Show my your canopy designs and ideas.

[OutColdCRNA]

My interest was to make it as light as I could. Typical canopies were made of 2x2 frames, but to lighten things up I made L-braces made by ripping inexpensive fir strips and then gluing and screwing, making the L.

This provides strength with minimal weight. These were used on the top front and back of the canopy, which was skinned with 1/4 inch plywood. Here it is upside down without the door.

Door was very simply made with 1/4 plywood with framing on the outside to stiffen it up. Here it is with the canopy open:

And here it is with the canopy door closed:

Did you use 1/2 ply for the sides and the back?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Did you use 1/2 ply for the sides and the back?

1/4 inch front, back and sides....top is left open.

 

[Dburr1014]

Initially I was thinking of having the whole front hinge up for access. But I’m leaning more toward having doors. I’m concerned about light bleed through the door cracks.

Do both, Easy doors for feeding but a hinge to get it all out of the way for access.

 

[RocketEngineer]

During the install (please excuse the container, it was full of rubble)

My first hood had a removable front panel so when I upgraded I made two. The block on the backside sits on the bottom frame of the hood itself, then the panel is held upright with marine cabinet magnets. They are fully encapsulated so no rusting magnets. It was very easy to remove and replace one or both panels. Plus, as there wasn’t a top frame for the hood, it gave me access straight down once the light box was shoved to the back.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

During the install (please excuse the container, it was full of rubble)

My first hood had a removable front panel so when I upgraded I made two. The block on the backside sits on the bottom frame of the hood itself, then the panel is held upright with marine cabinet magnets. They are fully encapsulated so no rusting magnets. It was very easy to remove and replace one or both panels. Plus, as there wasn’t a top frame for the hood, it gave me access straight down once the light box was shoved to the back.

Thanks for the pictures! I have a sketch drawn up to bring to a builder today but with how you did the magnet frost being completely removable changed my design.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Yeah, I looked at doors but they always seemed to limit access. I have a bad back so crawling into the hood just didn’t work. With that setup, I pulled the panel, pushed the light rack to the back, and could just stand on my stool and look down into the display. Made placing corals a lot easier.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

Yeah, I looked at doors but they always seemed to limit access. I have a bad back so crawling into the hood just didn’t work. With that setup, I pulled the panel, pushed the light rack to the back, and could just stand on my stool and look down into the display. Made placing corals a lot easier.

You remove a panel every time you access to feed the fish?

 

[RocketEngineer]

You remove a panel every time you access to feed the fish?

It was easy enough so I didn’t mind. Mostly I fed frozen into the return pump.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

It was easy enough so I didn’t mind. Mostly I fed frozen into the return pump.

That’s a good idea. I may have the panels made to be removed but also add doors for quick access.