium. It is one of the most plentiful species on the planet.
Nice stuff.
The canopy with the sliding doors in place.
Each 2' section slides up and completely out for easy tank maintenance. No doors to get in the way or slam down on you. I will most likely leave the doors off for ventilation and I am always messing with something in the tank.
This is with the doors slid partly up to give an idea of how it works.
There are panels on the front and both sides and all can be removed.
I still have much work to do before it is finished but I am liking it and the test fit looks good as well. Next will be the stand.
All Acro's are currently out of the tank getting a nice Interceptor treatment. I found a couple redbugs and it was extermination time.
It has been a busy week.More to come...
