Need help with fixture problem...

[mamagoose45]

So I bought a new fixture for my tank and after the brainstorming of a few people, we came to the conclusion that there is no way that any of the pre-fab legs for this fixture are going to work with the tank that I have. The top of the tank is 12"x6" and the fixture is 12"x7". Does anyone have any genius ideas on how to get the light up off the top of the tank?

I want to get the fixture up off the tank by at least a little bit to help with the heat issue in the tank (the temp is going up a good bit during the day when the lights are on.) The tank is not very big, so I don't want to dwarf it by building a monstrous "stand" for the fixture. Has anyone else ran into this issue or have any good ideas?

Here's a link to the fixture if that helps...
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...es/T1/F38AA+0047+1036/EDP/45984/Itemdy00.aspx

 

[coral_reefer_25]

I'd probably build some sort of canopy for the top of the tank...just make it a little deeper front to back than the tank is....there is a black strip of metal in the back of the fixture anyway, so it's not like you'd be losing any light. You could make it as "pretty" or as "functional" as you wanted it to be.

 

[gflat65]

If not a canopy, I have always employed the PVC pipe approach. I use it on my frag tank and the 10 gallon at work (5.5 was too small). I took 1" PVC, cut it to the outside length (tank width) of the tank. Then measure the inside rim dimension and cut a little off of both ends to notch it out (as shown below)
_______________________
l_ _l
l____________________l

I only used about 1/4" of notch (from bottom up) on 1" PVC and that gets it a few inches off the surface. Not a lot, but enough for my needs.

 

[gflat65]

Okay, so my little keyboard sketch isn't working. Essentially, it is a T made from PVC piping, where the 1/4" notches make the lower part of the T. Imagine a 1" PVC pipe about 6" long or so, in profile. From the bottom and ends, notch out a little bit of plastic so it fits down into the rim a little. HTH...

 

[fish tanked]

you might be able to silicon a 1" strip of plastic to the back top edge giving you the extra inch space you need for the legs to fit it? Might be better for 1/2" on both sides either... Just a thought

 

[mamagoose45]

Gary, I know what you're talking about as far as the PVC set up on the frag tank - I took notice to it last time we stopped by to pick up frags... My concern with that would be that with a tank that's only 12" long, a good portion of the tank is going to be shaded by the PVC. Do you notice that in the frag tank?

 

[gflat65]

It does shade a little. I've got that setup over the frag tank and the 10 at work and both show signs of shading. It's not too bad, though. On the frag tank, I don't really notice it because of how much light there is (2-65W PC's over a 7.5). It is noticeable on the 10 with only 2-20W screw in PC's, though.