[basslet]

I am new to these forum. I have question regarding woodworking. I have a 37 gallon aquarium that I am starting on switching from freshwater to marine. First I was thinking
on updating the stand and canopy with a metal halide retrofit kit. A 90 gallon with a redwood stand. However I am thinking of building a new canopy to accomedate 2 metal
halide retofit kits,2 compact flourescent retrofit kits,and to exhaust fans in the future.
How high would it have to be built to minimize the risk of overheating the aquarium?
Also how would I match the wood grain from the stand to the new diy canopy.

[basslet]

I am new to these forum. I have a question regarding woodworking. I have a 37 gallon aquarium that I am starting on switching from freshwater to marine. First I was thinking on updating the stand and canopy with a metal halide retrofit kit. Also a 90 gallon with a redwood stand. However I am thinking of building a new canopy to accomedate 2 metal halide retofit kits,2 compact flourescent retrofit kits,and to exhaust fans in the future.
How high would it have to be built to minimize the risk of overheating the aquarium?
Also how would I match the wood grain from the stand to the new diy canopy.

"Been A fishaholic almost all my life." "If it lives underwater or has fins and a tail I wants it". "I needs it". "I needs the precious. "No but seriously I am going through withdrawles I need more fish stuff".

[Samper]

Welcome to Reefland!

You would have to figure out the type of wood to match the grain. If you upgrade to the 90 you might try to get stand and canopy at the same time so they already match. Many pre made hoods are just too small for me to work under though. If not then you may need to sand everything off of the old stand and stain your newly built canopy and old stand with the same stain. I'm not a fan of a canopy over marine aquaria....they just get in my way. If you are dead set on having one you can install fans in it. It's your choice where to install them but I'd put a few blowing in and a few blowing out. I like to have vents in the top and back sides of a canopy in addition to the fans. It would be your choice where to put these and how large to make them. The two systems that I run with hoods have the entire back side of the canopy as one big opening. I have fans mounted in one of them blowing in and out but can't remember the brand.
marineandreef.com/ Aquarium Fans (Ice Cap Fan, etc.)

I hang metal halides about 9-12" off the surface of the water. Most pre built hoods don't allow for that or will just barely fit.