How to build a DIY 6' canopy for T5HO lighting, that gives easy of access to tank? - Page 2

20 20 · 05/14/2006, 08:29 PM

No problems with the delay, I was in Home Depot soon after posting the question, and saw the wainscoting, or some that were close to what you used. I had originally made an assumption that you were using the 'wainscoting-like' panels, thus the question 'one piece or two'. Then I got it figured out, the individual pieces of wainscoting. Doh.

bad santa · 05/14/2006, 09:40 PM

Im thinking of making a new canopy for my 60 gal. Is there a weight max that needs to be watched.

comatose · 05/14/2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bad santa
Im thinking of making a new canopy for my 60 gal. Is there a weight max that needs to be watched.

is this an acrylic tank or glass ?

comatose · 05/14/2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 20 20
No problems with the delay, I was in Home Depot soon after posting the question, and saw the wainscoting, or some that were close to what you used. I had originally made an assumption that you were using the 'wainscoting-like' panels, thus the question 'one piece or two'. Then I got it figured out, the individual pieces of wainscoting. Doh.

Would love to see a pic when your all done ?

msmibew683 · 05/14/2006, 11:01 PM

i am also in the process of building a canopy to house t5ho lamps. my plan is to build basically two boxes. the bottom one being 6" deep and having 2" to hang over tank and 4" above. the second box being 10" in depth. the 10" will hinge in the back the the 6". i plan on putting a piece of acrylic on the bottom of the 10" between the two. I will mount my lamps so they are about .75" above the acrylic and th ballast to the top of the same 10" box. i also plan to install two fans on the top.

20 20 · 05/15/2006, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by comatose
Would love to see a pic when your all done ?

Yep, will do. Sometime in the next week or two I'll get to it. The more I look into this, the more simple the design in my head keeps getting. We'll see what I end up with.

20 20 · 05/15/2006, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by msmibew683
i am also in the process of building a canopy to house t5ho lamps. my plan is to build basically two boxes. the bottom one being 6" deep and having 2" to hang over tank and 4" above. the second box being 10" in depth. the 10" will hinge in the back the the 6". i plan on putting a piece of acrylic on the bottom of the 10" between the two. I will mount my lamps so they are about .75" above the acrylic and th ballast to the top of the same 10" box. i also plan to install two fans on the top.

So the complete top 10" box flips up? Not worried about the weight?

bad santa · 05/15/2006, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by comatose
is this an acrylic tank or glass ?

Its an acrylic tank.

msmibew683 · 05/15/2006, 04:41 PM

20 20,to be honest with you ive installed some really cheap pieces of crap fixtures by some top of the line fixture companies. but as long as my hinges in the back are good and sturdy and the locking brackets that i install on each side to hold up the top canopy(10" box)are also sturdy i should have nothing to worry about.

comatose · 05/15/2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bad santa
Its an acrylic tank.

I would stay 50 pounds or less.

20 20 · 05/15/2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by msmibew683
20 20,to be honest with you ive installed some really cheap pieces of crap fixtures by some top of the line fixture companies. but as long as my hinges in the back are good and sturdy and the locking brackets that i install on each side to hold up the top canopy(10" box)are also sturdy i should have nothing to worry about.

I wasn't thinking about whether the canopy would be sturdy enough, I was thinking about having to lift a box that big to get access to the tank. Not that it couldn't be done, I'm 6'3" and 230lbs, so I could easily manage it, but not to sure I would WANT to, if you know what I mean.

Dennis1438 · 05/16/2006, 08:57 AM

Hello everyone, comatose nice web page. I to am building a canopy which is hexagon. The top will be about 6 inches or so off the water with two fans insatlled. The lights I am intalling are 150w aqalight pro retro with 2 65w actinic. Do you think this light will be fine only 5 inches or so off the water, or should the lights be raised. The tank is 80 gal and 25 inches deep, I probable should have gone with a 250w but very limited on space.

