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 A linear actuator like this will be used to automatically raise and lower my 6 foot canopy on my 125g reef tank.
Seems like I have always had a canopy on each of my aquairums. I can't think of many tanks that I have owned that didn't have one. They do make the tank look nice and complete, sort of like a finished furniture look.
The one issue I have had with canopies is maintenance. Lift the lid to get in the tank for feeding or to scrape the algae of the glass and I get blinded by lights. In some cases, like on my old 55g, I had to completely remove the canopy to get to the back glass for cleaning. I would like to avoid these issues with my 125 reef. I decided to build a motorized lift system to raise and lower the canopy off the tank to solve these problems. Of course this creates a new problem...how to build a motorized lift?
After getting some inspiration from some other hobbyists on Reef Central I came up with an idea for using a linear actuator and a couple of heavy duty drawer slides for a canopy lift system. I have seen a similar setup used to lift a flat screen TV out of a cabinet. So here is the parts list:
 The parts for the motorized canopy lift. - Firgelli Automations 24" 150lbs force linear actuator ($110)
- 2- Accuslide 24" heavy duty drawer slide ($50)
- Speco PSR-4C 4 Amp Regulated 12V DC Power Supply ($39)
- 2- 12"x14" cabinet mounting brackets ($14)
- 2- Pivot mounting brackets ($11)
$224.00 for all the parts to get started. I am sure that this is not everything I will need but these are the major components. Now I just have to collect the parts and build it. 
Update 5-29-07
It's alive! Now I know how Dr. Frankenstein felt. I completed the canopy lift and here is a short video of it in operation: 
Canopy Lift Video
(3.55MB w/sound)
The lift works quite well and automatically stops at the top limit and the bottom limit. The lift makes it real easy to get in the tank for maintenance or to get to the lights to change bulbs, etc. Now I can actually work on the tank and finish the closed loop, move fish and corals from my other tanks...
Update 10-28-08 new pictures  The back showing the angle aluminum peices, the borads on the wall and the motor in the middle.  The connections to the canopy on the top. Balance is key!  The bottom peice is basically a mini shelf that sits behind the tank. This holds all the weight of the lift during operation.
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