Acrylic Canopy Build

[qn5reef]

Anyone out there with acrylic canopy?
I'm thinking about building one to house 6 24Wtt T5 Retro.

[MSU Fan]

The problem you're going to have is that T5s get HOT. There is either going to have to be some serious airflow or some pretty good buffer distance between the acrylic and the bulbs. Probably both.

Although this sounds pretty cool, I don't really see the point. I tend to think the canopy is there to hide the light from spilling into the rest of the room. Black acrylic maybe?

[qn5reef]

Ya, I was thinking about using some black acrylic.
Also, I will be putting 2 computer fans.

[troylee]

i have seen them but i would'nt recommend it because of the heat and mositure will warp it pretty bad.......also you would be creating a potential fire hazzard but i guess wood is no better lol.....but watch out for the warpage........now if you want to build a wooden one and overlay it with acrylic i would say go for it...:)

[qn5reef]

hmmm. I didn't even think about the moisture warpage. maybe I should think this over. Thanks!!!!!!!

[buy_baff]

Moisture warpage? How will water warp acrylic? If water warped acrylic I don't think acrylic would be used to make fish tanks, would it. That said I think the heat from the lights would totaly warp it.

[qn5reef]

damn... I meant heat....it's been a long day.

[disaster999]

i would think if braced properly and have strong bonds between seams, acrylic would not bend that easily.this idea would probably be plausible for smaller tanks.

[Acrylics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14960572#post14960572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buy_baff
Moisture warpage? How will water warp acrylic? If water warped acrylic I don't think acrylic would be used to make fish tanks, would it. That said I think the heat from the lights would totaly warp it. Acrylic is indeed hygroscopic. Water and water vapor will warp acrylic. If there is more water vapor on one side of the acrylic than the other, the wet side will grow and "cup". This is very common in acrylic covers for tanks.

I've made canopies from acrylic, they must be braced well but are quite workable.
FWIW, not at all cheap as compared to wood

HTH,
James

[qn5reef]

thanks everyone. I think I will go with wood.

[seth&angelle]

I have a 34 solana with a custom built black acrylic canopy. I've had it for over a year now with a 400 watt MH pendant in it. I love it!!! It looks so good. I have two fans in the back and the top is open. I have no chiller and I have zero problems. I'd say go with it! If you want me to take a picture of the inside, let me know.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/angelle3x/reef%20tank/DSC04570.jpg

[qn5reef]

wow, yea please take more photos. did you use weld-on the put the canopy togeather? my canopy will be hanging from ceiling or hanging kit. It will go over Oceanic 33 cube.

[seth&angelle]

Yes, weld on. An acrylic professional did it for me. I'll try and get them on tonight.

[jh2pizza]

We used ABS on ours. Its easy to work with and cheap.

[jh2pizza]

We used ABS on ours. Its easy to work with and cheap.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1631274

[qn5reef]

wow that's nice. Do you have build thread?

[jh2pizza]

No, but I have to take it down this weekend (I wired a workhorse 7 to fire one bulb, oops, too much) and I will take pics of how it is built. I did not build it. A friend of mine did. I am not that good. He should have charged me for helping.

[scbadiver]

I built mine as a "hybrid" acrylic I guess you'd call it. The entire inside is all 1/8 and 1/4 inch plastic with wood overlays. I have 3 250W MH and 4 46.5 inch VHO actinics in it. I have had no problems with warpage in the wood or plastic yet. Its been up 4-5 years now. The inside is VERY easy to clean and the wood has stayed stable. All the miters and trim look like the day I put it on. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Everry other hood I've built was really showing it's age in this length of time.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11194hood_constructn.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11194new_hood.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11194new_allitup.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11194new_hood_top.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11194new_tank_in_green.jpg

[jh2pizza]

Very nice job, Robbie. Looks great!