DIY canopy

[ChunksInClemson]

I am planning to build a canopy for my 90g sometime in next few months. I was wondering if anyone else had some pics of how they designed it. I'm not wanting to put to much money into it (about 100 bucks). I will be housing 2 X250 MH in this canopy. I really dont have any woodworking experience even though I could probably put it together if I had to. I want to use Pine b/c it is cheaper and I will be painting it black to match the stand.

Here is a picture(keep in mind, its a new tank)...

 

[dwdenny]

Can use 3/4" pine plywood and use 1X2 to hold it on the tank. Use a long(I think they are called piano hinge) and paint with good paint. Black outside white inside. Not sure if this will help but this the canopy that I built from my 40g breeder. It was built for T5 so it is 8.25". I am going to put in some 1X2 to get the bulbs closer to the water once I get up the money to buy the lighting.lol Plus I am going to cut off the bottom 1x that is running the lenght of the tank so that I can get inside the tank easier. HTH

 

[stugray]

Here's some:

All pine, stained to look like oak. the inside is painted with white epoxy spray paint, and the tops are real wood paneling.

Stu

 

[dwdenny]

I might just build me a new canopy like stugray's that is awesome makes it really easy to access the tank. Mine is made of 1/4" birch so it is light and can be removed easy but man what a PITA I am strating to figure out. If I cut off the bottom 1x I can get in easier with no problems that is what I am going to do first and see how that works if not above design is my new plan.

 

[BrentN]

I used 1x2's ripped lenghtwise for a 3/4 x 3/4" rectangular frame, then slapped on some 1/4" oak skins for the front and sides, a 1x12x48 oak slab for the lid attached with a piano hinge. Kilz primer (white) on the inside, stained black on the outside. total dimensions are 48 long x 8 high x 13 deep, going to use t-5's. Total cost was about $120, but you could go cheaper on the lid. that 1" board cost about $33. I'll try to find a pic in progress..

 

[smeegus]

What did you use to attach the reflectors to the canopy? I have just completed (I hope) a DIY canopy for a 29g and I used Gorilla Glue to attache them. I am wondering if it will hold? Oh yea, I will try to post some pictures of my design later tonight.