DIY: Reef Aquarium Canopy

Reef canopies prevent fish from jumping out of the aquarium and prevent foreign objects, including people's hands, from being placed into them. Lights can also be secured into canopies for reef invertebrate animals, such as sea anemones and small polyp stony corals, that use light to manufacture food. Although most aquarium dealers stock reef canopies, reef enthusiasts can build their own to ensure that the design is exactly to their liking.

Things You'll Need

  • One top panel of 1/2-inch-thick plywood, 36 inches long by 12 inches wide
  • One front panel of 1/2-inch-thick plywood, 36 inches long by 20 inches high
  • Two side panels of 1/2-inch-thick plywood, 12 inches long by 20 inches high
  • One square rod, 16 inches long, 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch
  • Two square rods, 6 inches long, 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch
  • Two paint brushes
  • Wood glue
  • Nail gun and nails
  • Small tin wood stain
  • Work bench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn the top plywood panel over and place it on a flat work surface, facing up.

    • 2

      Paint a thin stripe of wood glue along the top edge of one of the 36-inch-long sides of the top panel.

    • 3

      Position the front plywood panel vertically onto the glue stripe. Make sure that the edges are flush to ensure that the panel is square. Hold the panel in place for a few minutes. Allow the glue to set for approximately an hour and then turn the structure over and nail the front panel to the top panel. Make sure the nails are placed exactly along the glue line.

    • 4

      Turn the structure onto its top panel once again. Paint a thin stripe of wood glue along the side edges of the bottom and left side of the left side piece of plywood. Position this panel against the side surfaces of the left side of the structure.

    • 5

      Leave the glue to set for approximately an hour and then nail this side panel to both the front and top panels. Make sure the nails are placed exactly along the glue line.

    • 6

      Paint a thin stripe of wood glue along the side edges of the bottom and right side of the right side piece of plywood. Position this panel against the side surfaces of the right side of the structure.

    • 7

      Leave the glue to set for approximately an hour and then nail this side panel to both the front and top panels. Make sure the nails are placed exactly along the glue line.

    • 8

      Stand the canopy on its front panel. Lay the 16-inch square rod horizontally along the inside length of the front panel, approximately 1 inch in from the bottom edge of the panel. Center the rod and nail it onto the front panel.

    • 9

      Place the canopy in a vertical position, with the left side panel flush with the work bench. Place the first 6-inch square rod along the inside length of the left side panel, approximately 1 inch from the bottom edge of the panel. Center this rod and nail onto the left side panel.

    • 10

      Place the canopy in a vertical position, with the right side panel flush with the work bench. Place the second 6-inch square rod along the inside length of the right side panel, approximately 1 inch from the bottom edge of the panel. Center this rod and nail onto the left side panel.