Custom DIY tank Canopy - HELP

So I am in the process of building a custom 120L tank (770X340X450). As with all custom tanks, there must be a custom canopy/hood/roof/cover.

I know supawood is the way to go but are there lighter (weight wise) alternatives that I could use and what thickness would be Ideal? I am not familiar with any other woods other than chip board and ply board.

I was planning on painting the outside with matte black and the painting the inside with white silicon so I get it waterproof.

There's also other things like lighting and stuff (2X 20W white CFL and 2 X 14W blue CFL) so it has to be rigid enough to hold at least 2kg and thick enough to drive screws in.

What did you use?

TM

EDIT:

The glass is only going to be 6- 8mm thick

 

i used pine planks, painted it with woodoc marine, that was stained black

 

Cool. Is it possible to get pine sheets?

 

Yep but they are expensive, you could get away with plywood, my marine cabinet is built from that stuff

 

Hmm, plywood sounds good but can I get 12-15mm supawood by any chance?

 

I also used pine planks - made the top of the cabinet almost like a DECK with bigger space between each plank so I could feed the fish BUT still keep the light in
(the lights are mounted under the planks)

Looks like this = http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/s...Angelfish-Congo-Tetra-tank....&highlight=foot

 

Aliminum is cool but expensive. I made my stands from steel how do you guys do it?

 

I like the aluminum corners / beading round all the edges... hides the bad silicone job and algae growing in the silicone

 

I wouldn't use supawood.. it don't like water at all. ANY water that get's into the wood and it just swells like a balloon on steriods. Even Chipboard is more water resistant than supawood.

Marine ply would more than likely be your best option. If you find a timbercity near you, they may be prepared to take some of it and plane it down thinner for you. You do get one that is about 4mm thick... but not structurally great, and has the tendancy to warp under moisture and heat.

 

be prepare to pay thru the nose for marine ply, i used normal ply, you can get it at builders express and they cut to size, i was lucky i got mine for free while i was driving past a furniture manufacturing place they where throwing some away and i asked them for it

 

The whole plan is to do what @Vis did here



3d illustration by @Linga



Now, imagine my 2.5ft (120L) tank in that ....

Don't they use marine ply for boats and hulls?

Hope ply wood does not split on me.

If I had a table saw, I would cut the board up myself but going to get it cut from pennypinchers or builders express.

TM

 

Why did you choose 120L ?

 

Because there's this serving area between the kitchen and the lounge and its only 800mm wide, perfect for this size tank. Had my 2ft tank in the same place but this tank is 70L more. It's the only available/visible space I have to put a show tank for now.

I think I am happy with the size, especially the height of the tank.

Odd dimensions . . . that's what makes it "Custom"

TM

 

TM if you are not going to put it on a black service like mine you need to make the bottom part taller.
Building one like it next week for my other Nano will show you then.

 

Hi @Vis

Don't really understand what you mean?

I sketched the tank with the cabinet at a 100:1 ratio and the bottom looks well balanced.

The surface is light stained beech wood so its brown. Making the bottom part 40-50mm high, depending on the thickness of the wood.

I estimate around R350 for making it out of supawood . . . ply board may be cheaper.

I was just going to use normal oil paint / spray paint (Car Paint) on the outside. Not going as far as to buy special pond paint.

The part that you have white on yours will also be white on mine but painting it with white marine silicon so vapour does not kill the wood.

TM

 

hey TM- Just remember supawood needs to be sealed very well cos it will swell when wet. Ply/ Pine will be a little more forgiving in this respect. marine ply is extremly expensive. you can use shutter ply 16 or 18 mm and then just use a marine sealer on that. also if you go with supawood it will be a solid look to it, with ply you will get a grain look which is excellent if you want that rich wood look. also most stains now can be mixed in with the sealer so can be done as one excercise.

 

I think I have some wall sealer that I can use on the wood but I don't know if the wood will absorb it or not. I can always use car paint on the outside so its got a sure seal! I have a compressor and my brother is good at spraying cars so a cabinet should not be a hassle.

What do you think?

TM

 

i dont know about the car paint really, no expect, only i know that wood sealer will protect the wood which is what we want, the car paint stuff may crack. there are many types of wood sealers and its not too expensive. you are putting alot of tort into this tank so imo i think you should really get your hood/ cabinet rite

 

Yeah, the last thing I want is a crappy, bubbly enclosure.

So wood sealer then paint?

The paint wont crack. I have done this with audio enclosures made from supawood. Its just going to be 2 coat. Nothing major.

 

Okay, I need some help with stocking ideas.

I am definitely adding 6 X 4cm discus in there. Just this limits what I can put in. So might have to forget about this.

Thinking more like rams and dwarfs . . . maybe a few neons and rummy noses with a mother load of white clouds(20)

It is a planted tank but thinking about adding some starlight bristlenoses too . .

Anyone have any full community ideas for a 120L planted?

TM