Diy Hood - What Materials To Use?

[xhan]

I'm hoping to make a DIY hood for a 30 l tank I found on Freecycle. I have limited access to any sort of building materials/tools so this could be a challenge! Forgive my silly questions but I want to get this right

This is the plan, the tank measures 17" x 10.5"

I forgot to add a light onto the drawing but there will be a light clipped onto the hood...somehow. I'm such a n00b!

my main question is what material should I use? I need something that is going to be cat proof, fat cat proof to be precise!

If I used perspex would a light melt the plastic?

If I used wood, say MDF what happens if the wood gets wet somehow ? If I treat it with something would that be harmful to the fish if the water condensed on the hood and then dripped back into the tank!?

What do you think is the safest course of action?

 

[Mikaila31]

Tank should have a glass lid, otherwise I wouldn't do it. Use wood, its easy to work with cheap spray paint make it black. But you said you are tool limited. I personally would not go with wood if you don't have access to a miter saw and a power drill. You need to make accurate and straight cuts so it fits correctly on the top of the tank.

As far as your planned approach, I would not have it hang down over the outside of the edge like that. This is really just aesthetics and my personal opinon though. I wouldn't be able to live with that, all my hoods bought and DIY sit on top of the tank. The hinge opening door(i think thats what it is) you should avoid unless you have done them before. Especially if you plan to use cheaper woods, don't be surprised if doesn't fully close after a year or so due to warping from the light heat. I've only done hoods that sit on the back half of the lid. I think the full hoods are more common in the UK.

PREDRILL ALL HOLES BEFORE YOU NAIL THE WOOD TOGETHER! This is very important. I have a great example of the first nail I tried to hammer into my first hood. It made a slight crack in the wood, which isn't a problem yet. But that nail is failing rapidly, every other nail that predrilled is absolutely fine.

As far as lighting I would wire in a double sided socket and use spiral compacts. You could easily do plants considering what wattage you go for, if you don't plan to do plants I would stick with one bulb.

 

[Tolak]

If you use wood, forget about MDF. It will get wet, it will turn to something similar to oatmeal. Plywood with a good sealant such as marine varnish will last about 3 years before moisture damage sets in. If you use any wood at all stick with solid wood, well sealed.

 

[OldMan47]

I would use thin real wood, not MDF for that hood. I would also suggest that you put the support blocks closer to the bottom of the hood to hold the hood up higher. That should give you room to mount a light fixture to the inside of the hood. Don't forget to drill a couple of large holes in the back of the hood to let the heat from the light fixture escape.

 

[xhan]

Thanks guys.

@Mikaila31 Glass sounds difficult! (and expensive! ) How would a sheet of glass sitting on top of the tank be secure? You would need to attach it somehow wouldn't you?

@tolak could you recommend a good varnish? oil/water based!?


I'm definitely going to have planted, before I joined this forum I never knew anything other than planted tanks existed! (all my friends have planted!)

For the time being I'm probably going to have to use a bit of mesh or something, I'm keeping bettas in this tank (it'll be divided) and one of them has already made himself known as a jumper!

I'm not hugely concerned with aesthetics tbh, I need a hood for two reasons at the moment, lighing and preventing jumps! In about 7 months I'll need a cat proof lid but hopefully I can come up with something decent in that time!

I really wish I could go back to my old DT department and use the laser cutter - life'd be so much easier then!