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JCheung
08-25-2007, 11:58 PM
I was just wondering if there are any hoods that incorporate a garage door as a top. This would probably be a good hood for a T5 setup, where each bulb and reflector are connected to a single piece of the door. So the objective would be when you open the top of the tank it would just go down a railing system and curve down behind the tank. And when your done you just pull it up and over the top. I think this would be a pretty cool DIY project if they don't have these hoods.
smcnally
08-26-2007, 07:39 AM
It would be do-able, but not very practical IMO. You would have to space your bulbs apart very far just to make to curve and you would also have to make sure your tank is spaced off the wall enough (probably at least 4"-6".
willray
08-26-2007, 08:43 AM
That would be way more complicated than it sounds.And the advantage would be?......Besides the cool factor.
JCheung
08-26-2007, 10:18 AM
the advatage i most wanted out of it would be that you could roll the top off the back of the tank and have full access to the entirety of your tank without needing to lift off the whole top place it somewhere else etc. and then while your fragging/aquascaping/feeding you could have it backlit and have very good lighting for what your doing. plus if you don't want to drag it up and down on the railings you could add a motor to it and have it automatically go up and down.
abwalker
08-26-2007, 10:57 AM
I don't see much benefit over something like Smcnally's new lift mechanism:

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47998&page=8
smcnally
08-26-2007, 11:06 AM
I don't see much benefit over something like Smcnally's new lift mechanism:

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47998&page=8

Thanks! You're right though....I was able to put in and pull out that entire foam rock-scape. If it will fit in your tank, it will fit in the opening I have. And, you still have full lighting when it is open.
JCheung
08-26-2007, 02:27 PM
well just the backlighting thing then. I think it would just be cool. Nice hood BTW smcnally.
smcnally
08-26-2007, 02:40 PM
well just the backlighting thing then. I think it would just be cool. Nice hood BTW smcnally.

The only issue with the back lighting is that you wouldn't be able to paint the back of your tank or let it get covered in coralline.
JCheung
08-26-2007, 02:49 PM
The only issue with the back lighting is that you wouldn't be able to paint the back of your tank or let it get covered in coralline.

Hmmm true... doh! Meh still cool.