This is my cheap somewhat simple build, many drawings were sketched & measurements taken before the work began! Making it hinged was easy, just needs precise measurements and cuts, but all in all access to the tank is a breeze! A small rubber nub is screwed in on top of the canopy to rest the door on it and absorb the shock so wood doesn't hit wood and cuz slamming and racket!
Materials bought: 2x stainless steel hinges-3.50$, 50 pack 8x2" brass pocket screws-5$, miscellaneous wiring hardware-5$, 7"Lx3xW fiberglass mesh-9$, various zip ties 4$ = about 30$ after tax.
Materials used laying around the house: 1 stainless decorative drawer handle, free oak brewery cabinet that I found while working, high power 12volt aftermarket cpu fan with blue leds and switch, stainless steel mesh wire for mounting lights, random marineland 18-24" led light used for moonlighting only, 24 or so staples to secure wiring along canopy. All this was useless junk I wasn't using around the house thus less clutter!
The most expensive part of a DIY canopy is usually the wood but my find was luck as the width of the cabinet was almost spot on with the tank but obviously much taller, so some modifications were needed to make it suitable. Lighting consists of 2x 65watt florescent floodlights (8600lumens @ 6500k)
Tools used: drill/square drive bit, wood saw, jigsaw, staple gun, hammer, electrical pliers, sander, angle grinder, 90° T and of COURSE a tape measure!
Hope you like my hillbilly DIY! Wish I could have centered the wording but to make it happen I couldn't cuz the dimensions weren't right for the tank.
Hood up, quick easy access to tank with little effort 2x hinged, back is lined with the black fiberglass mesh to prevent jumping and ambient light entering the tank:
Moonlighting:
Ac110:
Creative mounting:
Cooling fan with hood up:
Cooling fan runs on same timer as main lights:
Night shoot, I don't like overkill on moonlighting especially on a planted tank, therefore I mounted mine in a certain way to where you can see just a tad of blue making it look natural! Picture didn't do it justice but in person imo its perfect, you can see the silhouettes and shadows!
Fan is very high rpm and does a great job on keeping lighting cool, doesn't look bad imo either!
Hope you appreciated the build for a creative yet basic 30$ canopy! Tank used to be setup like this with lights .5" from the water line:
Enjoy!
Cheers! :beer::beer::beer:
×Go S Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 8 wins in a row going on 9, see you in Brazil boys!×
__________________________________________________________________
Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763
Materials bought: 2x stainless steel hinges-3.50$, 50 pack 8x2" brass pocket screws-5$, miscellaneous wiring hardware-5$, 7"Lx3xW fiberglass mesh-9$, various zip ties 4$ = about 30$ after tax.
Materials used laying around the house: 1 stainless decorative drawer handle, free oak brewery cabinet that I found while working, high power 12volt aftermarket cpu fan with blue leds and switch, stainless steel mesh wire for mounting lights, random marineland 18-24" led light used for moonlighting only, 24 or so staples to secure wiring along canopy. All this was useless junk I wasn't using around the house thus less clutter!
The most expensive part of a DIY canopy is usually the wood but my find was luck as the width of the cabinet was almost spot on with the tank but obviously much taller, so some modifications were needed to make it suitable. Lighting consists of 2x 65watt florescent floodlights (8600lumens @ 6500k)
Tools used: drill/square drive bit, wood saw, jigsaw, staple gun, hammer, electrical pliers, sander, angle grinder, 90° T and of COURSE a tape measure!
Hope you like my hillbilly DIY! Wish I could have centered the wording but to make it happen I couldn't cuz the dimensions weren't right for the tank.
Hood up, quick easy access to tank with little effort 2x hinged, back is lined with the black fiberglass mesh to prevent jumping and ambient light entering the tank:
Moonlighting:
Ac110:
Creative mounting:
Cooling fan with hood up:
Cooling fan runs on same timer as main lights:
Night shoot, I don't like overkill on moonlighting especially on a planted tank, therefore I mounted mine in a certain way to where you can see just a tad of blue making it look natural! Picture didn't do it justice but in person imo its perfect, you can see the silhouettes and shadows!
Fan is very high rpm and does a great job on keeping lighting cool, doesn't look bad imo either!
Hope you appreciated the build for a creative yet basic 30$ canopy! Tank used to be setup like this with lights .5" from the water line:
Enjoy!
Cheers! :beer::beer::beer:
×Go S Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 8 wins in a row going on 9, see you in Brazil boys!×
__________________________________________________________________
Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763
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