Canopy Lift Ideas?

[jbret]

I have a 90 gallon tank with a large wooden canopy. The canopy has a retrofit lighting kit installed in it. The canopy is heavy and takes 2 people to remove. I was wondering if anyone has seen or has any ideas for some type of lift I could make that I could hook up when needed to lift the canopy straight up for maintenance and cleaning. Maybe some sort of pulley setup?

Thanka Bret

[Ixthys]

Hey Bret,

I use a pulley system for a similar situation. I have a 210g tank with all the lights in the wooden hood....very heavy.

Basically, I went to Walmart and bought a hand-crank winch and mounted it to the side of the stand. Then ran the wire through some pulleys to 2 "L" shaped braces that hang over the tank. Pictures would help, wouldn't they!?

Anyway, it works like a charm and doesn't look bad at all. I'll do my best to get a picture posted...

-Craig

[jbret]

Please try and get some pictures. That sounds nice and if don't look to bad maybe I can get it past my wife!

Thanks Bret

[Ixthys]

Hope this gives you an idea. The wires from the right and left side are joined in the middle (behind the tank), descend as 1 wire, go through another pulley, and over to the winch (not pictured).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7..._4208Large.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7..._4205Large.jpg