Bandit13
Well-Known Member
The plan I'm more or less following is the first example on this helpful website http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/building-aquarium-canopy/. Plan on using four pieces of 3"x4" pieces of 3/4" plywood for the "stilts" that will sit on the tank frame. These will be on the inside of the side and back panels and will be there instead of the frame as shown in the link . Also have to account for my HOB skimmer with a cutout from a side panel. My LED lights are par38 bulbs so the canopy will be taller than the examples in the link.
Initially I was planning on using old barn boards that I saw being stored in my grandmothers garage for the canopy. However once I got them down from the rafters and measured them, one board was 3/4 wider than the other.
The barn boards
This would be to much of a headache to deal with for my wood working skills so it was off to Home Depot.
Ended up getting a sheet of 3/4inch plywood and had it cut at the depot to four 16" sections. This will be the height of each panel. Me and my dad cut the length of each panel, as these cuts needed more accuracy than Home Depot could offer. Good thing we did cause the depots 16 inch cuts were all 1/4" short haha. The top section of the canopy was cut into one 8" wide panel and one 11 3/4" wide panel. The 8" will form the hinged lid which will be connected to the front panel.
Cut and rough edges sanded
Vents and hardware
Gonna keep chugging away at it and depending on how things go, am hoping to be done in the next week or two. Planning on staining it with a couple coats of this two in one stain/polyurethane that my dad has kicking around.
Will post updates as I progress.
Initially I was planning on using old barn boards that I saw being stored in my grandmothers garage for the canopy. However once I got them down from the rafters and measured them, one board was 3/4 wider than the other.
The barn boards
This would be to much of a headache to deal with for my wood working skills so it was off to Home Depot.
Ended up getting a sheet of 3/4inch plywood and had it cut at the depot to four 16" sections. This will be the height of each panel. Me and my dad cut the length of each panel, as these cuts needed more accuracy than Home Depot could offer. Good thing we did cause the depots 16 inch cuts were all 1/4" short haha. The top section of the canopy was cut into one 8" wide panel and one 11 3/4" wide panel. The 8" will form the hinged lid which will be connected to the front panel.
Cut and rough edges sanded
Vents and hardware
Gonna keep chugging away at it and depending on how things go, am hoping to be done in the next week or two. Planning on staining it with a couple coats of this two in one stain/polyurethane that my dad has kicking around.
Will post updates as I progress.
