Mouting T5 retro into canopy

[B33FST3W]

Yesterday I picked up the canopy for my 72 bow front and I am wondering what the best way to mount lights in it is. I am looking at it and it seems that if I mount the lights, the tank will be completely in accessible from the top without removing the whole canopy. So I was wondering if you guys had any ideas or any pics of your setups.


Thanks,

Stew

[qfrisco]

How is the canopy configured? Does it have a hinged top? Or doors that swing out up front?

My canopy has a hinged top and I installed my retrofit kit on the underside of the hinged top. It works well, except for when I need to work in the tank, but only because with the hinged top open, my lights point mostly forward instead of down into the tank, but I still get plenty of light.

Give us a description of the canopy (picture, if possible) and we'll be able to give you more specific help.

[will16]

well... I made my canopy so was able to do it the way I wanted. Might be hard to modify a prebuilt one. I basically mounted the lights on a shelf and have that mounted in the canopy on sliders. That way, I can slide the lights back out of the way for tank access.

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/97340510.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/97340516.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/97340524.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/96807715.jpg

Good luck.

[B33FST3W]

Ok, it has 2 hinged tops that are divided straight down the middle, and if I was to mount the lights to the top, they would be too long to let it open. I might be able to add a pic later tonight.

[B33FST3W]

Wow will, that top looks amazing!!! I wish I could build something like that.

[will16]

Thanks. As the previous poster said, post a pic. Would make it easier to figure out what you could do.

[B33FST3W]

Ok, heres pics. As you can see the top is just panels and not attached other than it sits on top. What holds it on the tank are the blocks going up the sides. All of it is flexible plastic, and it has an open back.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/10120800003scaled-med.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/10120800002scaled-med.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/10120800001scaled-med.jpg

[will16]

That's going to be tough to mount something on the inside. Your best bet would be just to get rid of the top covers and have the lights just sit on top. You could probably just mount a premade fixture if you dont want to build something. Matching that front curve will be difficult. You would have to remove the light fixture for access but at least you wouldnt have to remove the entire canopy.

Good luck.

[just dave]

Do you already own the lights? If so you might want to look at Current-USA's docking mounts for the Nova retros. You could possible modify it for your needs or use it as an idea to make something similar.

[B33FST3W]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12577133#post12577133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by just dave
Do you already own the lights? If so you might want to look at Current-USA's docking mounts for the Nova retros. You could possible modify it for your needs or use it as an idea to make something similar. Yeah I already have the lights, Im using the 24" T5 retro that I have from my last tank to light it as FOWLR until the tank matures enough to host SPS then I am going to upgrade.

I wish I could find a different canopy but this is the only one I could find, as all the LFSs I called said they didn't make them anymore until I found one that still had one in stock.

Anyways, thanks for all the help so far.

[B33FST3W]

Any other ideas ?

[buckeyegirl]

Can you cut the center piece out, and join the two lids together with the piece in the middle, then hinge the whole assembly on the back? I have the same problem with my canopy, which is currently sitting in the basement while my light sits right on top of the tank, and that is what I was thinking of trying to do. Hey, maybe you could try it first and see if it works :)

[drstupid]

i'd build a new canopy.

[B33FST3W]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12595199#post12595199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drstupid
i'd build a new canopy. I wish I could, but I have neither the tools nor woodworking experience to build one, especially one for a bow front tank.