Easily adjustable height for hanging light setups?

[adamarchibald]

I am going to hang a custom light setup over my aquarium but want the ability to adjust it easily between two different heights so I can gain easy access to the top of the aquarium durning maintenance. I can't be the only one with these kinds of requirements... How are people doing this? What kind of aircraft cable hardware is needed? Thanks in advance <3

 

[lapin]

T track mounted to the ceiling. Hung with t_ bolts, loop nuts and chain with "S" hooks on the end. Not very fancy like them motorized ones but it works for me.

Mattress on top of tank in case I needed a nap.

 

[WVNed]

I got some pulleys and aircraft cable at Home depot and a winch at Harbor Freight.

Winch is worm gear drive. The load can not drive the handle. Where ever you let go of the handle it stays.
The pulleys are securely mounted to the rafters for the floor above on 2x6 wood plates. The pulleys swivel so they self align to the cable. I hung them on u bolts through the plates. There is one pulley above the load points and another double pulley above the winch. The cables attach to the drum with a bolt so you can get them equally tensioned. I just have to make sure the cable winds on the drum neatly so the take up is even.

All the hardware I used is rated for 10 times the load I am putting on it.