Automated Aquarium Hood
 

From the 1st day of setting up my aquarium I toyed with the idea of having a automated way to lift the hood straight up off my tank with the push of a button. This would allow me to use my large tongs, scrapers, etc. without having to take my heavy oak hood off everytime or struggle to work around my hot MH lights.

Well after a lot of planning I finally came up with a system. It's very similar to the systems used to raise and lower flat panel televisions and it works awesome!!

Sorry about the video quality, I used my digital camera.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9edO7RyURQ

Hahaha, that's awesome!!!

Heck yeah. That's sweet!

For those of us who aren't technogeeks... How are they lifting those flat panel tv's? Looks/sounds like a pair of linear actuators - but looks can be deceiving.

for those of us who aren't technogeeks, <insert some very technical sounding question here> :p

I might have phrased it, somewhat eloquently, as "That look hard. Me not know how do that. Please show how."

;)

Thanks, I am very happy with how it turned out.


Bingo! We have a winner!! A single linear actuator is exactly how it's done.

I had to build a frame out of aluminum box tube, attach 2 - 24" drawer slides on the sides and attach that to my tank stand. The actuator pushes up off the floor in the center against a cross brace that is part of the frame.

You DIYers are amazing :cool: Great demo video :)

Very nice!

Thanks for the compliments everybody :biggrin:

isnt that too loud and disturbing for the fish?