DIY Canopy Light Hood
DIY Canopy Light Hood.
The main display tank 120 gallon all glass aquarium
with black trim. Sits on an oak colored all glass solid pine
stand. A matching canopy was built and new bottom facing below
the tank was added.
The picture on left above is a stock photo of an AGA stand, canopy, and tank with
oak pine trim. The second picture is my actual tank and stand before
construction of the canopy. Notice that the black tank trim does not match
stand as in stock photo and there is no canopy on top.
Canopy was constructed from 6" x 1" select pine
boards, 6" Tung and grove , and 3" x 1" inch pine boards.
All corners were 45 degree miter cuts. Each 6" x 1" board was
first routed with a round over bit on one side and grove bit on
the other.
The top of the stand was boxed in with new 6" x
1" boards to cover both the stand and black trim on the tank.
These will then match the new canopy construction. Corner
molding was also added to cover the tank seems.
All wood was stained with a mixture of minwax
natural and golden oak stain to match existing wood in the room
and stand as closely as possible.
Finish is hand rubbed teak oil.
The lighting is provided by two Coralvue 250W DE
14k metal halide bulbs, Sun replication pendants and electronic
ballasts. The metal halide are supplemented a Current dual
96 watt retrofit ballast with two 96w actinic bulbs.
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Bottom of canopy being glued.
6 x 1 inch routed boards are glued together. Round over edge faces down towards tank. |
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45 degree mitered corners.
A square is used to verify angle before glue and nailing. 3 x1 inch frame will rest on top of tank.
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3 x 1 frame and support bracket.
Frame hieght is adjusted so that tank trim will be covered when installed. Galvinized brackets were added for additional support. |
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Retrofit facing on stand.
Matching 6 x 1 facing is nailed and glued to existing stand Round over side up. This covers tank trim and top of stand. |
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Side view of facing on stand.
Routed and mitered facing gives a finished look to the stand top. Corner molding was also added to cover the glass tank edges and hide seem. |
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Asembled Canopy
Top of canopy has a matching frame as the bottom and is hinged at rear to sides. Brass lid brackets were used to hold up canopy. Sides match bottom of stand tung and grove. |
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Teak oil finish
Picture after first coat of teak oil finish. Also shows hinges on two front doors. Hinges match those of existing stand. |
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Front doors open.
Picture of canopy on tank with front access doors open. Provides access for feeding. |
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Doors and top open.
Front doors are open and top raised. Provides access for cleaning glass and other maintance. Lights will also be raised when mounted to top of canopy. |
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Front view of stand and conopy.
Picture was taken right after last cote of teak oil. Canopy apears in picture due to reflection of flash. Actully color is very close to the same as bottom |
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Another front view.
a close up of the canopy from the front |
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Side view of tank
Sides may apear lighter again but are not. Tung and grove matches bottom of stand look exactly. |
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Instaling Pendants.
An aluminum rod runs across the middle of the hood. The two pendants hang from this rod. |
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Ballast are mounted to the back wall.
Varable speed fans blow across the top of the water. |
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Top of canopy and dual 96W ballast.
The canopy top is constructed from scrap plastic sign materal. Two exaust fans are mounted in the top above MH pendants. The power compact ballast is also mounted to the wall. |
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Canopy open with lights on.
The completed canopy with MH and PC retrofit lighting installed. |
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Canopy Plans
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