Floating canopies?

[Oshanickreef]

I just installed a new 4 foot aquatic life T-5/LED fixture and am currently brainstorming how I’m going to build the canopy. I have my tank along a wall and currently the fixture hangs from the ceiling.

I am contemplating building a canopy that floats off of the wall but am curious how one would do this? If anyone has please, any tips are greatly appreciated!

Here is my tank with the new fixture.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Mines kind of a floater on my 180. Check out post 12 in my build and there's pictures. Basically tied it into the studs of the wall and used as piece of threaded rod to tie into a joist on the free corner (probably wasn't necessary, but it's a long heavy canopy and I lean on it when I'm working in the tank) I'd be happy to help with design ideas if you know kind of what you want.

 

[Mpierce]

I built a shelf and hung mine from that. Amazon has cables for hanging billboard art that work well.

 

[jd371]

I have the same fixture and built one last month.

I put a power strip inside so all the wires for the lighting are enclosed and
none are hanging off the back except the single cord for the power strip.

 

[SallyWho]

This guy just posted a thread on his genius wall-mounted canopy. He used flatscreen TV mounts so he can actually move the canopy around to access the tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-custom-diy-wall-mount-hood.465624/

 

[Oshanickreef]

In the works

 

[cjd]

 

[kswan]

I'm curious why you want to add a canopy? I also just added the aquatic life T5 fixture and like that I can easily raise and lower to work on the tank. It looks nice with the decorative end caps. Is it just aesthetics or a functional benefit?

 

[Oshanickreef]

I'm curious why you want to add a canopy? I also just added the aquatic life T5 fixture and like that I can easily raise and lower to work on the tank. It looks nice with the decorative end caps. Is it just aesthetics or a functional benefit?

Because he fixture hangs 11 inches above the tank and blinds the f*** out of me

 

[Oshanickreef]

I'm curious why you want to add a canopy? I also just added the aquatic life T5 fixture and like that I can easily raise and lower to work on the tank. It looks nice with the decorative end caps. Is it just aesthetics or a functional benefit?

I lowered it to see how I like that. It is nice. But when the fixture is so low the hot spots are much more prominent

 

[kswan]

Because he fixture hangs 11 inches above the tank and blinds the f*** out of me

I'll call that functional .

I have mine at about 8" above the water and it's not too bad but definitely more than just the hydras. I'm also only running 3 hours a day (for now) so I'm not around to notice it much. I'll follow along to see what you come up with.

 

[ReefdUp]

This is an *old* photo, but here's our floating canopy. We tied it into the studs on the wall. We also tied wires into the ceiling studs...just in case. All wires run behind the wall.