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Cliff Mayes · 09-29-2009, 11:53 AM

I have been using the AH light fixtures for a couple of years but I bought the GE lights (from somewhere else) that everyone seems to recommend and they have been working OK for a couple of years.

A hood can be made from thin Luan that is cut with a utility knife with many cuts rather than trying to force the blade thru. Corner support can be from one bys that have been ripped into narrow strips. Do not try to use metal fasteners such as nails of screws to hold the structure together unless the metal fasteners are just to hold the boards until the glue dries. Just about any wood glue works. A shallow box is better than a deep box so make it as small as you can. Making sure that the AH kit will fit in the box is about the only problem.

Luan (which is inexpensive) or any other thin board has a lot of strength to make stands so 2 X 4's (which are also cheap) are overkill in stand making as far as holding the water weight. Even a one by six can hold a lot of weight but on a large tank it it is probably a good ides to use some larger boards. I would be more concerned with putting a large tank (very heavy) on a floor that someone has messed with. It is difficult to understand the foolishness some folks will do to an existing structure so do not get blindsided by a tank ending up in the Cellar inadvertently. It would be unusual for a small tank (10/20 gallons or less) to break thru a floor but it could happen.

09-29-2009, 11:53 AM	#23 (permalink)
Cliff Mayes Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 279 iTrader Ratings: 0 Plant Points: 38200	Re: DIY 29 Gallon Hood I have been using the AH light fixtures for a couple of years but I bought the GE lights (from somewhere else) that everyone seems to recommend and they have been working OK for a couple of years. A hood can be made from thin Luan that is cut with a utility knife with many cuts rather than trying to force the blade thru. Corner support can be from one bys that have been ripped into narrow strips. Do not try to use metal fasteners such as nails of screws to hold the structure together unless the metal fasteners are just to hold the boards until the glue dries. Just about any wood glue works. A shallow box is better than a deep box so make it as small as you can. Making sure that the AH kit will fit in the box is about the only problem. Luan (which is inexpensive) or any other thin board has a lot of strength to make stands so 2 X 4's (which are also cheap) are overkill in stand making as far as holding the water weight. Even a one by six can hold a lot of weight but on a large tank it it is probably a good ides to use some larger boards. I would be more concerned with putting a large tank (very heavy) on a floor that someone has messed with. It is difficult to understand the foolishness some folks will do to an existing structure so do not get blindsided by a tank ending up in the Cellar inadvertently. It would be unusual for a small tank (10/20 gallons or less) to break thru a floor but it could happen.