DIY Canopy

[Silly me]

here is the light some of the light I will put in, I thinking of only start with 2 then after the tank settled I added the third one,

here they are installed..
there is a open space in the middle for the one more light
I hade to take a close shot with a highest shutter my camera can to beable to see, otherwise its just a to much light

 

[DylFunk]

hey, it looks great! I'm going to have to copy you . you mind telling me how you wired the lights and what supplies i need? i dont really know much about the electrical part of building a hood.

 

[mwm]

awesome i think i might just have to copy you too thanks for the idea

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

yeah a walk through on how to wire the lights will be greatly appreciated

 

[mwm]

Wats happening with the canopy?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Great work, i'ved just started building a hood for my 10g as I'm putting crabs in it and being the escape artists they are I need a hood rather than a condensation tray.

I'm not sure about what to do with the wood to treat it, I was just going to put some acrylic inside to stop splashes.

I'm not sure about the light fittings yet as I can't afford the normal type for aquariums, I'll see what my brother comes up with as he's a sparky!!

I'm making 2/3 of the top of mine hinged for feeding access etc

I made the bsic outside frame for mine first then put triangles over the corner to keep it there, and I'll use 10mm ply for the body, my dads getting me the work today as he works in a furniture factory and he'll cut it on the mill for me

What light fittings have you got planned?

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

i just made 1 for my 65 gallon tank, and i just used white semi gloss outdoor paint for the inside (i know it will splash the water because i had a hell of a time washing it off my hands ) and i just put resin to fill the cracks, the outside i just ainted black to match my tank and put some varnish on it to give it a shine

the only part im stuck on is the lights, ive been looking at ballasts but i cant find 1 that will support more then 40W

 

[clutterydrawer]

I'm not sure about what to do with the wood to treat it, I was just going to put some acrylic inside to stop splashes.

I built one and just sealed it with 4 coats of good varnish.

Let me know if you ever find a cheap lighting unit, I didn't light the one I built cos I was skint.

 

[Garfield]

This option took the longest, waiting for the resin to dry

Would standard varnish be an alternative to the resin???

 

[FloridaFishGuy]

Heres a picture of my DIY canopy.

 

[FloridaFishGuy]

Here is the canopy with trim and the DIY stand.

 

[Garfield]

WOW!!!! That one nice setup even for a DIY job. How did you seal the inside of the canopy?? I'm in the UK and just wondered if varnish would be just as good.

Nice work

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'ved finished mine now and the top is double hinged so you open the first part from fedding then left the back altogther to get to the lighting

I put some acrylic infront of the light and I put ronseal clear varnish on the rest after a week!! I had it running then I decided to modify it then I varnished it as it was warping already, Look a bit bulky on my 10 gallons but it works

Oh and i went down to my local electric shop and bought a normal fitting and tube for £10, kind of stupid of me buying it at that but unless I picked one cheap on ebay that was the best it was getting!!

 

[Garfield]

Pics please paul

 

[Paul_MTS]

oki, i'll try and sort some out tomorrow.