Flower's Canopy Build

flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Seth (Snakeblitz) has been so kind as to help me by building my canopy. Price is not discussed here because we don't want to break any SWF rules. This is my design so far. The back section is a litte confusing to try and explain... 3X30X3.5 Seth will have to explain how he will plan the corners to attach, so I can complete it once I recieve it. I think it will far better during shippment unassembled. As always it has to be really dummied down for me, and made as simple as possible.
So here goes.......I hope Seth can take pictures of the build as he works.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Alright, I looked at all of your dimensions. You drew the canopy and the dimensions that you want for it.
Are the dimensions of the top of the tank 18 1/8th inches by 30 inches? The top of the tank Rim is 1 5/8th inches and you want the canopy to come off the top of the tank by 8 1/2"?
I'm going to draw it in Google sketchup and see if I got it right for you.
I was also thinking that it would be nice instead of having your T5 light legs sit on the sides of the canopy, why don't I make the top of the canopy out of some eggcrate that you can easily remove? That way, fish can't jump out of the top.
When we talked on the phone, you said you didn't want the front of the canopy to open, and that if you needed to get into it, you would just remove the whole top? Is this correct?
I'm sure that with the egg crate top, it shouldn't be that difficult to get into the tank at all anyways.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485017
Alright, I looked at all of your dimensions. You drew the canopy and the dimensions that you want for it.
Are the dimensions of the top of the tank 18 1/8th inches by 30 inches? The top of the tank Rim is 1 5/8th inches and you want the canopy to come off the top of the tank by 8 1/2"?
I'm going to draw it in Google sketchup and see if I got it right for you.
I was also thinking that it would be nice instead of having your T5 light legs sit on the sides of the canopy, why don't I make the top of the canopy out of some eggcrate that you can easily remove? That way, fish can't jump out of the top.
When we talked on the phone, you said you didn't want the front of the canopy to open, and that if you needed to get into it, you would just remove the whole top? Is this correct?
I'm sure that with the egg crate top, it shouldn't be that difficult to get into the tank at all anyways.
Thanks Seth,
The dimensions are correct.
I'm glad you mentioned the eggcrate....I plan to make a mesh top like I made for my 90g...I have had firefish leap thru the egg crate, and that's the very fish what I want to add to the tank. So I need a little groove cut, or a small lip around the top to hold the mesh's elastic in place. The 90g had a groove about a two inches from the very top.
Here it shows the groove a little, the elastic holds at the corners and kind of lifts right in the middle off the groove...I'm not the best at sewing and the mesh seemed to get to tight in the center (not on purpose)...but it holds...


I have legs on the light right now, the plan is to hang my lights. I hate those plastic legs, they are so flimsy and made of plastic.
LOL...I will have to remove the canopy to work on the tank because I have to use a step ladder anyway. It's a column tank. I'm afraid it's one of the reasons I haven't harvested the macros since I got home from the hospital. I have the water made up for a WC...I feel like I'm just being lazy, until I get up to try and do anything.
A simple canopy is all I need. I don't want you to take up too much of your time on it. It sure will make the tank look allot better. Thank you again for doing this.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Alright! So, I have a couple of designs for you to look at. I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about with the grooves, but I included what I thought might be good in the first design.
Design 1:

As you can see, there is a small grove cut out... about 1/4" of a lip around the entire top of the canopy. This would give you some room to set down your plastic window mesh if you measure it out right. It would also be good enough for egg crate if you did end up using it.
Of course - when I build the canopy, I will give a lot more detail then what I have done here.
If you plan to hang your lights, I can make the outside top edge of the canopy rounded. If you need that straight edge, I can keep it the same though.
So, I have the back piece of wood going down and across. The next design is in a different position.
Design 2:

Of course, I can cut a groove around the top of it, or I can add a strip of wood for the groove. Let me know if it's design 1 or design 2 that you want the style to be.
If you could, please post a picture of your stand in the thread so that I can have a reference for the style. I would like to match it as close as possible.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I'm following this. I always love seeing members do stuff for each other, paid or not. Plus I know these two, lol.
Shipping, assembled or not, is gonna be up in price though.
OH, and for a laugh: I'm looking at this late at night so I'm not thinking very clear... so I looked at the most recently updated threads and instead of seeing "Flower's CANOPY Build", I thought I saw "Flowers CRAPPY build"... and I know that flower's not the one to name a thread that... LOL... so I shook my head and re-read it.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485860
I'm following this. I always love seeing members do stuff for each other, paid or not. Plus I know these two, lol.
Shipping, assembled or not, is gonna be up in price though.
OH, and for a laugh: I'm looking at this late at night so I'm not thinking very clear... so I looked at the most recently updated threads and instead of seeing "Flower's CANOPY Build", I thought I saw "Flowers CRAPPY build"... and I know that flower's not the one to name a thread that... LOL... so I shook my head and re-read it.
LOL..Seth, I got your e-mail. I'm going to look at your designs here in a second...I had to laugh at what Traveler wrote.
Traveler...LOL...if I were building something it would indeed be named...Flower's CRAPPY build. I tried to build a background once..OMG what a mess I made of it. I tried making it out of syrofoam to not be so heavy and easier to work with...I learned my lesson.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485849
Alright! So, I have a couple of designs for you to look at. I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about with the grooves, but I included what I thought might be good in the first design.
Design 1:

