Question for all, advice needed

[technium]

Hi All


Well the time has come to setup my 8' x 2' x 2' tank. Ive got all the wood to build the stand which is going to be 1" thick and have plenty of support, now the question is should I build a hood, I have a hood on my 6 x 2 x 2 with the lights built into it (all home made) but when I have to move decor, clean or water change its a pain to get it having to move all the lights and then trying to reach down to bottom of tank, so I was thinking of having suspended florecent lights above the tank and just using perspex to cover the tank.

So what you think, what you guys do???

thanks for listening, reading

T

 

[Barday]

You should try asking in the DIY forum you might get a few responses from people in a similar situation

 

[technium]

LOL Guess What... I never new there was a DIY board, I had this forum bookmarked and that was it, never went to main page so didnt know it existed just goes to show you learn something everyday lol


thanks posted over in DIY forum too

T

 

[Talisman]

Wht dont you hinge the hood with the lights in, that way when you need access lift it up on its hinge, stick your arms in and do whatever, when you finished close it again.

 

[Fawke]

Personally i think hoods look good....

We have a hinged hood so gravel vaccing is easy and access to tank is superb...
Its a pine cabinet and looks good....

Also, the lights disconnect so if we need to remove the hood that is easy....

However, my tank is 3' not 8, so i imagine circirmstances are very different (and heavy) with an 8 footer !!

Good luck and post us pics when its finished

 

[CFC]

I dont use hoods on my tanks, i find on large tanks they get in the way when your trying to do maintainance as they prevent you from being able to reach all the way to the back of the tank. All i use is sheets of 3mm clear TEG plastic (similar to perspex but with a higher impact resistance) which i cut into 2 or 3 pieces to make handling easier, a 8x2' sheet of perspex is quite awkward to move. I just rest the light tubes on the lids with reflectors over themand when the lids are off the tubes rest on the brace bars around the sides and middle of the tanks so i still have light to see by while working, essential when keeping fish that can bite or sting you and do serious damage.

 

[technium]

I did think about a hinged lid but like cfc said, with my 6 foot tank its a pain trying to reach the back of the tank with the hood and lights in the way so with an 8 footer it would be worse.

i have 4 2 x 2 sheets of perspex to cover the tank to try and stop evaporation but still not sure about the lights, resting them on top would seem a little messy something my wife would not want in her sitting room lol but then again like you said about the suspended idea it would light up the rest of the room again not something my wife would like.

thanks for all your input so far.

T