Let's see how everyone hangs their lights.

[Bent]

So I got my reefbreeders today and at the request of the wife, I cannot hang them from the ceiling.

Here's the setup for those who don't know:

So now, how do I do this?

I thought maybe putting in a shelf and hanging them from that, but that will need to be one deep azz shelf. 36" easily from the wall to the front of the tank.

Plus if I build it, it's not going to be a simple thing. Can't just slap on a pair of metal L brackets and a board for the living room.

If anyone knows of an easy way to do this that will be female approved, please chime in. Also, please post a pic of how you have your lights hung.

GO

Edit: just measured and a 24" shelf would do the trick over the tank. But then the other problem is that I doubt that I centered the tank between the studs. So id have to figure a way to mount the shelf to the wall, keep it centered over the tank and anchored to the studs at the same time.

 

[slief]

I have a motorized electric aluminum light rack that I built with 8 Kessil 360WE's mounted to it on articulating mounts so I can aim each light exactly where I need it for best coverage.

 

[Bent]

Holy monkeys, that's spectacular.

 

[slief]

Holy monkeys, that's spectacular.

Thanks! I'm not one to mess around. My original rack when I ran halides was made of wood but I used the same electric winch setup I use now. When I switched to LED's I built the new rack.


How high are your ceilings? If it were me, I'd be working the wife and convince her otherwise. I'd build an aluminum rack frame similar to mine or an aluminum box rack that you could skin to create a canopy. I'd use the same aluminum extrusions like I used. They came from eztube.com and they sell both the extrusions and the connectors to snap it together.

From there, I'd get a heavy duty remote control track actuator and install that in the ceiling or space above the tank and run a pair of thin stainless wire cables down from the ceiling so you can raise and lower the rack or canopy with the push of a button. Enclosing the lights will eliminate light bleeding out into your room.
This is the kind of linear track actuator that I am talking about.
https://www.firgelliauto.com/products/heavy-duty-track-actuator

You will need a few pulley's to make it work but it would be pretty slick to push a button and have your rack or canopy raise and lower with the push of a button and the costs wouldn't be horrible. Also, the tank will be the focal point and you'd hardly notice the thin 1mm pair of wires running down from the ceiling since the tank would draw your attention. Plus the wife might like the idea of a canopy that raises and lowers.

Another alternative would be to build a rack or canopy out of the extrusions and use a pair of heavy duty rod actuators like the below link. You could mount them to the wall behind the tank and attach them to the light rack or aluminum canopy. Since the actuators would be attached to the rear of the rack, you would need to reinforce the mounting points where the actuator meets the back of the rack so it doesn't add stress to the rods.
https://www.firgelliauto.com/products/feedback-rod-actuator

 

[slief]

Here is one thread on building an electric lift.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1914175&highlight=light+lift

And another.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1674506&highlight=actuator

 

[Bent]

I'm a decently handy person dude, but I think this kind of thing is just beyond my scope. I'm looking at all the information now. Pretty intimidating.

 

[slief]

This is a tube or rod actuated hood lift that uses no wires.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XRxtqrFo6nE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[slief]

I'm a decently handy person dude, but I think this kind of thing is just beyond my scope. I'm looking at all the information now. Pretty intimidating.

It's really not all that difficult at all. There are several threads here on the subject with several members using electric lifts. It's well worth the effort and the actuators are fairly inexpensive as are the pulleys and cables assuming you go with a ceiling mount. The rod actuators mounted behind the tank are even easier but if it were me, I'd likely have a steel frame made for the top underside of the canopy with extension tabs that connect to the rod actuators. That would give a great mounting point for the rods and eliminate any potential sag along the front edge.

 

[reef_fish]

I saw someone on here use a adjustable tv wall mount for their leds, looked clean. I ended up taking off the optics and have them laying on top of the tank. Which barely fits under my canopy.

 

[billdogg]

I chose a simpler approach, using a scrap of cherry and a short piece of electrical conduit.

 

[jedimasterben]

80/20

 

[bfortune76]

Just kidding. I also have a wife who needs for it to not look like a science experiment in the living room. My plan is to use a couple pieces of electrical conduit bent at a 90 degree angle over the tank. I will paint them black, add caps, and run the wires inside. I will use pipe clamps on the back of the stand so I can raise and lower them.

 

[downbeach]

Have you looked at their tank mounting system?

 

[Bent]

Have you looked at their tank mounting system?

No I didn't know they had one

 

[downbeach]

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-24/

 

[sam.basye]

I bought a ~$9 piece of aluminum from lowes to make my hanger and sprayed it black to match. Its screwed into the wood brace behind my tank and rests on the lip in-between the rim and glass top.







I cut two sides and bent the third for each change in direction and the power cord tucks in nicely inside the tubing.

The brackets on top fit over the bar and are screwed in with the supplied nuts (I cut the wire to remove them).

 

[Bent]

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-24/

That's a link to a light. While I see the mount in one of the images, I don't see where they sell it seperatley.

 

[E46er]

my 48"evergrow IT2012 light came with the tank mounting kit. (its the same light) I checked the site I ordered from and its not a seperate kit. try ebay or amazon?

also 2 thin cables from the ceiling look clean than arms and brackets IMO

 

[Skydivingcat]

That's a link to a light. While I see the mount in one of the images, I don't see where they sell it seperatley.

From the description

"The Photon 24 now also comes standard with built in mounting legs for easy tank mounting."

I would call and ask why yours did not come with tank mounting.

 

[G1GABYTES]

How about plant hangers. Many others have used this method because its cheap, holds the weight we need, and are easy to find at any hardware store or walmart etc good luck