canopy

[AndrewH]

Here's how I built mine.

Upper and lower frames... from scrap 1x2s and 1x4s I already had


Framing all together...


Added the door...


Paneling and trim...



Almost finished - open




Finished - close


Light protector...


with the tank...


(please forgive the messy tank, I had just reset it up with SMS and it was still cloudy and the aquascape hasn't been started yet)


My overall height is 15" which gives me 7" of clearance inside to move around. My lighting sits on top of the protector and then it's open to the free air from there (to dissipate the heat).

EDIT: Guess I could let you know... this is a 90 gallon - 48lx18wx25h

[Sponsors]

[AndrewH]

I had a design flaw in mine which I didn't catch until it was on my tank... there's an extra 1x4 on the outsides of the frame which doesn't need to be there and actually makes the canopy stick out from the tank too far (by exactly 1 - 1x4 width = 3/4") but isn't too hard to fix.

[Steve Z]

Nice looking canopy that trim looks really nice
How thick is your skeet/panel?

[Steve Z]

here the canopy with the skin on which is 1/2" thick with the doors 1/2" thick
All the other dimensions are on the pics

If you have any advise or catch any thing I should change please tell me

[BiscuitSlayer]

I see that you will have two doors, but will the canopy open up in any other way? If I am not mistaken, I think you are working with a 29 gallon footprint which means that the canopy might be difficult to work with when you go inside the tank. What are your plans for this?

[Steve Z]

I'm going to make the top hood open up and that will make it easy to work with the lights, and the two doors in front are only 1 1/2" above the rim so I can easily move the plants around and feed the fish

the rim is the part marked by the 3 1/2" mark

[BiscuitSlayer]

Steve Z -

Nice design. I like it. Do you plan on taking the canopy off of the tank to work on the tank (i.e. trimming, cleaning, etc.)?

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by Steve Z

Nice looking canopy that trim looks really nice
How thick is your skeet/panel?

(sorry for the delayed response, been having net problems at home)

My plywood is 1/8" birch. Simply a veneer to cover the structure underneath.

[Steve Z]

Originally Posted by BiscuitSlayer

Steve Z -

Nice design. I like it. Do you plan on taking the canopy off of the tank to work on the tank (i.e. trimming, cleaning, etc.)?

I planed the front doors specially for the things you said above

I post up pics as soon as I start
I'm only twelve and all my money comes from PUSH mowing and HAND snow shoving for people, so it might take a while till I get enough money for the thing. My parents don't give me any allowance even though I shovel the drive, mow for them , and do tons of house work ,and this winter we got a huge ice storm that brought down tons of limbs I had to pick up and saw up. At lest I'm not one of those game geeks that spends all there money on games

[AndrewH]

Well they did give you life and food and shelter and all . Just kidding around with ya...

Seems like you have a good game plan and design. I look forward to seeing the progress on your canopy and tank!