tank hoods

[T1KARMANN]

i have been looking at some pics of diffrent tank and have noticed that you guys in the US have MASSIVE tank hoods WHY

surely it makes it harder to do tank cleaning and stuff

if you look at tank hood on other tanks from diffrent countrys they are half the size comaired to the ones we have in the UK

The big tank hood sort of make the tank look funny and out of proportion

[ThisIsTong]

i have a big tank hood too. i bought it like that. but i guess its kind of the owners personal opinion. i think the fatter one makes the tank look nicer. but not all US members have the big canopies.

[CHOMPERS]

Big hoods were designed to hold big lights. Reef system need large lights (metal halide), and that started it all. Reef systems are very expensive, but big hoods are fairly cheap in comparison. By adding a bigger hood, it gives it an expensive reef look.

[TCZeli]

Chompers got it right, personally I wont get them, not because i dont like how they look (because i do) but because that is extra money, and im cheap!

[T1KARMANN]

i think they make the tank look wrong it looks like you have another cab on top of your tank

surly it your are using it for marines then it will make the tank over heat as halides look better when hanging above the tank and it will stay cooler

[n0zqh]

Big hood = big head ??

[loach43]

If the hood goes all the way up to the ceiling you can dazzle your friends by saying you have a built in wall tank :D

[ercnan]

I only have 2 3 foot strip lights on my 125.
I don't NEED a tall hood at all. I just think it makes the tank more pleasing to look at #1, and #2 makes it look more like furniture that was planned for the space.

[ercnan]

If the hood goes all the way up to the ceiling you can dazzle your friends by saying you have a built in wall tank :D

Been there as well. Went back to free standing with a hood though.
In the wall.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z9/ercnan/Tanks/4.jpg
Free standing.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z9/ercnan/Tanks/41.jpg

[12 Volt Man]

wow. nice tank.

really nice gold severum too

[green giant]

i think it just makes them look nicer. just kidding, in my planted tank i have a larger hood because i need extra lighting.:headbang2

[duke33]

Cool.

[davo]

I think it's a bit weird, and like said, makes it look like you have another cabinet on top of the tank. The only thing I think would be cool, is because you can have a hood that allows you to have the lights higher up which gives a lighting affect I really like, but other than that, I've got nothing.

[ercnan]

wow. nice tank.

really nice gold severum too
Thanks TVM.
Raised that Sev. from quarter sized. Others have come and gone, but that one stays. Any new fish give it problems, they go.
Only fish I can remove from the tank with my hands.

[CichlidsGoneWild]

I'm not a big fan of big heavy wooden canopy because I like the idea of easy maintenance. I do think tank with big wooden canopy does look nicer and looks more like a piece of furniture than just an ordinary fish tank. I think All Glass make pretty nice looking plastic hood but they're not mean for freshwater as the salt will just build up everywhere.

I just got a Jebo 120 gal tank and it came with an aluminum hood rather than the bulky big hood. It was either this or glass cover so I'm happy with what came with it. I think this is all about person perference and someone have aquarium service people that come to their home to clean their tank so ease of mainainance is not as issue to them.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2695/tankfullshot1qs5.jpg

[Wolf3101]

I like the idea of enclosing the lights...having the option of hiding extra equipment and tying the look of the entire unit into a whole. I usually build my own to suit whatever needs we have at the moment.

[loach43]

I've shifted to using glass hoods just because I like the look but I do miss being able to just lay asst. junk on top of the tank.