Starting the new light rack soon :)

[scooters reef]

The neighbor that will be building it also just ran into a stock of free aluminum angle and square tube, so will only have a few things to buy to start building it

Still trying to figure out if it will be on pullies to raise it, or a hinge to swing out, or...

No clue. They're sitting there trying to get fancy with ideas and I can't even visualise some of them. One was to have it in tracks with a counterweight and could just lift it at will. Sounded too complicated to me so told them to keep it simple. I may have to remove it for a bit for some reason and need to be able to put it back again

 

[Bri Guy]

Did you see the TOTM last month? He had all his lights on a sliding barn door, so the whole thing just rolled from over the tank to over his sump room, Brilliant!

Good luck whatever you chose to do.

 

[scooters reef]

Whatever they come up with, that I can understand and agree to, will beat the temporary closet wire shelf hanging from chains and braced with a 2x2

 

[mako56]

I guess it all depends on how much room you have for the lights to go to get out of your way. What I have works good for me but you need enough room. Sounds like a fun project though. \

 

[scooters reef]

That would work, but space is my limiting factor It not only rules that out, but other ideas that have been tossed around here as well. I pretty much have only vertical space, and even that is somewhat limited compared to what I wish I had. They were here last night taking some measurements and it seemed like a hinge was what they were going to do. But, I just realized that while it is a way to get them out of my way it wont let me change the level the lights are at, so may ask them to look at pully ideas again.

 

[jmkarcz]

Scooter, I have some rollers and slides that hang from the ceiling if you'd like them... I always wanted to use a anchor winch like from harbor freight (19.95) to cable mine up and down. I built it light enough that 1 person could lift it, it's just long and awkward... perhaps we should talk...

I may be able to offer some insight as my borther WAS to make mine in an aluminum shop at work, but I couldn't wait, and built it out of lightweight wood.

J

 

[scooters reef]

Rollers and slides? Would have to be something that goes up and down though, since I have no room to slide anything to one side or the other. Sliding back would have room, but then be in the way of my head

Never though of a winch though. Even if I go with pullies was concerned on how to hold it in place. Was thinking of one of the self clamping things like for bike hoists, but a little nervous to trust it. An electric hoist would be even more fun to play with

 

[Limpit]

Here's what I use:

Do a search "Sun Lift Hangers" and you will get info on them.
They are adjustable to whatever the weight is up to I think 22 pounds each. You just set them for the weight via a wing nut and the light assembly stays wherever you put it. You can then move the whole assembly up or down to where you need it to be and it stays.
Just another option

 

[scooters reef]

Hey, that may be it! Is easy, convenient, and less complicated than even pullies

Thanks!

 

[jmkarcz]

If you gave it it just enought wire, it would lower to the lowest point, then wind back up, never touching the tank, but the cats @$$ would be to have that on a roller sline on the ceiling to rool back into the filter room, so you could literally climb into the tank without getting burned by the halides. I just used chain... you could hang a body from any of the four couners... I know I've done it... it's strong. My hood dosn't leave much working room between the hanging sides and the hood, that why I dreamed up the bit about the winch or the slides. Once the hood is in place... no rocks or fish the size of a softball or larger can get into the tank.

 

[yaitisme]

Scott

those fancy hangers are commonly used by Hydroponics people. There is a dealer in Appleton directly across from the Saturn dealer that could probably set you up with some.