Next I started working on the Canopy..
First I made the frame for the canopy out of 1x2s using pocket holes again. After I made the frame I put it on top of the tank to make sure that everything fits the way I want it to.
The canopy will extend out a little bit from the sides like the stand does. 3/4" will rest on the two sides of the tank.
The side panels are birch stained the same as the stand. Here are the panels after they have been cut, veneered, stained and 3 coats of polyacrylic.
I wanted to make the support frame for the VHO and MH out of aluminum, so I bought all the pieces at the local Home Depot and started measuring and cutting. I used my router table with an attachment for my use my jig
saw. So I was able to cut all the pieces pretty easily.
Using the fence with a good stop allowed me to get nice uniform cuts.
I decided to make two light racks. One for the MH, the other for the VHO. I also wanted to be able to remove the light racks from the canopy if needed. So I had come up with a way to have them slide in and out. I know a lot of people use door slides for the light racks. I thought that over time they might start to rust. So I wanted to use something that was simple and easy to use and easy replace if I needed to.
I decided to use T-Track. T-Track is used in woodworking to align tools and jigs so they and easily slide as well as lock them down to prevent movement.
So here is the t-track installed on the side panels for the VHO lighting.
Here is the VHO light rack in the t-track. Works pretty good. I can move the lights back and forth and lock them any place in between. There are stainless steel bolts that, using wingnuts, fit into the track. opening the wingnut loosen rack so it can move, tightening the wingnut keeps the light rack for moving at all.
Here everything placed in the canopy with the light rack for the MH, before the top track is installed.
Here is the MH light rack with the reflectors removed so I could attach the rack to the t-track. I also have small stop block that sits at the end of the track to prevent the light racks from going too far back in the track. The MH will be set up so the the MH bulb is about 8" form the top of the tank, about 10" from the water.
Another shot of the side and top tracks.
Finally took everything out, caulked the inside seems, and painted the inside of the canopy white.