First DIY: Tank Cover

[Gujustud]

Well I couldn't take it any longer, so I had to start my first DIY.

Just incase you don't know my background, I work with my dad, who own's his own CNC Machine shop. Its a small shop, mainly just the two of us work there. We've got 2 CNC machines (VMC) and a manual lathe, and a few other stuff.

Anyhoo, I'm also new to the whole reef thing, and if you're read any of my other posts, you'll know I just started off (or check my blog).

Well I noticed how much the water evaporates from the tank, and also the heat loss. So today, I made my own tank cover for the top of the tank (duh). I just installed it, however, as always, I made it a little too big. I've also gotta do some small modifications to it for the wires, and so forth, which I'll do tomorrow. All in the learning process ;)

without the cover

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03724.JPG

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03727.JPG

with cover
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03731.JPG

cover on its own
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03726.JPG

more pics (http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=40&page=1)

I made some small modifications to the cover:

First I removed the small lips from the side slots where the cables were coming out of. Before I had to fish the cables for the powerhead thru the slot, and then if I wanted to remove the cover, I'd have to refish it thru again, which was lame.

before
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03736.JPG

after
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_DSC03743.JPG
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_DSC03744.JPG

You'll also notice I added a extra slot for the heater. At first I didn't put one in, because I didn't think the heater came up so high, but when I got home, it did, so I needed to make the extra hole for it to stick out of.

The next thing I did was remove the lip from the hole I made for my future HOT fuge. I did this for 2 reasons, space, and also you'll notice in the first pic, that it did crack when I initially made it, because it was too thin.

before
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/aquarium/diy/normal_DSC03734.JPG

after
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_DSC03745.JPG

[petes]

wow.. thats looking cool. you said you were worried about your tank losing heat? the rest of us are worried about too much heat! what temperature is your tank running at with that cover on? whenever my tank is fully covered it goes up to 85-86

[Gujustud]

Sorry for the late reply. Lost the link to this site!

My tank runs at about 80. I don't have MH lighting, so the it (the light) rarely effects the heat of the water.