Advice for hanging heavy light fixture

[Michael43]

just received my ati t5/led powermodule. Boy is it heavy. It's replacing my radions. Obviously the ideal situation to hang this will be to hang from studs in the ceiling. The tank is already in place tho. What do I do when the location of the studs aren't centered to the tank? I know these are noob questions but I can easily assume the studs will not be located exactly to hanging the light where I want it to go

 

[mcarroll]

Bolt a long plank to the studs and screw the hangers for your fixture into the plank.

I want to hear other ideas!

2¢

 

[Michael43]

Thanks that's a good idea actually. Just have to make the beam not look bad

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Move the tank.

 

[Willz]

I'm curious, too. Following.

 

[Jimbo662]

You could also put a beam across the top of the ceiling joists and then attach a piece from there down to the sheet rock then attach the hangers through the sheet rock. Or cut a 2x4 to fit between the ceiling joists and attach it to them so it's sitting on the sheet rock.

 

[Willz]

A piece of slotted channel bar would work nicely too. Especially if you painted it black or white to match the décor. Just center it up over the tank with the slots facing down. I built a canopy for my hanging light on my old tank because I switched lights to one that should be hung and had no legs. I didn't want to chance getting sheet rock and paint chips in my aquarium drilling the ceiling. I also didn't trust the sheetrock hanging kit screws to hold up with all the humidity our tanks put off. Damp sheetrock and electric lights hanging over a bunch of SW sounded like a bad idea. I have seen some DIY solutions using pipes bolted to the stand as well. Depending on the build some look pretty sound and professional.

 

[ReeferBob]

You could use the below. This installs from just a hole from the bottom.

https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse...e=UTF8&qid=1473432248&sr=8-3&keywords=fan+box

 

[Michael43]

Well I got the light up. Need to find a good program to run now

 

[Willz]

How'd you wind up doing it? I have this same issue coming up in a few weeks.

 

[Michael43]

Honestly I got really lucky. The stud location was nearly spot on. Hung directly from the studs and I'm only off to one side maybe an inch. I'm going to just deal with it or figure out something to rig it. I did buy a 6 ft 2x4 that I thought I was going to be mounting across the ceiling tho

 

[Willz]

Nice when things work out like that

 

[Rutrag]

You can also use these:



I have a pair holding up by IT2060 over my 90. Each one is supposedly rated for 178 pounds or some such. I just used appropriate eye bolts instead of screws.

(Whoa, that picture is huge!)