125g, 6 foot aquarium Canopy

[Ryan Friman]

Hello all,

Previously, my dad and I built a DIY light stand to hang three LED light fixtures. Well, now we need to build a canopy around it. It is about 27 inches high. Also, I currently have a HOB filter and HOB skimmer. Has anyone built a tall canopy that could show them? We are looking for some ideas instead of trying to build something on our own with no other options.

 

[JoshH]

While I don't have a tall canopy they are easy enough to make, ripping plywood in half to just shy of 24" making a box with cutouts to go around your skimmer and other HOB filters. Then two front openings cutout for access doors. You could add a center brace along the top to hang your lights from if you wanted.

 

[Ryan Friman]

We will be doing something similar to that. I was just hoping to get some inspiration but, I think we will come up with something that will work.

 

[Citycop89]

Thought about making a canopy that hangs from the ceiling? Like the BRS160? Then you could add some shape and style to the canopy and make it a really nice addition. Then to run the light cords down the wall, you can get one of those plastic pieces that sticks to the wall and paint match it.

 

[Ryan Friman]

Too intrusive. We are renting currently. I think we will come up with something that works. So, I will post once it is done in this thread for anyone who is curious.

 

[Ryan Friman]

And so it begins....

 

[Ryan Friman]

First picture is the front board and the back board. Made the back board shorter to allow for my current HOB filter and HOB skimmer.

Second picture are of the side pannels.

 

[Ryan Friman]

upside down

 

[Ryan Friman]

We are going to leave the top open. It is sitting on top of another piece of plywood. What do you guys think of an open top? I was saying I could always just put fabric over the top of I wanted. I figured it would provide some air flow with no top.

 

[Ryan Friman]

Next up, putting trim on the underside of the tank. Then anchoring the top to the frame of the part that is holding the lights.

 

[Citycop89]

Don’t see an issue with the open top. Have a good enough frame inside so the canopy can’t flex and break at the joints.

 

[Ryan Friman]

Not bad for a days work.

We put a brace on the front bottom lip. It is just a 1x4 screwed to the frame that was already resting on the top of the aquarium. Then, three screws from the front into that. There are three screws that are visible.

 

[Citycop89]

Do you plan to paint or stain? It may be a little backwards, but pre-drill so the screw heads sink in and use some filler to give it a clean finish.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Do you plan to paint or stain? It may be a little backwards, but pre-drill so the screw heads sink in and use some filler to give it a clean finish.

You can countersink screws in plywood pretty easily without having to predrill

 

[Ryan Friman]

Yep, we pre drilled and over drilled to make sure nothing would pull. We are going to paint over the holes, we are not to worried about it.