Show off your custom canopies!!!

[bigdeeezy]

nice...wanna build me a basic canopy? LoL good to see some fellow norcal people on this site

[bigdeeezy]

anymore custom canopies out there?

[bigdeeezy]

finally had some time to put some pieces together and make my own reflectors or wat not but this is what i made with scrap i had at home for now:

[ej1698]

HERE'S A FEW I DID:




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[weap0n_X]

Heres my stand and canopy.

[ljosh]

How high should the MH fixture be from the water? I am using the same fixture that Kuramura has in his canopy.

[sirreal63]

This is the one I built for my old 125. I no longer have this tank or canopy but it worked perfectly. I never liked doors or tops that had hinges, I never wanted them to fall or pinch me. Most doors or hinged tops restrict movement around the tank. I designed mine to have sliding panels that completely lifted out yet looked finished when installed.

The next canopy I build will be of this design as well.

Panels inserted...


Panels off...


Partially lifted...

[ej1698]

I love you stand & canopy weap0n_X , awesome detail! just beautiful.

EJ

[Bud's Reef]

I have an Oceanic Tech 120 that I will be starting a stand and canopy for next week. I have a pretty good idea of the basic design for the canopy, but I'm not sure where/how to put in the 6 T5s so that I can still get into the tank when necessary and to change the bulbs or clean the reflectors. How are you guys doing that?

[fishdave739]

Here's how I did mine. Had to go this route with very little head room. Next plan is to pimp it electronically with a remote!

[bigdeeezy]

wish i had the time, money, tools and knowledge like you guys so i can build my own stuff...looks great everyone

[george1098]

here's mine so far. all i need to do to finish the canopy is build the door.

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[mhummel]

I had to build this stand since we've move into an appartment temporarly. Haven't had time to take a pic since everything is cleaned up. I still have to make the back part to cover the overflow box and wires.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/81027stand2.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/81027stand1.jpg

[JACOXVIII]

my bow front

[MrSpiffy]

Originally posted by unclefrosby
here are some more photos

unclefrosby, how'd you fill in your miters for the crown molding? Wood filler? Glue? I'm working on something very similar and want to make sure I get my crown looking nice. Thanks for the inspiration, btw!

[sirreal63]

They don't look filled...it looks like a good cut. :-)

If you are staining it, be careful about the filler, it may stain darker and look off.

[superedge88]

Here is my T5 canopy on my 4 foot 150 gallon aquarium


The last pic is of the canopy without the T5 reflectors and bulbs in it when I was still working on filling the tank and doing maintenance (reason why the area is so very messy) I designed the canopy and a local friend helped me build it (though he did 95% of the work )

[MrSpiffy]

Guess I'll just have to make good cuts, then! I'll cross my fingers! (but not while I'm cutting...)

[Nammy]

Wow! very nice canopies out there..

[dogstar74]

George, that is a nice canopy. I hope that you have vented the Ballast for your lights though. It looks like it's mostly sealed around the ballast, and with the insulation to boot. They can easily get hot enough to melt that insulation and cause real problems. I'd put a small fan and vent over it somehow to draw the heat off of the ballast. It will probably at least extend the life of the ballast. and at most, prevent a fire!

Good job on the canopy though!

[ctreefer]

Here's a canopy for a 180 I'm building. Its still in the works, but the general idea is done. The doors are sliders so they don't interfere with the living space (stand was done the same way) and 2/3s or the top lift up for access to tank. The lights (6 T5s (fauna marin) are on a drawer style track and can slide all the way back for access and likewise as the image shows they can be brought forward where the track opens and allows the unit to be placed facing you for bulb replacement. There will be some holes drilled for fans and a latch to secure the light fixture for bulb change.

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[original kuhli]

Here are some images part way through the finishing process, it doesn't really do it justice, the solid cherry came to life when it was finished. This is for freshwater so the heat in the hood isn't as bad.

I was frustrated with having to reach over the front of the canopy so I built this design, my arm can reach the deepest corners of the tank--without standing on my tippy toes. I also built the stand the correct height to ensure this.







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[Cprowler]

Here is mine.

[H20ENG]

Nice work Gents- keep em coming

[Bud's Reef]

Originally posted by ctreefer
Here's a canopy for a 180 I'm building. Its still in the works, but the general idea is done. The doors are sliders so they don't interfere with the living space (stand was done the same way) and 2/3s or the top lift up for access to tank. The lights (6 T5s (fauna marin) are on a drawer style track and can slide all the way back for access and likewise as the image shows they can be brought forward where the track opens and allows the unit to be placed facing you for bulb replacement. There will be some holes drilled for fans and a latch to secure the light fixture for bulb change.

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Nice job! I'm working on my stand now and will tackle the canopy afterward and am still unsure how to mount the 6 T5s. Can you show some close ups of exactly how you have them mounted? What is the balck material yours are mounted on? Where are you putting the ballasts? Where are you putting the fans and how many? Thanks for any specifics and help!