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DIY Canopy In Progress

JHOV2324

JHOV2324

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Location
Brooklyn, New York
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So I finally decide to start on my canopy, I don’t really have experience with woodwork or have the greatest tools but I made due with what I had my design is pretty simple..:) I’m not done yet but I will update as the project progresses….

Tank Dimensions: 30 x 12 ?
Canopy Dimensions: 30 ? x 12 ? x 10 ?
Tools:
Saw
Drill/Screwdriver
Ruler
Sandpaper (I used 220 GRIT)

Supplies:
2 Sheets of ?” Plywood
L Shaped Joints-(dont really know the name of them, I thought they were hinges..LOL)
Screws
2 Door Hinges
Rail (For Retro-Fit Kit Lights)
Knob

For Paint:
Polyurathene
Bears Ultra Black Paint
Zizzner Primer- ( There are a couple of different kinds and I hope I got the right one, it said B.I.N. on the can)

I started off by measuring and outlining the shapes of the pieces im going to use for the canopy….
Canopyoutline.jpg


After cutting all the pieces needed I began to use the sandpaper to smooth it out and get those nasty splinter pieces off the wood……

My next step was joining the TOP and SIDES of the canopy with 2 joints on each side....

Then i attached the two pieces of Front/Door together with 3 joints....I drilled a small hole for a knob i'm putting in right in the center....

Next I install the 2 Door Hinges one on each side and connect the Front/Door to the Top of the canopy.....

After that I screwed in the Braces 1 1/4" from the bottom into the Sides of the canopy...this allows the canopy to overlap the tankframe....and stay up of course.

I need to install some fans but i'm not sure if i'm going to install them on the sides of the canopy or on the top pointing down....

My Last step will be to install a rail on the piece of wood for the Retro-Fit Kit i am getting...when you get the rail it will have instructions on how to put it up...its not very hard...i want it on a rail so it can allow me to install new lights easier when the time comes..hope this makes sense...:)

This is what i have for now and I'm starting the paint job this week....I hope i explained it well so far...
DSC01049.jpg

DSC01050.jpg

DSC01052.jpg

DSC01054.jpg

Full Tank Shot
DSC01053.jpg

Oh yeah I'm sure you noticed that small square piece i cut out on the left bottom side of the front...well i crazy glued my thermometer to the tank frame and when i tried to pull it off it didnt want to come out so i just cut a piece of the canopy so it would fit right in...:approve:
 
Last edited:
KathyC

KathyC

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Location
Barnum Island
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Nice job Jhov!! :)
Keep those pic coming!!
You know if you staple the netting to the back of your canopy, you won't have to make the mesh cover...as long as there is no way for your fish to get caught up (literally) in your lighting or fans
 
JHOV2324

JHOV2324

Love da Reef-er
Location
Brooklyn, New York
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No i'm not having Heat issues with tank temperature...but arent i supposed to run fans across the lights to keep them cool...should i have a fan for exhaust or just make a hole on the other side? which is better...?
 
KathyC

KathyC

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Check with others on this but I recall that the fans should blow INTO the canopy as opposed to OUT of the canopy due to them getting salt inside of them if they blow outwards.
With the back of your canopy open the air will swirl around in there and vent itself out the back. You can put them in the side panels.
 
S

steveo32

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For not being good at wood work as you mentioned. Your canopy look good and sturdy. It defiantly compeletes the tank.
 
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