If you are a fish lover and like to get your hands dirty from time to time, you might want to consider building your own fish tank canopy rather than purchasing one off the shelf.
Building a canopy for your tank provides your marine animals or reptiles with a basic form of protection while at the same time making your tank look decorative. You have a wide range of canopies to choose from. You can opt for a fish tank canopy with lighting and filtration systems installed professionally or you can buy a carved wooden canopy. Whatever type of fish tank canopy you choose, the purpose remains the same. In case you are good with woodwork and other handy work, you can even build your own canopy.
Building a basic canopy without any electrical fitting is the simplest to make. It can be build for a tank of any size and all you need is a sturdy wooden base that can open and shut easily. The first step to building a fish tank canopy is to measure the tank to figure out the size of the wood you will need to buy for making the canopy. Measure the sides of the tank. Usually, the vertical sides are half the size of the horizontal sides. Depending on the measurements of the tank, you can decide on the size of your canopy. An ideal canopy is about six inches higher than the water level in the tank.
Start the canopy by making a boxy rectangle that is slightly larger than the top of the aquarium so that it just slips over the top of the tank. Attach square rods to the inner sides of the wooden planks making up the box. Fasten the rods securely from the middle of the board so that they act like an anchor holding the canopy around the tank.
Make the canopy lid using plywood, which is one to one and half inches bigger than the dimensions of the wooden box. Paint the canopy if you want or you can just varnish the wood so that it looks nice and glossy. In case you are painting the inside of the lid, be careful to use non-toxic white paint so that light reflection is maximized. Attach hinges to the back of the plywood lid and set the canopy on the tank. Once the fish tank canopy is finished, you can even get it fitted with lighting for a better finish.
Building a canopy for your tank provides your marine animals or reptiles with a basic form of protection while at the same time making your tank look decorative. You have a wide range of canopies to choose from. You can opt for a fish tank canopy with lighting and filtration systems installed professionally or you can buy a carved wooden canopy. Whatever type of fish tank canopy you choose, the purpose remains the same. In case you are good with woodwork and other handy work, you can even build your own canopy.
Building a basic canopy without any electrical fitting is the simplest to make. It can be build for a tank of any size and all you need is a sturdy wooden base that can open and shut easily. The first step to building a fish tank canopy is to measure the tank to figure out the size of the wood you will need to buy for making the canopy. Measure the sides of the tank. Usually, the vertical sides are half the size of the horizontal sides. Depending on the measurements of the tank, you can decide on the size of your canopy. An ideal canopy is about six inches higher than the water level in the tank.
Start the canopy by making a boxy rectangle that is slightly larger than the top of the aquarium so that it just slips over the top of the tank. Attach square rods to the inner sides of the wooden planks making up the box. Fasten the rods securely from the middle of the board so that they act like an anchor holding the canopy around the tank.
Make the canopy lid using plywood, which is one to one and half inches bigger than the dimensions of the wooden box. Paint the canopy if you want or you can just varnish the wood so that it looks nice and glossy. In case you are painting the inside of the lid, be careful to use non-toxic white paint so that light reflection is maximized. Attach hinges to the back of the plywood lid and set the canopy on the tank. Once the fish tank canopy is finished, you can even get it fitted with lighting for a better finish.
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