Hanging Light from Drop Ceiling

[ReefTron5000]

I need to hang a 24" light fixture over my office tank. My office has a pretty standard drop ceiling with ceiling tiles. Can I hang the light fixture right off of the ceiling tiles or how does this work? Do I screw the eye bolt right into the ceiling tile?

and I'll be hanging something similar to this:

 

[jrpdriver]

don't anchor it to the the tile..i drilled small holes through the tile to run the mounting wire and then anchored it to the rafters above the drop tile

 

[ReefTron5000]

Oh dang that is going to necessitate some serious ladderage.

 

[ReefTron5000]

So I just climbed up on my desk and lifted a couple of the tiles to take a look up there. The rafters or actual ceiling is pretty high up there and I can't really see a way to anchor it to that. Like its a good 4 or 5 feet, maybe more beyond the tiles to the actual ceiling. In between there is a bunch of HVAC stuff.

 

[thegrun]

Run a support across the main runners of the t-bar, they are usually on 4' centers and stick up higher (1-1/2" tall) than the other t-bar grid.

 

[cobydan]

maybe go for led and use a gooseneck. thats always a choice and I'm my experience a better one

 

[FDAWG]

I've used these before.

https://www.elvessupply.com/Erico-C...9.html?gclid=CK3-4sPAjMsCFQ-oaQod3ysHIA#tab-9

 

[Jhuneke]

You may want to just use wall mount brackets.. A lot easier. I got mine from Lowes for $12

 

[ReefTron5000]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

You may want to just use wall mount brackets.. A lot easier. I got mine from Lowes for $12

I was thinking about using wall mount brackets but the problem is, the tank is pushed up from the wall quite a bit to make room for the skimmer. The brackets would need to have pretty long arms and I'd start worrying about the weight distribution. Also the shelves above the tank will make positioning the brackets difficult.

maybe go for led and use a gooseneck. thats always a choice and I'm my experience a better one

I have a Kessil with the gooseneck mount on there right now but its only temporary. I've got LED's on my 130 mixed reef at home and for this office tank, I really want to go with T5's.



I went to Home Depot and one of the guys gave me a pretty good idea. I'm going to drill holes through the ceiling tiles where I want the anchor, then on the other side of the tile, I'll place a paint mixing stick and drill the eye bolt through that with a nut. With a paint stick behind each anchor, that should distribute the weight pretty well. I mean the fixture is only like 11 pounds so we're not talking crazy weight here. Hopefully this should work.

 

[VWHACK]

In my store we cut a 2x4 and placed it in between the t-bar. On top of the tile.
Never had any problems. The lights were Hamilton HQI six feet long. Pretty heavy too. Never had any issues.
One 2x4 per cable.

At your own risk-

 

[ReefTron5000]

In my store we cut a 2x4 and placed it in between the t-bar. On top of the tile.
Never had any problems. The lights were Hamilton HQI six feet long. Pretty heavy too. Never had any issues.
One 2x4 per cable.

At your own risk-

When you say "t-bar" are you referring to the metal grid the tiles rest in? Sorry I'm a little thick and I want to make sure I get it right.

Did you use a really long drill bit to just go through both the tile and the 2x4? Otherwise I assume it'd be hard to align the holes.

 

[VWHACK]

Yes metal grid. If I recall, its about 24" long.
Drilled all the way though, used an I- bolt with a butterfly anchor on the top to adjust height.
Pop the adjacent tile, to see what you are doing.
This was a 6' HQI halide fixture over a 225

 

[hersheyb]

you can always build brackets out of conduit

 

[NVTE]

Can you just make a acrylic legs for the fixture to rest on the brace of the tank. It will hide your skimmer cup( like all in one tank) no cable hanging, especially in front of that shelves.

 

[jrpdriver]

this is what I did with the celling tile setup in my office, I used Sunlifts, they have enough string to reach the height that you are talking about to the rafters


Or, this is what I did in my bedroom, just mount a shelf above the tank and hang the light off the shelf

 

[ReefTron5000]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. After mulling this over WAY too long, I think I'm going to go with 10x16" Home Depot shelf brackets. I want to hang it from the ceiling but it just seems like too much damn work/effort. I have a feeling I will totally mess up the alignment.

The shelf brackets should make things pretty straightforward. I'm still a little worried about the weight but if I use some drywall anchors I think I'll be okay?

 

[Xartni]

this is what I did with the celling tile setup in my office, I used Sunlifts, they have enough string to reach the height that you are talking about to the rafters


Or, this is what I did in my bedroom, just mount a shelf above the tank and hang the light off the shelf

Lol at your "Follow your Heart" sign.. I like the angle of the picture and the bottle placement.

 

[ReefTron5000]

I used 10x16 heavy duty shelf brackets with three 50 lb drywall anchors on each bracket. It seems sturdy. Problem is it's slightly uneven. I think the cables are uneven because the brackets themselves are level best I can tell.

 

[MiddletoM]

Lol at your "Follow your Heart" sign.. I like the angle of the picture and the bottle placement.

haha this^!!

Didnt even realise it was HEART, genuinely thought it was a book about farts or something. brilliant.