Pre Manufactured Canopies

Is there a website where I can browse for canopies available via a sponsor?

 

Seems like our sponsors is at a loss. Can anyone else point me to a good site, to see what is available? I am talking about the black 'plastic' lids you get when buying a tank in the LFS.

 

What size are you looking for/

Andrew

 

1.2m x 45 cm

But the thing is I want to look around at different designs available, not just the plain slap bang ones you get with tanks, Maybe they have some upmarket models available. I want to decide whether to go DIY or buy.

 

I've never seen anything except the normal plastic stuff for sale. You might be forced to go DIY.

 

Yip, take a look @shihr , i checked his setup this weekend, and his was a DIY, and WOW, what a setup, take a look at his, then you will want to do the same!!!!!!!TRUST ME!!!!!!!

 

Where can one look at this?

 

I would also like to know. I hate having to remove or "pick up" the canopy to feed etc.

Where do one get the cool canopies with "flaps" and stuff?

 

Thats what I am talking about! DIY will be my last option, as it is so bulky, heavy and rot prone.

 

Probably have to do a DIY for one with flaps.

 

If done correctly you will have no problems!

 

@engelbma
Looks like it is the world's best kept secret. Not even google want to tell me!

OK, without flaps then. Just a site of normal tank lids, locally.

 

not such thing ... most LFS's will stock leather grain heat formed lids for the brand of plate glass tanks they support (so a lid that fits a 2ft from 1 manufacturer might not fit a different one). You can get wood lids but these are typically sold with a tank and tank stand not as a separate item.

You might need to go DIY -- - then you can choose to do your own design in what ever material - but perspex is easy to work with.

Later Ferdie

 

@Tom.K

Yip - google gives a whole lot of nothing.

Found this one seems to be easy enough to do: http://www.ehow.com/how_5022433_build-aquarium-hoods.html

 

nice - I would add one addition to the design. A little hole the size of a basin plug in each of the front corners ... these I would use as feeding hatches - and plug with the basin plug when not in use.

Later Ferdie

 

Some examples:
http://www.petsmart.com/family/inde...my/PET/11210150&fbc=1&fbn=Taxonomy|Full+Hoods
http://www.nextag.com/Fish--a-Fish+...6z5---html?nxtg=30d50a280504-795C41358A319FEE
http://www.fishandfins.co.uk/aquarium-hoods.htm

 

Is there nothing like this locally?

 

plastic HOODlums

The black abs vacuum formed canopies are a holdover decades old.
ie AN OLD design, merely to cover tank, as a "house" has a "roof"

Since those days, just space for one maybe 2 inadequate lights , and a hot-running, heavy inefficient light ballast unit.
Sometimes there's a feeding and/or wiring slot cutout or drilled as well.
they are made by a few companies.

i DONT recommend them.
they build up heat, sometimes different thickness material means inconsistent strength, condensation, prone to split or cracks, poor gas exchange, and electric shock hazard....are the few I can think of!

Even with ways to work around their inadequacies they still are grossly inappropriate.

Remember there is a mould cost involved, labour and materialas well as large quantities before actual profitability is achieved..
ANOTHER BIG REASON, why they won't change them, keep using same mulds, and carry on earning money.

I do once off design and manufacture of ABS and other hoods..but understand the inherent design, engineer, tooling, manufacture costs for JUST that one.

But if you can design it, I can manufacture it...
I have interests in an allied Plastics fabrication company..acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, LDPE, LDPE, PU are some of the material we work in.

I dont have a catalogue, these custom designs are made just now and again... and inevitably cost more than the aquarium!!

 

Thanks @Altum

Seems like DIY is the way to go .... i'll cut my own slots

 

Have you made a 1200 x 450 yet? If you did, the expense was allready recovered?