I need help.. Need to build a DIY Light Canopy for 36 Gallon Bowfront Corner

[blubunny2005]

I currently have a 36 Gallon Bowfront Corner and I need help building a light Fixture/Canopy for it. I currently have a 24 inch 2x65 Watt current USA PowerCompact Orbit Fixture over the very front of the tank with 2 6400K/10000K Daylight bulbs in it, but.. it doesn't seem to get enough or any light to the very back of the tank.

The things that I would like this canopy to be able to do is to provide plenty of light to all areas of the tank while being able to close off the open tank water from flying insects (to include these monsterous mosquitos) from getting in it or laying any eggs in it. I also need it to include an access panel for feeding plants/fish or trimming plants through (preferably a door). Also, I might need a way to attach it to my tank stand via metal poles or something like that.

I am looking for help to build one so if you already have done this before or if you can help me come up with a plan that would be great!! I have included photos of my tank, stand and the current light. Also, included the tank dimensions.

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Computer/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Computer/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG]

Dimensions: 24'' left side x 24 right side'' x 21'' tall x 24'' radius curve from the back corner to the front of the tank

[gmccreedy]

Here is an example of one

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...anopy-diy.html

Lighting the back of the bow is not the easiest. There was one thread where someone got creative and did it. I need to find it for you.

How handy are you?

[Hoppy]

You can make a LED fixture for odd shaped tanks like that, and get uniform lighting all over the tank. The only part that would need to be figured out is the heat sink, but that shouldn't be terribly difficult. I suspect that such a fixture would cost $250-$300 to make. Then the housing for it could be made similar to the link Glenn posted. If this fixture is suspended from bent conduit "L" poles, you could easily raise it for tank maintenance.

[blubunny2005]

Thanks.. Heat Sink? Sorry, I am not sure what that is.

[Hoppy]

Light Emitting Diode lights need a big chunk of aluminum to be used to mount them on, to absorb and get rid of the heat they produce. See the sticky about LED fixtures, if you can spare the time to go through about 18 pages. I'm currently very interested in that type of lighting, so every light question I see causes me to figure out if and how a LED fixture would work in that application.

[Regloh]

I really liked the fixture in this plywood build by tusk.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...al-corner.html

Obviously yours would have to be a tad smaller, but it could be figured out. You would still have to build a canopy...