Corner bow front headaches

[Sapper Ski]

As the above states, I have a 90g corner bow front tank. The issue I’m having now (besides sump space) is lighting mounting. I have SUPER high ceilings and hanging anything from the ceiling is going to require an extension ladder and a good amount of wire.

does anyone have suggestions on how to get the lights off the top of the tank for better spread?

I was considering getting stiff cable (The kind that has to be bent with a pipe bender), but don’t know how I would secure it so it didn’t swivel.

Help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Lizbeli]

What about a heavy duty corner shelf mounted above the tank? Then you can hang the lights from that. Just be sure the shelf and hardware is rated for the weight of whatever you are hanging.

 

[rob taft]

Look into kitchen island ceiling light fixtures. Many offer multiple extensions to lengthen the drop. They are made of threaded pipe and can be made so that they don't swivel.

 

[Urtoo]

1x2” pine frame wrapped in thin plywood hood?
Would allow for as high a good as you want, have strength, and no wobbly arms holding 120v over water

 

[Sapper Ski]

What about a heavy duty corner shelf mounted above the tank? Then you can hang the lights from that. Just be sure the shelf and hardware is rated for the weight of whatever you are hanging.

The tank is in front of sliding glass door on one side, so a corner shelf or anything requiring support from that wall is a no go.

I considered maybe running something from the wall on the other side, but it’s two 9 lb lights, so that would be 18 lbs total at least 2 feet from the wall.

I have no idea how to build a hood for a bow front without leaving the front of the hood open as bowing the wood is beyond my skill level unless it’s simpler than what I’m thinking it is.

 

[Lizbeli]

What kind of stand do you have? Have you looked into making something out of conduit pipe and painting it? Could attach it to the stand and use a pipe bender to get the angle you need over the tank.

 

[Sapper Ski]

What kind of stand do you have? Have you looked into making something out of conduit pipe and painting it? Could attach it to the stand and use a pipe bender to get the angle you need over the tank.

That’s what I meant by “stiff cable” was the conduit wire. Had a brain fart and couldn't remember what it was called. Lol.

What would I use to attach it to the stand. The stand is wooden, so it can be drilled into. The other problem I may run into with this route is that I only left about 3” between the wall and the tank.

 

[whitej6]

I’m lit with kessils on goosenecks on a 54 corner, what lights are you looking at?

 

[Sapper Ski]

I have 1 yr old viparspectras 165w, 2 of them. I’d love to go with kessel if they weren’t so dang expensive.

 

[philshel]

I used to 2 Kessels in a custom 24" led/t5 hybrid that hung from the ceiling. I just broke it down after 10 years of mediocre success. In my opinion the bottleneck is flow, not light. I never could get good flow and the detritus built up in the back corners. When I broke it down it was a inch thick in spots and had packed hard as mud. It looks very nice but not a healthy design, again my own experience/opinion.

 

[me & my baby]

Get you some rigid conduit bend it the way you want it for height . Still a hole through one side that can fit a bit then drill a smaller whole through the other side . Screw it to the stand and it won’t swivel anymore

 

[Jamo7]

I flipped a 5 gal tank upside down and set my light on top of that.

 

[Sapper Ski]

I’ve found that I hate the corner tank. It looks great, but as you said, I can’t keep the crap out of the back. I can’t really get the return rate I would prefer either.

I’ll try to stop by Lowe’s and see about conduit. I’ll get some pictures as I’m working on it.

 

[NatD]

I used a 36” Sunpod when I had that tank.

You’re on the right track with the conduit.

It’s a PITA shape for sure.