Building a canopy

[fishfreak1242]

So im startin to plan to build my own canopy right now and I want to know if im doing this right. It will be for my 55 gal which im tryin to convert to a reef. My plan was to have 2 150W 20000k metal halides in the center region of the canopy and then two t-5 actinics in the outer part of the inside. I was also thinking of having the lamps and reflectors in the bottom part of it and then having another small level on top of it with all of the ballast and things. Is this doable? How thick should the wood be? There will be two piano hinges. One on the front so i can do my daily maintance/feeding and one in the middle if i never need to replace the bulbs. How does this layout sound? Any input would be helpful. Thanks

 

[cafero702]

sounds awesome im currently in the process of starting to make my 140g canopy also. not so sure about the light questions i dont have to much experience in all that but the thickness of the wood should be about 1". i just matched up the type of wood my stand is built with (which is pine) and then try and match up the thickness(about an 1") and then match up the the color the stand is stained and stain the canopy the same. Im starting soon i just need to clear out my garage first lol
Good Luck though

sounds like a cool idea/design

 

[oneradtek]

i built my own canopy for my 55 gal. But id re-do somethings if i did though. ill post a picture tomorrow for you of what mine looks like

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2589631
So im startin to plan to build my own canopy right now and I want to know if im doing this right. It will be for my 55 gal which im tryin to convert to a reef. My plan was to have 2 150W 20000k metal halides in the center region of the canopy and then two t-5 actinics in the outer part of the inside. I was also thinking of having the lamps and reflectors in the bottom part of it and then having another small level on top of it with all of the ballast and things. Is this doable? How thick should the wood be? There will be two piano hinges. One on the front so i can do my daily maintance/feeding and one in the middle if i never need to replace the bulbs. How does this layout sound? Any input would be helpful. Thanks
I'd be concerned with the ballasts on a second shelf in the canopy because of the weight issue and because of the enclosure factor. Unless your canopy is HUGE, your trying to pack a number of major heat producing objects into a tight, narrow space. Unless you can open it up and get fans moving the air through it in a major way, you may very well be creating a fire hazard. I personally would consider the ballists on a separate open shelf outside the canopy. Although I'm curious to know what others have done with their ballasts

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2589932
I'd be concerned with the ballasts on a second shelf in the canopy because of the weight issue and because of the enclosure factor. Unless your canopy is HUGE, your trying to pack a number of major heat producing objects into a tight, narrow space. Unless you can open it up and get fans moving the air through it in a major way, you may very well be creating a fire hazard. I personally would consider the ballists on a separate open shelf outside the canopy. Although I'm curious to know what others have done with their ballasts

Ok. Ive never really had any experience with ballasts or metal halides or any of this. this is my first time with lights so i might be asking some noob questions. I guess that from what you said I wont have a secong shelf and just have the reflectors and lamps on one level and just have the ballast on the ground or in my stand or something like that.

 

[devil dog]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2589932
I'd be concerned with the ballasts on a second shelf in the canopy because of the weight issue and because of the enclosure factor. Unless your canopy is HUGE, your trying to pack a number of major heat producing objects into a tight, narrow space. Unless you can open it up and get fans moving the air through it in a major way, you may very well be creating a fire hazard. I personally would consider the ballists on a separate open shelf outside the canopy. Although I'm curious to know what others have done with their ballasts

+ 2 ^
And if you are going to have 20000k MH you will not need any actinics...

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2590035
Ok. Ive never really had any experience with ballasts or metal halides or any of this. this is my first time with lights so i might be asking some noob questions. I guess that from what you said I wont have a secong shelf and just have the reflectors and lamps on one level and just have the ballast on the ground or in my stand or something like that.
Maybe on the ground, be I personally would never put the ballast in the stand ~ especially if you are going to do a sump (sump or skimmer overflows and you've got a major issue). I have mine sitting on a shelf unit over the top of my stand, I'll check and see if I have a picture that shows it ~ if I do, I'll post it later for you. Perhaps if you aren't going to use a sump or fuge it would be ok, but I would still be pretty hesitant ~ I always spill too much water to feel comfortable have a major electrical piece like that sit under a tank.

