light hood on tracks?

electricbluelizzy · 07-11-2005, 04:59 PM

I've got a space issue with the hood for my tank. Its an in-wall, under the stairs tank, and has very little space for lifting the lights for tank work.

I was thinking it would be way too cool if the whole hood could slide on tracks with bearings on either side, back up and off of the tank and over my head, locking into position there. I'd need two pretty heavy duty, roughly C shaped tracks, kind of like the tracks your kitchen drawers slide on..... maybe spring loaded so it wouldn't be really heavy to push--just glide right on up??

Has anybody seen any track/rails that would work for something like that? Or do I need to get the guys at the metal fab shop to make something? Anybody ever done that before?

Any major flaws with a plan like this, other than the obvious cord issue which I'm sure could be worked out....

Thank you all in advance!

Elizabeth

Brandon L · 07-11-2005, 05:46 PM

Check out www.oregonreef.com. Steve Weast has a hood on a track system. Might be a starting point.

Loverotties · 07-11-2005, 06:46 PM

Love that guys set up!

tims · 07-11-2005, 08:37 PM

VWD did his canopy that way. i will be doing mine also the same way.
you will have to use SS tracks. they are a full extention track.
it can be done.

VWD · 07-11-2005, 09:31 PM

They work very well, I don't have the pictures handy right now, I upgraded the PC and all pictures are on My other hard drive, I can't remember what area of Tims big tank tread the pictures are at about midway I think, I will try and find them for You.

tims · 07-11-2005, 09:41 PM

post 194 vince!

VWD · 07-11-2005, 09:41 PM

The pictures are older ones , It had all the wires taken care or and neat now, I hope it will give You a idea of what You want. can also put MH's on tracks to

tims · 07-11-2005, 09:42 PM

tims · 07-11-2005, 09:42 PM

okay soooo we found them the same time!

VWD · 07-11-2005, 09:58 PM

Yea We did, I enjoyed looking over all that, We had fun on your tread Tim. I have to start my new project here soon, one will be a 37 gallon in and old armish cabinet. My wife want this one.

tims · 07-11-2005, 11:02 PM

alright!
you better do a full thread for that!

electricbluelizzy · 07-13-2005, 04:17 PM

That does help and thank you!! What I was thinking was that the whole hood would move out and up, lights, reflector and all... See, its inside a fish room, so it doesn't matter where the tracks are.. I'm thinking these tracks would be like 6 feet long or so... and curve up and out with the whole hood sliding....
Alright, I'm drawing you a picture... Pretty bad picture, but I think you'll get the idea.. Black box-tank, triangle thingy-hood, blue lines--potential track line....

See, the whole hood would slide on those track thingies over and up.

P.S. cut me some slack on the inaccurate and childish drawing.... I hope it helps a little

electricbluelizzy · 07-13-2005, 04:21 PM

OH yeah! And what is an SS track?

Thank you everybody!!!

electricbluelizzy · 07-13-2005, 04:23 PM

Those barn door tracks aren't a bad idea! This is really helping... I'm not sure they are perfect for this, but I'm definitely getting somewhere.... At least thinking outside the box a little bit...

tims · 07-13-2005, 06:30 PM

SS= stainless steel

one problem that could happen, the wiring for the lights. it will have to be long enough so allow th lights to go back on your tracks.
you will have to make sure the tracks you use stay clean, you will have build up on them, maybe even some corostion