Lifting my hood?

[Renzema]

okay first off when I built my hood I made it tall so I could keep the MH's away from the water to reduce heat, but I made the stand way before I built the top. So the Stand is 35" tall, I wanted the tank barely under eye level. O and this is all on a 100 gallon tank.

Okay as you can see the whole unit has become very tall(6'2"). Well I stand on a chair and reach down from the top, this doesn't allow me to reach far into the water(maybe 6"). So everytime I have to reach the bottom I have to take the whole top off which is not easy task. Well I am now trying to figure out a way to lift the top. I was think making a sperate piece that sits on the top and use something like a gas shock of some sort so I could just push the hood straight up and have a locking pin to hold in place.
Just wondering what you guys thought of this idea?

[Renzema]

O also it is not possible for me to put doors on the front because I can't find anyone with a router and I don't want to lay into it with a jigsaw.

[LittleFishBoy]

maybe you should get this moved to the DIY forum. Might get more hits.

[Casey]

you can rent a router thats your best bet doors on the front.

[LittleFishBoy]

$12 a day at Dons Rentals. (thats if you were bringing it with you back up here. Hope not) Im sure you can find someone down there to rent you a router. $15 a day at Corvallis Rentals. Just supply your own bit. Check it out. Let me know if you want there number.

[wanareef]

It would be eaiser to use a jug-saw with tape on the bottom of the shoe to cut it out. The router would need a small blade but is limited in depth. Another way to cut doors is a circular saw, with tape on the bottom again. (tape to protect the finish)

Can it be dismantled partially and then cut? And reassembled?

The only other "fix" would be to put "sides" or uprights on each end of the tank, have the hood piviot off of this. Put the piviot up high toward the back rear corner of the hood. Raise the hood and have a "pin" on either side of the upright to hold it up. Maybe even cutout the "sides" a little for viewing. (just off the top of my head)

[thefatman]

i realy think you are gonna want doors on the front. a jigsaw will be the best bet, as stated, lining the shoe with tape.

my stand and canopy also reach 6'2" and i cant imagine trying to go in from the top.

your other option is to setup a pully system attached to the ceiling. do a search here for it, someone has done a similar thread before. i believe they were the pullys that are used for bikes or something similar.

[tims]

another idea for you.
if you use a "piano" hinge and cut the whole front or maybe 90 % you would be able to attach the hindge and re attach the front. the hood front would then swing up and you would be able to reach every thing. since it is a 100g, you could leave 6 n. or so on each side for support.
if you do not want to buy a router then renting one would be best. i have 2 now and want 3 rd. i use it for a lot of stuff.
well theses are just a idea.

[tims]

oh yeah ... really nice looking stand. what wood did you use? i am thinking about building a stand and going with 100 g myself

[thefatman]

on the piano hinge idea... here is the canopy i jsut built for steve jess. (it's a only a primer coat, he'll be painting the stand and canopy to match his room)

this was made to house MH's. it's 14" tall and the opening in the front is 10.5" high, PLENTY of room for getting in the front. but, when closed, it looks like a solid unit with no doors.



and in the open position:



hope that helps!

[tims]

nice!!!!!

[Renzema]

Thanks for all the help I guess this will be my porject when christmas break comes along. It's nuts trying to do everythign when you can barely reach into the water.

Thanks again
Renzema