Fish tank cover - with built in LED light

thingiverse

This project is a custom-made endeavor to craft a fish tank cover featuring an LED light system. The development of this project will be documented here until completion. If you are interested in following along, please do so and provide any comments or feedback you may have. My small fish tank requires a top cover with a shaded LED light. To accomplish this task, I will need the following materials: 1. A 3D printed frame made from black PLA plastic. 2. A single-sided aluminum-plastic board and aluminum angle/rail. 3. Two modified magnetic door closers. 4. An LED panel that operates at 5 volts. 5. A USB power supply unit. Stage 1: Front Panel - approximately 450 mm x 100 mm Two identical round corner posts and a bottom bar were printed using my 3D printer. Due to the limitations of my printer, I had to print the frame in sections, which I then joined together using adhesive. Next, I cut the Al-plastic boards to size using a ruler and cutter. Finally, I glued the boards, angles, and rails into place. Stage 2: Two Side Panels Two right-angle corner posts (one for each side) were designed and printed out. These posts feature a fillet at the back for added strength, as they will be supporting the water pump and filter. This design ensures that the structural integrity of the frame is maintained. Stage 3 - Top Panel with LED and Fish Feeder The fish feeder and LED light were installed on top of the panel. An opening was cut through the panel to accommodate the fish feeder (Juwel). A 3D printed LED frame was designed and glued to the bottom of the panel. The magnetic door closers were modified by soldering two cables (+ve and -ve) to provide power for the LED light. Once the top panel is in place, it will lock securely due to the magnetic force, and power will be automatically provided. Stage 4 - Controller (Raspberry Pi3 and Relay Control) The water pump, heater, lighting, and water pump will be controlled remotely via a web interface. A 4-channel relay box was built and integrated into the system. This setup allows for seamless control of all connected devices. Notes: Due to variations in size and round corner shape of fish tanks, it's essential to measure your tank carefully before printing the 3D posts. The dimensions should be tailored to fit your specific tank. To protect the glass of the tank from damage caused by the adhesive used during assembly, please apply a layer of adhesive or masking tape over the glued areas. After the adhesive has dried, remove any joined parts. If they are too tight to remove, use a hair dryer to heat the members slowly until they can be removed. Updated: November 2020 The automation interface is designed and run on a Raspberry Pi 3B web server via four GPIO-controlled relays. This setup allows for remote control of devices such as the LED light in the fish tank and the watch winder, which can also be scheduled using crontab.