Motorized canopy lift

[lflint]

I finally got around to putting a video of the motorized lift for my 240 gallon reef on YouTube. The tank is a Clarity Plus 8'x2'x2' and the canopy is lifted with four gas shocks (like the lifts for the back end of a minivan or hatchback) and a linear actuator. It lifts 24" straight up and the system is hidden behind the tank and canopy. You can't get any better access to the inside of a tank!

Check out the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUlgd0WGQfU

Enjoy!

[~sp0ok~]

lflint very nice

[Canarygirl]

very nice! I'm jealous :)

[savichus]

Nice!!! Can you provide some explanation of the technical part?

[funman1]

Pretty cool...
That looks like one heck of a way to slowly increase light for sunrise and sunset effect!

Check out the light in tank increase and decrease.

Just have a controller slowly lower the hood over 30 mins in the morning and slowly raise the hood 30 mins at night....

Pretty neato

[orcafood]

could you explain the mechanics behind your design?

[flounderfish]

Very Cool

[chieuxuan]

i want one

[Crozure]

I've seen one in person. They used a garage door opener. Looked awsome

[catman78]

lflint

I did the same thing for my 120 hood.
Used linear actuator for TV. I think mine is a 150lb unit.
Also used four, heavy duty draw slides for support.
I bolted the slides to 2 inch angle iron, then bothed them to the rear the cabinet.

Works great. Actuator is a little loud for my taste, however it's nice to have total access to tank. Mine raises around 15 inches off tank. Plenty of room for me to get in there and work.

Actuator is powered by a PYLE 5 Amp unit.

Good luck with it.

[savichus]

Nice description, Catman! Thanks a lot. Could you by any chance share some pictures or drawings? I'm in the process of setting up my 150 gal. and right now working on the stand design. Thanks in advance. Wasn't really going to hijack Iflint's thread, but he isn't responding anyway.

[lflint]

You can read more information on my tank and lift at:

*******.com/canopylift

[savichus]

Thanks, Iflint! I like your setup! Cool looking aquascape. Finally I got an idea how to build a canopy lift. The only one question that I'd like to ask you is about your OM 8-way. If you would do it again, would you rather put it into your stand and ran only one pipe from the basement and rest of them from underneath of the tank, or you would plumb it the exactly the same way once again? Thanks for the info. ;)

[4jlong]

lflint .....THAT IS AWESOME!! I want to do something like that to get my canopy up and out of the way. That is insperational!

[lflint]

I'd still keep the OM 8 way in the basement plumbed directly to the pump outlet with a union valve in between. The pump is mounted about 4' from the basement floor so the water head pressure isn't too great. I wanted to put the pump and 8 way under the stand but it's just too tall when it's all assembled with a union valve. Even the 8 way is pretty cumbersome with all of those pipes running from it. The Reeflo Dart and OM are incredibly silent.

[savichus]

Thanks a lot for the info. Great job!

[8BALL_99]

Looks good. Both my displays have lifts on their canopies as well. It does spoil you.