Canopy Owners - Need Your Advice

[DeepBlueBox]

Hi all, I just ordered my tank from Glass Cages! I’m very excited, but very torn on a decision to add on a canopy. The dimensions of my tank will be 72”x24”x25” with an external overflow. I’ll be getting a 40” H modern white stand as well.

Does anyone here have a canopy from glass cages that they can share pictures and thoughts on? What height are your canopies? I was considering an 18” height canopy with the standard doors that swing out. However, I’m concerned that the 18” Height canopy may look too large or overpowering on a 25” Height tank. I want the functionality of the space to work in the tank without removing the canopy but I also want it to look like a nice piece of furniture in our home, as it is intended to be.

 

[littlefoxx]

My tank and canopy are planet aquariums, but I do like it. It gets in the way sometimes when I have to get in the tank and any work on the overflow I have to put myself in odd positions (sometimes on top of the canopy) to work inside, but it makes having lights easier I think. It also looks nicer. Ive had to take it off a few times to work inside the tank or catch a fish so thats annoying, but overall I like it because I dont need a lid anymore. I just blocked the back opening off for the fish. It also makes the tank look a lot bigger too (its already 300 gallons lol) but it looks nice for sure

 

[DeepBlueBox]

My tank and canopy are planet aquariums, but I do like it. It gets in the way sometimes when I have to get in the tank and any work on the overflow I have to put myself in odd positions (sometimes on top of the canopy) to work inside, but it makes having lights easier I think. It also looks nicer. Ive had to take it off a few times to work inside the tank or catch a fish so thats annoying, but overall I like it because I dont need a lid anymore. I just blocked the back opening off for the fish. It also makes the tank look a lot bigger too (its already 300 gallons lol) but it looks nice for sure

Nice! I actually did have a planet aquarium on order previously. However, at the time I had to cancel that order and postpone just a bit. I liked the hinge style of the planet canopies a lot since the whole front flips up.

 

[littlefoxx]

Nice! I actually did have a planet aquarium on order previously. However, at the time I had to cancel that order and postpone just a bit. I liked the hinge style of the planet canopies a lot since the whole front flips up.

Oh that would be nice! Mine doesnt have that, it has 4 doors. One which broke off when I had to pull it off. Still working up the time to fix that so it doesnt look jankey!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have their 60" (150 gallon) tank, with wooden stand, and their glass tops (with some AI Blade Grows sitting right on the top, using the "L" stands. I have contemplated adding a canopy over the years, but even with a FOWLR I swear I am on a step-stool and in that tank 5x a day; I couldn't imaging dealing with canopy doors, so I'm just keeping it simple.

Tank (undergoing a re-do) with AI Blades resting on the glass.

 

[BoredNuke]

Glass cages also and was basically splurging on all the options so also got 18" canopy with 25"tank (36" stand) Height is nice for working in canopy but asethically i should have got the 12" as the room has a very low ceiling (1960s california house). Picked piano doors as it matches the stand better and currently trying to figure out how to install struts/springs so I dont have the door resting on my head or back while working in the tank(potential options for joe to add down the road)

Taken with .6x lens other lenses just broke. But hopefully enough to give a good perspective

 

[RobertK]

Hi, not sure if you're still looking for advice. I can't reply as a canopy owner but I too have a tank/stand/canopy on order from GC and sympathize with your concerns. I thought long and hard about its dimensions and design. For my 60x22x24" tank I chose a 14" canopy with European doors (not the gullwing doors that lift up).

Some things I considered:

- if the canopy is too tall it can look too big. I think @Joe Glass Cages advised me not to exceed 2/3 the height of the tank but I can't recall for sure - but there is a formula for the aesthetics, you might ask him about that.

- keep in mind that in addition to the stated height of the canopy it will also have a lip that hangs down over the top of the tank, I believe it is a 1-5/8" overhang. My stand will also have a ~1.5" lip that blocks the lower part of the tank too, so the visible part of my 24" high aquarium will be closer to 21". This can affect the aesthetics regarding canopy height.

- I liked the gullwing doors but in my case due to my height and the height of the tank+stand I would not be able to reach high enough to open it all the way without a stepstool, so I opted for the regular swing doors.

- Obviously the height of the canopy will affect your lighting options so you need to factor your lighting plan into your canopy design. I did a whole lot of figuring to make sure that the canopy would allow me to have my lights 10" off the water.

I don't have my GC tank yet but the furniture is built, here is a photo of the canopy that Joe sent me the other day (custom paint job!). I'll probably be starting a new build thread when the tank arrives, hopefully in the next month or so.

Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[DeepBlueBox]

Thanks for the replies. I already have my lighting, which will be 3 GNC Blu-ray lights. They are very heavy lights and a little awkward to mount vs other lights I’ve had in the past like Radions, but I really like their performance.

After considering my lights and the cost of having a canopy built, I’ve decided to try my hand at building an extruded aluminum light frame mount that will attach to the wall. This should be able to support the weight of the lights and make it fairly simple to mount lights or make changes in the future. I’m brainstorming now, but my plan is to make 3 removable panels that will hang from the light mount so I get the effect of a canopy without limiting access to the tank.

 

[RobertK]

Thanks for the replies. I already have my lighting, which will be 3 GNC Blu-ray lights. They are very heavy lights and a little awkward to mount vs other lights I’ve had in the past like Radions, but I really like their performance.

After considering my lights and the cost of having a canopy built, I’ve decided to try my hand at building an extruded aluminum light frame mount that will attach to the wall. This should be able to support the weight of the lights and make it fairly simple to mount lights or make changes in the future. I’m brainstorming now, but my plan is to make 3 removable panels that will hang from the light mount so I get the effect of a canopy without limiting access to the tank.

I will be building a light mounting rack that rests on the tank's eurobrace so that the lights are not attached to the new canopy. Instead of using extruded aluminum I will be using this material for electrical safety, as it does not conduct electricity. I've ordered the materials and should have it built in the next month or so.