[APD] Max canopy weight

["Candy Moonwolf" <cry_little_sister at hotmail_com>]

Hi all I have been reading this list for the last few weeks and have not 
been able to find an answer to the following question. I have a 55 gallon 
tank that I am designing a hood for so I can put  4 4ft 40 watt flourecent 
bulbs in it. My question is what is the most weight suggested to sit on top 
of a tank this size? The design I have been working on will be made with a 
1x4 frame for the top half that will house the lights themselves and include 
a 1/2 inch plywood top. (this part weighs 12 pounds) this section will sit 
on top of the bottom section and hinge in the back, so that this whole top 
box will open for access to the lights. The bottom section is made of 1x8 
for sides with 1 x 2 bracing and includes a 1/4 inch inset of the bracing to 
hold a 49.5 x 13.5 sheet of glass that will sit inside the bottom section 
totally seperataing the lights from the water area. The front of this 
section will hinge and open out to allo! w access to the tank itself for 
feeding cleaning etc. This section currently weighs 15 pounds not including 
glass (haven't bought it yet) and will also need corner tabs or braces of 
some kind to act as a stop when you sit the hood down on top of the tank. So 
far this is aprox. 27 pounds of just wood, + glass + exaust fan(s) + lights 
(plan to use external ballasts) +tank stop bracing. This just seems like a 
lot of weight to me. Any suggestions on a maximum "safe" weight I can always 
hang the unit if I have to.
Thanks Candy

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