DIY Canopy Plans - Aquarium Advice

noteworthy · 10-13-2005, 09:34 PM

Hola!

I have come up with some plans for a canopy and need a critique about a few things.

Here are my plans:

Needed:
2- 49 1/2" X 12" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Front/Back
2 - 13" x 12" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Sides
1 - 8" x 49 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Lights
1 - 5 1/2" x 49 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Feeding
1 - 3" x 48 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Support Beam
10 - 2" L brackets
40- 1/2" Screws
4 - Hinges & Screws

How will this sit on my aquarium? Should I use wood blocks inside the canopy sides to sit on the aquarium or some sort of L bracket?

greenmaji · 10-13-2005, 09:57 PM

blocks on the inside sides and possibley design the front to swing open without the sides so the blocks can go front to back. it seems like I need to draw something.. [acronym:46c7aa5a25="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:46c7aa5a25]

noteworthy · 10-13-2005, 10:28 PM

I really don't want the front to swing open but I'm afraid my two hinged doors on top will not allow enough room for lighting reflectors

greenmaji · 10-13-2005, 10:34 PM

I was thinking the same thing.. like you would have to add a suspended board to mount the light on in the middle.. making the need for it being that high well not needed..
maybe you could go with just the front edge of it opening?

**BillyZ** · 10-14-2005, 09:07 AM

not only that but every time you need to do any maintenance, adjust a rock/[acronym:c826c7cb18="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c826c7cb18] etc you have no easy access into the tank. I would suggest making it so the front swings open.

With a little extra time planning it out, you can easily make it so the fact that it opens is not visible. You can get internal hinges, even locking hinges, so there's nothing on the outside. Look for locking toy-box hinges or saftey hinges.

noteworthy · 10-19-2005, 10:23 PM

Well I have seriously been thinking about changing my design on the canopy. I think I'll make a solid top that is 14 x 49 1/2 inches that the lights will be in. I will use a hidden hinge that you can't see from outside. Then the front panel of the canopy will be attached to the top with a locking hidden hinge. The hinge will allow the front to fold out straight with the top but will not allow it to fold down and hit the lights when the whole thing is raised.

I want to be able to pull forward the canopy side without having to raise the top. If I do pull up the top then the side will just go up with it and stay in the L shape as to not hit and damage my light bulbs.

I'm going to use magnetic contacts to hold the side panel down against the canopy so there is no 'movement' with it.

Under the canopy their will be a ballast, 4 [acronym:64c0cc3ebb="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:64c0cc3ebb] bulbs, reflector, Moon Light 3 led setup, couple of fans, and an atx power supply.

Should the fans be in/out or out/out?

Anyone know where I can get a glass top for a standard 55 gallon tank for relatively little money? Then I'll be left with a standard top with [acronym:64c0cc3ebb="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym:64c0cc3ebb] bulbs that equal 40w.

greenmaji · 10-20-2005, 12:19 AM

you can wire ballasts and other such things under your canopy through power cords.. I wouldnt want them in my canopy.. but thats just me maybe, Id be afraid they would get water damage.

noteworthy · 10-20-2005, 12:28 AM

My choices are under canopy, mounted on back of canopy.. or under fish tank stand.

DeFeKt · 10-20-2005, 02:13 AM

yea i wouldn't put ur ballast inside the canopy.
oh and cheers for the ideas, i'm building one soon.

greenmaji · 10-20-2005, 02:16 AM

I would put them under the stand and as far away from the sump as I could.. of those options.

10-13-2005, 09:34 PM	#1
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	DIY Canopy Plans Hola! I have come up with some plans for a canopy and need a critique about a few things. Here are my plans: Needed: 2- 49 1/2" X 12" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Front/Back 2 - 13" x 12" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Sides 1 - 8" x 49 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Lights 1 - 5 1/2" x 49 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Feeding 1 - 3" x 48 1/2" (1/2" Treated Plywood) - Support Beam 10 - 2" L brackets 40- 1/2" Screws 4 - Hinges & Screws How will this sit on my aquarium? Should I use wood blocks inside the canopy sides to sit on the aquarium or some sort of L bracket?

10-14-2005, 09:07 AM	#5
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,622 Images: 6	not only that but every time you need to do any maintenance, adjust a rock/[acronym:c826c7cb18="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c826c7cb18] etc you have no easy access into the tank. I would suggest making it so the front swings open. With a little extra time planning it out, you can easily make it so the fact that it opens is not visible. You can get internal hinges, even locking hinges, so there's nothing on the outside. Look for locking toy-box hinges or saftey hinges. __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

10-20-2005, 02:13 AM	#9
DeFeKt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth australia Posts: 1,435 Images: 18	yea i wouldn't put ur ballast inside the canopy. oh and cheers for the ideas, i'm building one soon. __________________ Dimidiochromis compressiceps, Astatotilapia latifasciata Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Labidochromis caeruleus Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue' Pseudotropheus acei 'Msuli Point' Aulunocara stuartgranti 'chipoka' Labidochromis freibergi Oreochromis mossambicus Etroplus suratensis

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10-13-2005, 09:57 PM	#2
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	blocks on the inside sides and possibley design the front to swing open without the sides so the blocks can go front to back. it seems like I need to draw something.. [acronym:46c7aa5a25="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:46c7aa5a25]

10-13-2005, 10:28 PM	#3
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	I really don't want the front to swing open but I'm afraid my two hinged doors on top will not allow enough room for lighting reflectors

10-13-2005, 10:34 PM	#4
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	I was thinking the same thing.. like you would have to add a suspended board to mount the light on in the middle.. making the need for it being that high well not needed.. maybe you could go with just the front edge of it opening?

10-19-2005, 10:23 PM	#6
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	Well I have seriously been thinking about changing my design on the canopy. I think I'll make a solid top that is 14 x 49 1/2 inches that the lights will be in. I will use a hidden hinge that you can't see from outside. Then the front panel of the canopy will be attached to the top with a locking hidden hinge. The hinge will allow the front to fold out straight with the top but will not allow it to fold down and hit the lights when the whole thing is raised. I want to be able to pull forward the canopy side without having to raise the top. If I do pull up the top then the side will just go up with it and stay in the L shape as to not hit and damage my light bulbs. I'm going to use magnetic contacts to hold the side panel down against the canopy so there is no 'movement' with it. Under the canopy their will be a ballast, 4 [acronym:64c0cc3ebb="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:64c0cc3ebb] bulbs, reflector, Moon Light 3 led setup, couple of fans, and an atx power supply. Should the fans be in/out or out/out? Anyone know where I can get a glass top for a standard 55 gallon tank for relatively little money? Then I'll be left with a standard top with [acronym:64c0cc3ebb="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym:64c0cc3ebb] bulbs that equal 40w.

10-20-2005, 12:19 AM	#7
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	you can wire ballasts and other such things under your canopy through power cords.. I wouldnt want them in my canopy.. but thats just me maybe, Id be afraid they would get water damage.

10-20-2005, 12:28 AM	#8
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	My choices are under canopy, mounted on back of canopy.. or under fish tank stand.

10-20-2005, 02:16 AM	#10
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	I would put them under the stand and as far away from the sump as I could.. of those options.