Custom 160 Build Thread - Finally!!
- Thread starter Jgoal55
- Start date
AquamanE
Active member
At the very least your going to need one of these. LOL
http://www.marinedepot.com/Tunze_Aquarium_Tongs_(23.6_inch)_0220.400_Tongs_Tweezers_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Tunze-TZ1135-FIMTTT-vi.html
betoballer1
New member
Tank progress is comming out real good
betoballer1
New member
Duplicate*
Jorge I think I've got an idea to fix your canopy problem. How much clearance do you have between the top of the canopy and the ceiling? And is the canopy a separate from the back piece? If you got a fair amount of clearance and it is separate, make 2 latches to keep the top secure, and attach something like this.
http://www.amazon.com/Racor-PBH-1R-Ceiling-Mounted-Bike-Lift/dp/B00006JBL3
With some eye hooks and use higher strength rope you would be able to lift the canopy as one off do what you need to do then lower it.
Hope that makes sense man. And nice to see some progress.
http://www.amazon.com/Racor-PBH-1R-Ceiling-Mounted-Bike-Lift/dp/B00006JBL3
With some eye hooks and use higher strength rope you would be able to lift the canopy as one off do what you need to do then lower it.
Hope that makes sense man. And nice to see some progress.
Jgoal55
Active member
Man, I love that idea but the wife wont have it. She really thinks cables hanging from the roof would look ugly as hell and to a point, I have to say I agree.
With such a traditional piece of furniture it'd be hard to get away with cables. One idea I had was to mix modern with traditional and float the canopy entirely. Then use an actuator or bar elevator(?) to raise/lower it.
I thought this through quite a bit and while it would work hands down and solve any issues, I just don't think I could get used to the look.
Thanks for the suggestion though.....something like that will probably be my first choice if I ever get sick of maintaining the tank as is. either that or like I said, I'll just build a new canopy. But that would be a shame.
With such a traditional piece of furniture it'd be hard to get away with cables. One idea I had was to mix modern with traditional and float the canopy entirely. Then use an actuator or bar elevator(?) to raise/lower it.
I thought this through quite a bit and while it would work hands down and solve any issues, I just don't think I could get used to the look.
Thanks for the suggestion though.....something like that will probably be my first choice if I ever get sick of maintaining the tank as is. either that or like I said, I'll just build a new canopy. But that would be a shame.
Yeah that would mess up the look of the room. I don't really know man. Hope it doesn't pose too much of a problem.
mrx66699
New member
Jorge its looking good, this looks exactly like my old tank its pretty easy to fix your canopy all you have to do is have your carpenter cut it about 8 inch back from the front in half length wise and reattach it with a piano hinge so the front does open and lay up on top its not going to bother the molding and its going to give you an open front 10 inches of room over the tank in the front and as far as attaching the lights I can show you how to do that with a track so when you open it they slide back right out of your way its just like my old tank it can be done and you wont have anything showing so the wifey should be cool with it too
Jgoal55
Active member
thats what we were trying to do....I basically showed the carpenter a picture of a standard Mission Series canopy and told him I wanted it to do that. The problem is that the top of the canopy sits about 2 inches inside the molding. Thats why the molding is in the way. Basically, it would crash against itself when it opens.
David - Miami
Aquanot!
Jgoal55
Active member
David...it's tough to explain and believe it or not I cant really take a picture that would help. So, instead I've drawn this terrible sketch to try and explain it.
This is looking at the canopy from the side the blue line being the canopy edges and where the "roof" sits when it's closed. The yellow lines are the molding. The green lines is where I think Matt is suggesting I cut.
If I were to cut there, when you flip the front upwards, the molding (yellow) would crash against itself thereby not allowing the front to flip back. Make sense?
Matt, if you still think you can help then we're on a completely different page and as usual, Im probably missing your logic (since i have little of it).
Let me know what you're thinking. Maybe I can drive it up there this weekend if you think you can fix it and still make it look nice.
This is looking at the canopy from the side the blue line being the canopy edges and where the "roof" sits when it's closed. The yellow lines are the molding. The green lines is where I think Matt is suggesting I cut.
If I were to cut there, when you flip the front upwards, the molding (yellow) would crash against itself thereby not allowing the front to flip back. Make sense?
Matt, if you still think you can help then we're on a completely different page and as usual, Im probably missing your logic (since i have little of it).
Let me know what you're thinking. Maybe I can drive it up there this weekend if you think you can fix it and still make it look nice.
David - Miami
Aquanot!
I think I understand, but maybe you could put a board across where you cut it and make it the same level as the molding so you do not see it. Then put the piano hinge there and Matt's idea still works.
Sounds like Matt would know better than I do though. Looking great in the meantime.
Sounds like Matt would know better than I do though. Looking great in the meantime.
mrx66699
New member
Basically what you are going to do Jorge is run the entire canopy through the table saw about 8 inches back from the front and rip it lengthwise. Now you are going to do the sides to match. Now you are going to use a piano hinge across the top allowing your entire front to fold back just like a piano cover does. Its really not that complicated. If you like also on the sides you will use a small matching trim piece to cover the 1/8 saw cut and if done correctly you will not even know the cut is there also your tank sits high enough most people will not see the hinged top or you can reverse the placement of the hinge and put it on the inside also, but that is a little more complicated and requires a slightly different hinge. You can buy the hinges at Boat Owners Warehouse, they have any size or style you would need.
Jgoal55
Active member
Let there be Light!
Let there be Light!
Well, on the 1,214th day (at least that's what it feels like), I said "Let there be light," and then.....
well, Carlos (Eon) came over.......we made some holes, we ran some wires, we affixed the top to the canopy, we drank beer, we ate pizza, we drank more beer, we assembled reflectors, we peeled bubble wrap and protective plastic off, we stripped wires, we electrical taped wire, we did some heavy lifting, and then finally..........There Was Light!!!!!
And while I do have some pictures, photobucket is undergoing site maintenance so you'll have to wait......unless it comes back up before I go to bed which is possible....
I also finished off the canopy fans which I think came out pretty sweet.
Let there be Light!
Well, on the 1,214th day (at least that's what it feels like), I said "Let there be light," and then.....
well, Carlos (Eon) came over.......we made some holes, we ran some wires, we affixed the top to the canopy, we drank beer, we ate pizza, we drank more beer, we assembled reflectors, we peeled bubble wrap and protective plastic off, we stripped wires, we electrical taped wire, we did some heavy lifting, and then finally..........There Was Light!!!!!
And while I do have some pictures, photobucket is undergoing site maintenance so you'll have to wait......unless it comes back up before I go to bed which is possible....
I also finished off the canopy fans which I think came out pretty sweet.
