Canopy: Yes or No?

[kev.2013]

Small tank (aka Nano) open top.
Large tank, canopy.

I only have a Nano, but that’s the approach I would take

 

[TL1]

Open top aesthetic FTW!

 

[Hungrypede]

Wall mounted and folds up. ATI hybrid with some hydra 32’s hiding towards the top to minimize light spill.

 

[Seymo44]

I use a canopy because when I'm sitting on the couch, my eye level is below the lights. I don't like staring up into them. The canopy is open top & back though to allow air and heat exchange. My wife had a cow when I took a saw to the top of our brand new canopy!

I built mine to have a removable top. I left it off for the first night. No fish or coral yet, just substrate, rock, and water. I woke up in the middle of the night hearing George Jones (my cat) splashing water out with his paws. So the top is now firmly fastened to the canopy.

 

[Seymo44]

Excuse the windex water. I run AB+ and the lights just came on 20 mins ago.

 

[Freakmachine01]

I had a canopy for the first two years of my tank and I just recently got rid of it approximately 6 months ago. The reason I got rid of it is because now my lights are on arms plus since I've taken up photography I like to look top down into my tank with the canopy I could not do that. Plus I think it looks cleaner now because you could see all of the tank that is my opinion

 

[BZOFIQ]

open or floating.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I built mine to have a removable top. I left it off for the first night. No fish or coral yet, just substrate, rock, and water. I woke up in the middle of the night hearing George Jones (my cat) splashing water out with his paws. So the top is now firmly fastened to the canopy.

Mine encloses an ATI Sunpower fixture so it has to be open top to keep the fixture from over heating. Guess it make it cat-proof also!

 

[ReefCheef]

Open top looks way nicer, and is easier to work on. Canopy is much easier to hide your components and route wires/pipes while also reducing light spill. I prefer the former.

It takes way longer to hang lights neatly from the ceiling, but it is worth it IMO.

 

[aquadise]

One vote for canopy, but open in the top. I only want to show the display tank. Any other equipments will be hidden (except the wave head...).

 

[neonreef3d]

KISS

I upgraded my lighting and canopy ..

 

[jp_75]

I know it’s not a new thread but i will try:
How bad it is to work on a tank with canopy on? Let’s say 12” one…

 

[Bruce Burnett]

I know it’s not a new thread but i will try:
How bad it is to work on a tank with canopy on? Let’s say 12” one…

If it sits on the tank it is a pain. If it is above tank it is easier. If you can raise and lower it, great

 

[Baldguy]

I know it’s not a new thread but i will try:
How bad it is to work on a tank with canopy on? Let’s say 12” one…

My canopy is about 8" and my tank is 24" high. I can just touch the sand. If it was a 12" canopy it would make it much harder.

 

[OscarHaglund]

I know it’s not a new thread but i will try:
How bad it is to work on a tank with canopy on? Let’s say 12” one…

If you are going to have a canopy i think you should have a tall one for this reason. Mine is 40cm tall

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I kinda went with a floating style but have shades to also help with light spill...

 

[paragrouper]

I built my 8” tall and used 1/2” poplar board with an internal frame to keep the weight down. The top is hinged so I can do minor tasks and the canopy slides foward for removal

 

[Freenow54]

Well I have a movable one on one side that was supposed to prevent the dominant clown from chasing the male into my overflow, however didn't stop it from forcing out of the tank and onto the floor. My smaller tank does not have one. On a large tank with a sump maintenance is largely in the sump, so easier. Still need to get rid of algae on the glass. So don't like a permanent one much. Removable is better. They do slow down the evaporation, but salt creep is worse