Finally Upgrading: 600gl Plywood build

[Muni]

For your hood/lid problem I have a suggestion.

You can easily cut 2 large pieces of plexi to cover your two top openings.

Some cheep hinges in the back to match your carry handles should complete the look easily. I would also consider a small latch or piece of Velcro on the front edge to help keep in down in case your Arowana decides to jump as I hear they are famous for.

You can then take advantage of your tank being wood in the back and attach some piece of 1" x 2" vertically that is tall enough to support a hanging light fixture over each of the openings. Although clearance from the plexi lid may be an issue. I'm sure you can figure something out easily.

Or the lights could be mounted to the garage wall easily if you can find the studs.

The thin plexi top (1/8"?) would keep the heat and fish in. Some cold out and wouldn't add any undue height to your monster tank.

Hope that all makes sense.

 

[kallmond]

it should reach -40 in the next couple months.

Dude.. Humans were not intended to live anyplace that gets -40. I complain about Pennsylvania winters when it gets down to +10 (F) Any time its so cold there is no difference between (C) and (F) is a sign that you should move south.

Any time you can measure the temperature in Kelvin.. Thats a sign.

 

[greengiant]

the great thing about living where its cold part of the year is there are less people cause they can't handle it at -30 Just my opinion but... besides it makes us MFKers more unique cause it's more work to have a monster in such an un-natural place.

 

[cvermeulen]

The tank looks cool.

Too bad you're giving up on a hood if you want one. What if you used something super light as just a hood skirt, with the lights suspended in the middle? I'm thinking of something like that light weight corrugated plastic like they use for those USMail tubs? Its sturdy, rigid and super light weight and moisture resistant.

Thanks for the ideas, but it's not that i'm giving up on a hood - I dont' really want one. Instead I'm making something more like lids, and I'll either hang the lights from the ceiling or just sit them on the lids. I built a hood for my 50 and 120gl tanks and they look nice, but they are just so cumbersome if you need to remove them for anything. The tank is also already massive, so adding a hood on top would make it dominate the space even more. I think it will look good with what I have in mind. You'll see

 

[cvermeulen]

For your hood/lid problem I have a suggestion.

You can easily cut 2 large pieces of plexi to cover your two top openings..

Well the problem with this is that acrylic lids will sag. I have considered greenhouse roofing as an alternative though, it's 1" thick, multilayered lightweight polycarbonate honeycomb that won't sag, and is relatively inexpensive.

I might have to make a sketch for all to see what I have in mind. It's difficult to describe, but it makes sense in my head

 

[cvermeulen]

Dude.. Humans were not intended to live anyplace that gets -40. I complain about Pennsylvania winters when it gets down to +10 (F) Any time its so cold there is no difference between (C) and (F) is a sign that you should move south.

Any time you can measure the temperature in Kelvin.. Thats a sign.

That's why they pay people twice as much money here as they do in more temperate places like Vancouver!

Besides, it puts one in a unique position when having visitors to say "Oh come on you nancy, it's not THAT bad!"

 

[Muni]

How large are your two top openings?

You could probaly do it with 1/8" plexi if you make a bracing for it from more 1/8" plexi.

Hopefully this works.
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Say 1" wide strips glued in a brace pattern across the top of it. Wouldn't weigh more then a few pounds. Could also go a tad bit thicker.

 

[kallmond]

If there was one line that perfectly illustrated your mental situation, its this one:

more temperate places like Vancouver!

Clearly all that cold air has effected your brain. temperate = 2000 miles south of Vancouver.

 

[Muni]

Damn it took out all the spaces. But you get the idea i hope.


P.S. wheres the damn edit button on this forum. I don't see one.

 

[cvermeulen]

How large are your two top openings?

You could probaly do it with 1/8" plexi if you make a bracing for it from more 1/8" plexi.

Hopefully this works.
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Say 1" wide strips glued in a brace pattern across the top of it. Wouldn't weigh more then a few pounds. Could also go a tad bit thicker.

Oh man, by the time I had something like that actually constructed it would be hideous, and take a lot of time. I can get this stuff:

http://www.advancegreenhouses.com/16mm.jpg

for about the same price as I can get thin acrylic, and it won't bow, or crack, and it's lighter even than 1/8 acrylic. And I don't have to do anything to it

As a side note the problem with acrylic lids is not the structural strength, it's the water absorption of the acrylic on one side causing it to warp. Reinforcement helps, but often just makes it warp in weirder ways, particularly in something as thin as 1/8. I have a 1/2" acrylic cover over part of my temporary tub, and it has bowed significantly since I've been using it, even though it's set into a wooden frame.