Brand spankin new amature built canopy

L

lockemup

Guest
I just finished building this thing. My lights are a couple weeks away though, so I just installed my 48" until I get the compacts. I also saved room on the sides of the top to mount CMH and I still have plenty of room on the back for a fan...
 
L

lockemup

Guest
side vents.
My wife thinks it looks like an upside down coffin.:hilarious
 
L

lockemup

Guest
Thanks. I definitely learned about working with wood from this. Always use the router first on your trim before mitering any joints!...
I still need to make some trim pieces for the edges between the top and bottom trim pieces. That way I can get rid of the ugly seams.
 
L

lockemup

Guest
Hooray, I get my PC lights today! I'm picking up 1 96W Ultra Actinic and 1 96W 50/50 which will go in my canopy. I will have the white side of the 50/50 bulb closest to the front of the tank with the blue to the middle, then the two blue from the Actinic follows that in the middle, then my original 48" bulb which is in its hood at the back (recessed in the canopy and sealed with silicone). When I can afford two CMH kits, I will put them on the sides. I'm on my way to setting this thing up right I hope... I can't wait :D
 

ohioreef

Member
Nice canopy.
You wouldn't happen to have plans for that canopy would you? I'm looking to upgrade this summer and want to build as much as i can myself to save money.
 

jlem

Active Member
Are you planning on using fans? If you don't use fans you are going to have a major heat issue even with PC's. You may want to open the back up some for heat dissapation. Those vent hole are not going to be enough. Nice looking canopy.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/72432/my-first-stand-and-canopy
Phipps. Here is a link to a canopy that I made last year for a 40 gallon that I used to have. The only thing that I would do different is to make the front piece longer than the tank so that the sides are not visible from the front. I use lots of glue. You could use 1X10 inch pine for the sides and 1X12 inch for the top. The back brace is just a 2X2.
 
L

lockemup

Guest
Yes, I will be adding two fans in the rear. I actually felt a minor amount of heat from the PCF lights. The supplier screwed up though and gave me 2 96W Actinic bulbs instead of one Actinic and one 50/50, so I will be depending on that 48" white F light until I can get a nice crisp white MH light kit. I am picking up a tripod for my digital camera tomorrow, and will be posting some pics.
BTW, this is over my 90 gallon setup. The main box is made of 1x12 pine. the trim pieces along the edges are 1x4 routed with a round over bit and then mitered on the corners. They extend 1/2 below the bottom opening of the canopy edge. (this way it fits on top of the tank and around the top so it cant slide off) The top trim is the same as the bottom, but flush with the top. Be careful to use the router on your trim pieces before miter cutting them, or your router cuts will mess up when you get to the mitered edges... This canopy is very light and can be picked up by one person, although it takes two people to set it in place properly due to it's size...
 
L

lockemup

Guest
Here are some pics of this weekends work on the canopy...
The side vents enlarged and an air conditioning vent installed...
 
L

lockemup

Guest
The Ballast for the 36" PCF lights.
Note the new fan and the other side has an air conditioning vent added too!
 
L

lockemup

Guest
The bulbs are 96W Actinic lamps with the original 40W hood lighting down the rear of the canopy...
 
Top