=Jwin= and Triplemom's Custom Bowfront Canopy Video Submission

Discussion in '3reef 's DIY Video Contest!' started by =Jwin=, Jul 19, 2009.

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  1. Da_Gopherboy

    Da_Gopherboy Fire Shrimp

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    You know guys I've been a professional woodworker for a very long time... and the quality of this DIY video and your finished product is something to be proud of :)

    Good job to you both and K+ to you both.

    -Gavin
     
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  2. Click Here!

  3. Triplemom

    Triplemom Pajama Cardinal

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    What a nice thing to say! Jwin worked really hard on that project for weeks. Sometimes I forget he's only 19....:)
     
  4. Triplemom

    Triplemom Pajama Cardinal

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    Thanks, Matt and Sparky. I appreciate the suggestions! I actually do have an extra pump and will have to work on simplifying this process.

    We already had the canopy vision in the works, but when this DIY contest came up with the RO unit as the prize, we went to work fast (and still almost missed the deadline). We really, really, really want to win that RO unit! Right now, I'm buying 11 gallons of RO water per week to do water changes (we also have Jwin's mantis tank) and top-offs. I HATE lugging those water jugs (I have a 5-gallon and two 3-gallon jugs) out of my van and into the house, and I never can find a male around to do it (or I'm too impatient to wait on one)!
     
  5. mattheuw1

    mattheuw1 Montipora Capricornis

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    I plan on doing a similar design this weekend. Your canopy is the only design that lifts the entire bow up so you have supreme access to the tank. I would like to do the exact same thing but what is going to hold the bow out. Considering it does not connect to the sides, how is it going to maintain its shape over time? I see you probably glued it to the top board and might have put some nails in their too, but do you think those wood slabs will hold its shape over time? I have a 72bow that I will be making mine for so it will need to be pretty strong. My idea was to have a portion of the sides lift up with the bowfront, but if your bowfront seems strong, like it won't come loose or distort over time, I might use that idea.

    It also looks like you put your hinges on top. I plan to use a 48" piano hinge on the inside and put some sort of plastic cover over it to prevent rust. That way the top looks nice and clean. Did you put a back on yours? I plan on doing a back but only having it come down a few inches so my overflow and return piping can fit out.
     
  6. pwsk

    pwsk Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    very nice build
     
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  7. =Jwin=

    =Jwin= Tassled File Fish

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    The actual bow is 1/8" ply, so it's pretty easy to bend and hold it's shape. And yes, we did glue it along the curve of the top.

    One thing I considered doing, that would have made it even stronger, was to make the "frame" supporting the bow into an actual frame. Connecting those vertical pieces it was glued to with some horizontal ones for some structural support. Right now having only vertical supports is holding up well, because they aren't the only things causing to front to bow, and the central one is so stinking thick it has very good attachment to the top :D

    And just a side note, we painted the inside white because the color "white" (the lack of color) does not absorb external light, meaning all of our light from the T5's is reflected back into the tank, rather than merely some of it if the inside was another color. So I figured it give us a tiny boost in light performance by not having our lights bleed out into the room or canopy. Plus we had tons of heavy duty enamel white paint from when we painted our back patio...
     
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  9. =Jwin=

    =Jwin= Tassled File Fish

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    YouTube muted the audio in part two because I was violating a copyright? I didn't think that was possible with just short clips of songs...I'm trying to fix it though. Because I kind of need that audio in it...music or not ::)

    EDIT: Fixed it. Had to replace the Nickelback song and the Symphony with just whatever I could find upbeat on the computer. I like the original version best...but oh well. I can't ask for everything. I'm happy to say it's at least up and running again.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2009
  10. newton27

    newton27 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Excellent

    Nice job! I'm really impressed at the construction of the top. Leaving the back open was something I didn't do because of light coming out the back; it is set up in my home theater room so it needed to pretty dark. I thought about the heat and gas exchange needed so I installed computer case fans wired to a 12v power supply, one on the left and one on the right. One pulling air in and the other pushing air out, this worked very well as I also had a temp rise of a few degrees.
    My tank is not bow front but after watching this build; I'm building a new one with the fold up designed like his.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2009
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  11. Puffer Chick

    Puffer Chick Giant Squid

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  12. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    good job, your clowns that chased the blenny (video #2 @ 4:41-4:46) was pretty funny too. :D
     
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