Dennis1438 · 05/16/2006, 08:57 AM

Hello everyone, comatose nice web page. I to am building a canopy which is hexagon. The top will be about 6 inches or so off the water with two fans insatlled. The lights I am intalling are 150w aqalight pro retro with 2 65w actinic. Do you think this light will be fine only 5 inches or so off the water, or should the lights be raised. The tank is 80 gal and 25 inches deep, I probable should have gone with a 250w but very limited on space.

comatose · 05/16/2006, 11:41 AM

Thanks Dennis1438,
i think 5 inches is cutting it close, unless you have something between the water and bulbs, i always felt at least 7" or 8" is a nice height off the water for bulbs.

oldsaltman · 05/16/2006, 01:08 PM

I added some photos of my sliding canopy you might find useful.

Sliding canopy

msmibew683 · 05/16/2006, 07:52 PM

dennis 1438 for the past year ive also had a hex tank. i hated it . there is no room underneath in the stand and being 25" deep it is very difficult to get enough light to the bottom of the tank if you have coral. it is also difficult to stack live rock because of the little surface area at the bottom. I also had problems with keeping the heat down but i was also using a 400w mh pendant. im in the process now of building a 75g with 29g fuge. it also has a calcium reactor. and i just orderd the lighting fixture(t5ho 4 ge 6500k and 2 aqua blues)to install in the diy hood. anyway i spent a lot of money to make the tank work and everytime i look at it , it makes me sick. the hex tank may work for your needs though.

05/14/2006, 09:40 PM	#27
bad santa SCRK member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 1,444	Im thinking of making a new canopy for my 60 gal. Is there a weight max that needs to be watched. __________________ Ed "Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying" "Were discussing man,...you have your wrong opinion i have my right one. Its called communication." Mac Inger Current Tank Info: working on establishing a 32 Gal. Nano-Cube

05/14/2006, 08:29 PM	#26
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	No problems with the delay, I was in Home Depot soon after posting the question, and saw the wainscoting, or some that were close to what you used. I had originally made an assumption that you were using the 'wainscoting-like' panels, thus the question 'one piece or two'. Then I got it figured out, the individual pieces of wainscoting. Doh.

05/14/2006, 11:01 PM	#30
msmibew683 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 27	i am also in the process of building a canopy to house t5ho lamps. my plan is to build basically two boxes. the bottom one being 6" deep and having 2" to hang over tank and 4" above. the second box being 10" in depth. the 10" will hinge in the back the the 6". i plan on putting a piece of acrylic on the bottom of the 10" between the two. I will mount my lamps so they are about .75" above the acrylic and th ballast to the top of the same 10" box. i also plan to install two fans on the top.

05/15/2006, 04:41 PM	#34
msmibew683 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 27	20 20,to be honest with you ive installed some really cheap pieces of crap fixtures by some top of the line fixture companies. but as long as my hinges in the back are good and sturdy and the locking brackets that i install on each side to hold up the top canopy(10" box)are also sturdy i should have nothing to worry about.

05/16/2006, 08:57 AM	#37
Dennis1438 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Palm City, Florida Posts: 63	Hello everyone, comatose nice web page. I to am building a canopy which is hexagon. The top will be about 6 inches or so off the water with two fans insatlled. The lights I am intalling are 150w aqalight pro retro with 2 65w actinic. Do you think this light will be fine only 5 inches or so off the water, or should the lights be raised. The tank is 80 gal and 25 inches deep, I probable should have gone with a 250w but very limited on space.

05/16/2006, 11:41 AM	#39
comatose Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Flyers, Eagles, Phillies country Posts: 1,437	Thanks Dennis1438, i think 5 inches is cutting it close, unless you have something between the water and bulbs, i always felt at least 7" or 8" is a nice height off the water for bulbs.

05/16/2006, 01:08 PM	#40
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	I added some photos of my sliding canopy you might find useful. Sliding canopy

05/16/2006, 07:52 PM	#41
msmibew683 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 27	dennis 1438 for the past year ive also had a hex tank. i hated it . there is no room underneath in the stand and being 25" deep it is very difficult to get enough light to the bottom of the tank if you have coral. it is also difficult to stack live rock because of the little surface area at the bottom. I also had problems with keeping the heat down but i was also using a 400w mh pendant. im in the process now of building a 75g with 29g fuge. it also has a calcium reactor. and i just orderd the lighting fixture(t5ho 4 ge 6500k and 2 aqua blues)to install in the diy hood. anyway i spent a lot of money to make the tank work and everytime i look at it , it makes me sick. the hex tank may work for your needs though.