Hanging lights from ceiling - Joists don't line up...

[Coastie Reefer]

I'm wanting to hang my 36" aquatic life fixtures (12.5 lbs) from the ceiling but my joists and 1x4 stripping doesn't match up to where I want to install them... One fixture will have 2 hydra 26HD's (4.5 lbs) and the other will have a mars aqua 300w (16 lbs). Anyone have experience hanging lights from the ceiling with no joist or solid bracing to screw into?

One fixture should weigh about 17-18 lbs total and the other should weigh about 28-30lbs total...

I could mount and paint a piece of mdf or plywood to have something solid to screw into, but I'd really rather not do that...

 

[All Mixed Up]

Use toggle bolts.

Not these exact ones, but this style. There are heavier duty versions also.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...hillips-Drive-Screw-4-Pieces-803702/204273385

 

[kschweer]

Use toggle bolts.

Not these exact ones, but this style. There are heavier duty versions also.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...hillips-Drive-Screw-4-Pieces-803702/204273385

This is a good idea as well as other drywall anchors. You can also mount a piece of 1”x3” to the joists you can hit and then hang the lights from that.

 

[Kinettik]

Using toggles on drywall ceilings with this much weight will eventually cause the drywall to give way and your lights will end up in your tank.

If you cannot hit studs, you have 2 real options. First, if you can access the space above the ceiling (attic; crawlspace), you can place a 2x between the studs to create a solid mounting point. If that is not an option, your idea of mounting something to the ceiling, through the studs, is the best choice. I would use a 1x2 or 1x3 Pine over plywood.

 

[kschweer]

You can see the 1x3 I used in this picture here. It was painted to match the stand.

 

[5altkreep]

Kinettik hit it spot on. Either put something solid above to mount on, or something below to span the joists and give you a solid anchor. Anything less is going to be a countdown till something bad happens.

 

[cracker]

I use the toggles a 4 ft foot ATI been there for years .

 

[Rjukan]

You can see the 1x3 I used in this picture here. It was painted to match the stand.

This is what I would suggest as well. If you paint it to match the stand it will look pretty nice, especially if you use the mounting system that has finished mounts and cables. It really does have a clean look.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

You can see the 1x3 I used in this picture here. It was painted to match the stand.

That actually looks a lot cleaner than I would have imagined. I may end up going this route simply for piece of mind! Thanks for the visual, that helps a ton.

 

[Kinettik]

I use the toggles a 4 ft foot ATI been there for years .

You are talking 10lbs per toggle. He will be running double that.

 

[kschweer]

That actually looks a lot cleaner than I would have imagined. I may end up going this route simply for piece of mind! Thanks for the visual, that helps a ton.

No problem at all. Just a simple pine 1x3 sanded and painted to match. I also “knocked the edges off” when sanding the top to give it a bit of a softer look than the hard corner.

 

[cracker]

Thanks for the heads up .

 

[ca1ore]

I am a founding member of Overbuilders Anonymous. Rule #476 of our charter document clearly states that toggle bolts into standard sheetrock shall not be used under any circumstances. Make a decorative mount. The picture shows my 'answer' to inconvenient joists - each chain holds about 20 pounds.

 

[Unthinkable]

Use toggle bolts.

Not these exact ones, but this style. There are heavier duty versions also.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...hillips-Drive-Screw-4-Pieces-803702/204273385

There are indeed heavier duty versions:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/TOGGLER-2-...oEoK44eGu05fYBuQIkC1SXytZxSWnW8YaAmsLEALw_wcB

I've mounted many 60"+ Plasma TVs with Togglers and no issues. If you're worried you can also add a small piece of plywood behind the sheet rock for piece of mind. The Braced mount will definitely be overkill and best for safety, but if you want to go the minimal hardware route togglers are easy and hold well over the weight of your lighting. they are also easy to remove and repair if you ever move or move your tank.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I am a founding member of Overbuilders Anonymous. Rule #476 of our charter document clearly states that toggle bolts into standard sheetrock shall not be used under any circumstances. Make a decorative mount. The picture shows my 'answer' to inconvenient joists - each chain holds about 20 pounds.

That's pretty epic!

 

[davocean]

No matter how heavy the toggles are rated for, they are only as strong as the drywall, and we never know for sure how well that drywall was installed, like are there defects or voids, cracks under the drywall mud, so I personally would not rely on them.

Backing in attic space would be my choice if hanging from ceiling, but there are other good options, shelf brackets off wall, maybe even w/ a shelf, or my thoughts on best is a TV wall mount, this way you can swing lights out of way when working in tank.
That would be my choice.

 

[SandJ]

I agree with mounting a board to mount the light on. Since you are going to have a board showing anyways, you may be able to install some sort of lift system for the light (similar to a bike lift).

 

[Kinettik]

I've mounted many 60"+ Plasma TVs with Togglers and no issues. If you're worried you can also add a small piece of plywood behind the sheet rock for piece of mind. The Braced mount will definitely be overkill and best for safety, but if you want to go the minimal hardware route togglers are easy and hold well over the weight of your lighting. they are also easy to remove and repair if you ever move or move your tank.

You are hanging TV's from toggles in the ceiling?

People fail to understand that 50lbs hanging off a wall vs a ceiling are 2 completely different things.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

No matter how heavy the toggles are rated for, they are only as strong as the drywall, and we never know for sure how well that drywall was installed, like are there defects or voids, cracks under the drywall mud, so I personally would not rely on them.

Backing in attic space would be my choice if hanging from ceiling, but there are other good options, shelf brackets off wall, maybe even w/ a shelf, or my thoughts on best is a TV wall mount, this way you can swing lights out of way when working in tank.
That would be my choice.

Well I installed the drywall so I know the installation is pro! You're right though it is only 1/2" and I worry about it sagging more than anything. As far as the attic space, welllll, there's not really any. I could open up the metal roof, but that's more work than I really want to get into.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/crs-frag-shack.470335/

 

[davocean]

Gotcha, so you get it, and no I would not open from above if you are set on hanging from ceiling I'd open from below, but of course this makes a little more work and mess for the drywall guy!
Good to have pics of framing layout like that, I always photo framing on my projects(contractor/carpenter myself)

1x can be a decent resolve if you don't mind that look.