Canopy help

[Sgc1107]

I'm drawing out my plans for my 125gl build I'm starting next summer. Got the stand down and I know I want to add a canopy but need some advice from people who have had them...

What type of wood did you use?

How did you prevent evaporated water from soaking into the wood? Moisture problems?

Can you post pics? I'm a visual person

My biggest is about the materials used. I would think wood is awful heave, pressboard being worst. So I'm wondering what they are made of.

 

[tonedogz]

I've made 3 for 3 different tanks and I've always used pine. You could also use plywood. You can use a stain and poly to prevent any water damage.

 

[Ice Man]

I used plywood and pine for the frame. Painted everything with black oil based paint, 3 coats of paint with little sanding before each coat. It's too early to say how it's performing because it's only been 5 months. So far so good!

 

[tonedogz]

That will work fine. that will last a long time.

 

[Sgc1107]

What about weigh issues? Putting extra weight on top of the tank will not cause problems?

I think the canopy adds the extra grand look!

Now how do y'all have access? From the top, or front panels that lift up? Or both?

What about light protection from salt creep?

Sorry for all the question but I want to do this right the first time. In order to do that I kinda need to know the pros & cons from people that have a canopy, I've never had one. Thanks so far!

 

[CleverBs]

I wanted mine to look nice so I built the frame with 2x2s then covered the frame with 1/2 oak. My canopy weighs a lot because of the use of oak but IMO it doesn't really matter I made my doors big enough to be able to put anything in the tank or take out anything. So there's no need for me to remove it. I even removed all the rock in mt tank and went from a reef to fowlr replaced all the live rock and sand in the tank and never needed to take off the canopy.

 

[Sgc1107]

I wanted mine to look nice so I built the frame with 2x2s then covered the frame with 1/2 oak. My canopy weighs a lot because of the use of oak but IMO it doesn't really matter I made my doors big enough to be able to put anything in the tank or take out anything. So there's no need for me to remove it. I even removed all the rock in mt tank and went from a reef to fowlr replaced all the live rock and sand in the tank and never needed to take off the canopy.

Can you please post some pics?

 

[CleverBs]

Clevers 75g Build Thread - Page 6 - The Reef Tank

On page 6. I don't have any pictures after adding all the trim and doors however. I looks much much cleaner now.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

I've always used pine for hoods. I split it about 2/3 the way down the sides and install hinges at the top that allow me to flip the first 1/3 of the hood up to access the tank. It's a very easy way to make one. I'll see if I can post a couple of photos in a bit.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Pics of my 20 gallon planted tank hood. I make saltwater hoods the exact same way and just made one with my brother that he's not through painting. Sorry about it being cloudy, I did a water change about 20 minutes before I took the photos.

^You can see the hinges here pretty clearly, as well as how the top and sides connect to the molding around the top of the hood.

 

[Sgc1107]

Thanks! This is not what I expected to see! Interesting!!!

 

[CorallineAlgae]

That's just one way to go about it. Many tanks need far taller hoods that use front opening "doors" to access the tank. If you keep your lights higher that would be the direction to take. My hood isn't all that high so the ability to completely flip up the front gives me better access than a cabinet style door would. I made the stand with a raised panel door so if the hood had used doors that would've meant running small wood panels through the router. Not my cup of tea. I like my hands! lol

 

[Keithhjs]

Didn't make mine but thought I'd post a few pics for you. It is pine and uses a piano style hinge.

 

[Sgc1107]

Didn't make mine but thought I'd post a few pics for you. It is pine and uses a piano style hinge.

Thanks! Can you post a pic with the top down?

 

[Keithhjs]

Thanks! Can you post a pic with the top down?

Sure. My pleasure.

 

[Sgc1107]

My worry with this method is that I'm looking at a 125 or 150 gl. Not sure if the flip up front vs. a door type opening would work better for as long as the tank is.

 

[Keithhjs]

Mine is a 125 but its only 4' long.

 

[Ice Man]

Here is few pictures of mine.
It is not perfect. After seeing CorallineAlgae pictures I decided to build one just like it.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Here is few pictures of mine.
It is not perfect. After seeing CorallineAlgae pictures I decided to build one just like it.

(^_^)' It's all about easy access to the tank. Front doors work just as well for access as long as the hood is high enough for the size of the doors to be large enough to get big pieces of rock in and out of the tank without having to remove the whole hood. That's a real pain.

 

[Sgc1107]

Here is few pictures of mine.
It is not perfect. After seeing CorallineAlgae pictures I decided to build one just like it.

I think I'm going to go something like this but taller and doors on the front too.