Canopy for a 55gal reef tank

[dilan]

Hello I have been talking to snakeblitz about a aeration problem and he and mentioned a canopy i have gotten my dad to say it is ok to get or make one, but I want to make sure I get a good one or make one. The demensions are W=48 1/4 L= 13 inches. I was wondering what it does for a tank and other information on it. I am about 13 and want to add coral begining of all sumer. How would you make a canopy too.

 

[snakeblitz33]

If your stand is painted black, it would be easy to build a small black canopy for it. It's a 55g, so the would should be cost efficient, and paint is also pretty cheap.
A canopy is basically a wooden top... it basically consists of five pieces of wood and an optional back and two hinges. There are numerous ways you can build a canopy, so look for some designs on the internet and pick one that would be easy for you to assemble yourself.
Removing your glass tops will greatly help your pH problems - and by adding a canopy, you will ensure that your fish don't jump out as easily and that the light from your unit doesn't shine in your eyes while your looking at the tank.
HOWEVER, if your only goal is to increase gas exchange and increase your pH, I feel like you could go ahead and remove your glass tops and keep the light you have over it. If you are really concerned about your fish jumping, you can buy a piece of what they call egg crate - it's the grate type of thing that they use on flourescent light fixtures... and you can cut it to fit the top of your tank. It usually comes in white, but you can spray paint it with black krylon paint. That would be a simple $13 fix instead of building a full canopy for your tank.

 

[dilan]

thanks for the quick reply i have it in black doyou think 2 firefish will jump out. Finnally got my dad to say yes to the Canopy. I told him this could be our summer project and he said ok

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dilan http:///t/395545/canopy-for-a-55gal-reef-tank#post_3521809
thanks for the quick reply i have it in black doyou think 2 firefish will jump out. Finnally got my dad to say yes to the Canopy. I told him this could be our summer project and he said ok
Hi,
I'm afraid firefish are jumpers, and egg crate won't stop them...I think sometimes they aim to go through the little square openings. Sadly I'm afraid a canopy won't stop them either.
I always had a canopy on my tanks, and I have lost about 3 firefish, and one $80.00 purple tile fish over the years...The tile fish I had 1 day in the display after quarantine. I had quit even trying to keep them. Then I wanted a Fairy wrasse (even worse reputation for jumping). Go to eBay, and look for cloth nylon mesh material. They have all kinds of colors (I used the white) you get some elastic banding from Walmart and sew the mesh to fit your tank. That will allow plenty of gas exchange, and not filter your lighting too much. It's soft and the fish won't be able to jump out, or get hurt hitting something hard should they try and take the leap.
You can still do the canopy, because it just gives the tank a nice finished look... I used my mesh on the top of the canopy, after I removed the hinged top, and made a little curtain on it to hang down to protect the open back. I can give step by step instructions on how I did mine if you want to try to do things that way.

 

[dilan]

That could be useful thanks