As you can see, there is a small grove cut out... about 1/4" of a lip around the entire top of the canopy. This would give you some room to set down your plastic window mesh if you measure it out right. It would also be good enough for egg crate if you did end up using it.
Of course - when I build the canopy, I will give a lot more detail then what I have done here.
If you plan to hang your lights, I can make the outside top edge of the canopy rounded. If you need that straight edge, I can keep it the same though.
So, I have the back piece of wood going down and across. The next design is in a different position.
Hi Seth,
Since I never know what the future holds when it comes to lights, and I expect this canopy to last the lifespan of the tank...leave a flat edge. The back is exactly what I wanted.
I also was looking at the inside...on the 90g there is only a rise on the corners to hold the canopy on the rim of the tank, not all the way around inside. I know you will make a better canopy and the 90g one is as cheap as they can make them....but it also makes the canopy lighter because it doesn't have as much wood, and this canopy your making must be removed by me to do anything on the tank.
So is that an extra piece of wood all the way around? If it is, do the cheaper method and just put rests on the inside corners. The groove needs to be on the outside of the canopy...it looks like it's on the inside on your design.
The groove is a design on the 90g that I utilized for my own needs...it is a groove about as wide as an eyebrow pencil (LOL, ask your wife) I need it a little thinner than a pencil. The old time school desks used to have them cut into the desks to hold our pencils in school because the desks were angled...(LOL, ask your dad) It is about the depth of 1/8th of an inch.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Hi Flower,
Thanks for letting me know where the back board goes. I will build it with the lip/groove around the top, but I would like it if you could take a little better picture of the top of your 90g so that I can get a better idea of what you are talking about.
As soon as I can get a better idea of the lip, I will buy materials today and start working on it this week.
Ok, this is a really rough... I mean REALLY rough sketchup of the lip of the top of the canopy. I didn't bother with details or anything. ... Just look at the lip. You said you want a pencil to fit in it perfectly... and I can make that happen. I just need to know how you want the groove cut.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
That design is way off...
Here are some pictures to help you understand what I need. Look at the inside blocks to see how the canopy rests on the rim of the tank...long ago (I have had this canopy for 8 years now) I raised the top to be able to fit fans in there...I use T5HO lights now instead MHs and I run a chiller so the corner fans were removed, but the blocks are still raised and pieced in there. I'm just explaining why it looks so rough in there, LOL and why I need someone to build something for me.

The groove as I intend to use it

This is the thin pencil groove as it appears all around the outside of the canopy

Blocks of wood are placed in the corners and on the front of the canopy inside. The extra pieces on the bottom
of the blocks were put on there by me to raise it for fans, so ignore them please.

The very corner..it has 4 staples holding it in place...There are five of them, one in each corner, and one in the center of the front
as the picture above shows.

Hope that helps you understand better...Thanks.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Ok, I know what to do now. Thanks for the better pictures. That really helps me out a lot.
I'll go buy materials this afternoon and get started on it as soon as I can. Thanks again.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485933
You probably stated this earlier, but why is Seth building a canopy for you? And for what tank ?
I wanted a canopy for my 56g tall tank. It is a strange size I guess and I couldn't find one online or at any store. I was going to have a handyman make me one. Seth stepped up and offered. We arranged anything concerning money off the site so we didn't break any rules.
I like the look of a canopy, it makes the SW tank look finished. A freshwater tank has those glass hinged hoods or a plastic one with lights built in...SW tanks need the top open for gas exchange and since they are so beautiful they earn a furniture look. When I purchased my 56g, I figured since it came with a stand that I could go back and get the canopy to match it anytime. The fellow at the LFS shook his head yes when I mentioned that....well he was not correct, go figure.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
So, i went and bought materials! Everything is looking good. I went with a high quality pine so you wouldnt see any knots or bad spots. Tomorrow is Sunday, so ill get started on it monday!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485939
I wanted a canopy for my 56g tall tank. It is a strange size I guess and I couldn't find one online or at any store. I was going to have a handyman make me one. Seth stepped up and offered. We arranged anything concerning money off the site so we didn't break any rules.
I like the look of a canopy, it makes the SW tank look finished. A freshwater tank has those glass hinged hoods or a plastic one with lights built in...SW tanks need the top open for gas exchange and since they are so beautiful they earn a furniture look. When I purchased my 56g, I figured since it came with a stand that I could go back and get the canopy to match it anytime. The fellow at the LFS shook his head yes when I mentioned that....well he was not correct, go figure.
That's very cool, both D & S!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392458/flowers-canopy-build#post_3485961
So, i went and bought materials! Everything is looking good. I went with a high quality pine so you wouldnt see any knots or bad spots. Tomorrow is Sunday, so ill get started on it monday!
Great, don't forget pictures...it is a BUILD thread...LOL No knots...The stand should be so nice, it has all kinds of knots in the wood.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Lol. I dont think a picture of a board and some screws and what-nots would be exciting enough for a picture. Lol. Ill take plenty of pictures on Monday.
 
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