 

[oneradtek]

wow these are early pics of my tank haha. But i made a canopy work for me, i mounted 2, 4 inch fans, on the back side blowing cool air into my canopy with houses a MH unit and it keeps my tank Lous but at a steady 79-80 degrees. i had it open from the top, which i dont like, id have mine open from the front and make the light sit up high by about 4 inches more. and have more vents in it. but heres some pics, sorry not the best.

the over hangs on the ends are vents and the 2 fans are rigged in the back to blow the cool air right onto my halides. For cleansing and feeding the light needs to be lifted off, hence my reason id change the design so that it opened in the front instead of the top. but im used to it now and its been doing great for me

 

[fishfreak1242]

Thanks for all the help. How thick of wood should I use? I was thinking 2x4s for the frame and then put some nicer ply wood type stuff to put over that.

 

[devil dog]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2590543
Thanks for all the help. How thick of wood should I use? I was thinking 2x4s for the frame and then put some nicer ply wood type stuff to put over that.

No you don't need it to hold the tank just the lights... i would go with 1/2" veered ply wood...
here a pic of the stand and canopy that i made

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog
http:///forum/post/2590581
No you don't need it to hold the tank just the lights... i would go with 1/2" veered ply wood...
here a pic of the stand and canopy that i made
looks nice Devil Dog.
Where did you end up putting your ballasts?

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2590543
Thanks for all the help. How thick of wood should I use? I was thinking 2x4s for the frame and then put some nicer ply wood type stuff to put over that.
Agree with Devil Dog, don't use 2x material on the canopy. Doing so will make it impossible to get into tank without removing the canopy (no way to open lids or lift egg crate). 1/2" or 3/4" material is plenty; then cover with your nicer material. Make sure you put polyuathane or something similar on inside surface, as it will get some spray from the tank ~ and if unfinished will be ruined.
I also have four fans in mine; two mounted in the back wall ~ blowing air through under the light and across the water surface (added after the picture), and two pulling air up and out the top (not visible in the picture).
Here's a picture of mine; you can see ballast sitting in shelf above canopy.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Whoa Devil Dog! Thats a nice tank and stand/canopy! Looks really good. So now the plan is to use 1/2" veered plywood. Should I build a frame for it then put the plywood or just use the plywood and no frame?

 

[fishfreak1242]

Bump

 

[scopus tang]

I would build a frame out of plywood the same dimensions as you tank, then cover that and the plastic strip around the top of the tank with your finish wood, whatever that is.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2591004
I would build a frame out of plywood the same dimensions as you tank, then cover that and the plastic strip around the top of the tank with your finish wood, whatever that is.
Ok i see what you are saying. I should put kinda "shell" of wood that is the bad wood and have it the same size as my tank, then put nicer wood over it. How would I go about painting it when I build it? (type of paint, finishs, etc) I need to get it a nice shiny black color to match my stand.

 

[fishfreak1242]

El Bumpo

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2591044
Ok i see what you are saying. I should put kinda "shell" of wood that is the bad wood and have it the same size as my tank, then put nicer wood over it. How would I go about painting it when I build it? (type of paint, finishs, etc) I need to get it a nice shiny black color to match my stand.
Correct (but not too bad of wood ~ you want it to last and be straight)

. I'm sorry I really don't know much about paint. I would recommend that you poly the entire inside with multiple coats, as it will water proof it ~ you still have to redo it every so many years. Like I said, I know nothing about paint, but I have heard that you can paint over poly as well ~ if someone verifies that for you, I would consider polyuerathaning the entire thing, then painting the outside (but like I said, don't know that you can do that for sure

).

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2591376
Correct (but not too bad of wood ~ you want it to last and be straight)

. I'm sorry I really don't know much about paint. I would recommend that you poly the entire inside with multiple coats, as it will water proof it ~ you still have to redo it every so many years. Like I said, I know nothing about paint, but I have heard that you can paint over poly as well ~ if someone verifies that for you, I would consider polyuerathaning the entire thing, then painting the outside (but like I said, don't know that you can do that for sure

).
Thanks for trying. That kinda gives me an idea of what to do. Im gonna start the build as soon as I buy the lights.