Hanging your LED fixture - HOW is yours mounted?

[pickupman66]

I am getting a Reef Radiance DM-132e. I CANT WAIT for it to get here. the days just creep by. it is for my frag tank and will not have a hood or enclosed top at all. What I would like to know is how does everyone else who has a single or tow of the LED pendants type fixture hang theirs? I thought about a plant hook coming from the wall, but the wife frowned on that. I am considering hanging it from the ceiling, but not sure about that. I have also thought about making something to mount to the tank stand behind the tank and then coming out and above the water.

Show me some photos of your mount or the way you hung it.

this was an idea but where to get it?

 

[Saltgator]

How big is your frag tank? I've got 4 of the 155's over my 240. Cell pics but you kinda get a idea.

Any thoughts on a floating canopy? Kinda a suspended canopy with either the L brackets to support it or directly mounting it thru the wall using anchors. Just a idea.

My 29bc has a canopy suspended above it. The canopy is mounted directly to the stand via 2 rear support legs and using the weight of the tank to keep it in place. It only has a par 38 mounted atm, but enough room to mount a 155 from Rick in it if I go that route later. I'LLC get pics of the 29bc if your interested.



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[Dtech07]

I made my own for under $35 at Lowes

 

[mfinn]

I made my single led light hanger out of a piece of 2"x 3/8" and 1" x 1/8" aluminum bar.

Made a few bends, drilled a few holes.

 

[pickupman66]

That's what I'm talking about! No sagging? How did you bend it so neatly? Did u heat it up?

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[mfinn]

Here is a couple other ideas.

Aquarium lighting bracket




DIY – An Inexpensive (Light) Hanger Kit - Reefkeeping.com

 

[mfinn]

That's what I'm talking about! No sagging? How did you bend it so neatly? Did u heat it up?

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No sagging at all.
The 2" x 3/8" aluminum bar could easily hold 4 times the weight.

My son-in-law had a flat metal bender that made it easy with no heat.
He did tell me a butane torch and a vice would do the same thing.
I got the idea from a build on reef central. the guy " thedoogan" made one like this, but his had a smooth arc instead of 2 - 45's.
Same material.
He used the rails on his deck to hold one end while he applied the pressure.

 

[pickupman66]

Thanks man. I thinkni can do that. I have a vice. I have a butane torch and deck rails too. How did you attach to stand?

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[mfinn]

I just drilled holes in the aluminum bar and used lag bolts.
One thing I did do was to make the bar have 2 parts so it would be easily adjustable.
One straight piece, bolted to the stand and the other piece with the bends, bolted to the other piece.
I drilled extra holes in the 2 aluminum bars, so it could be raised up or down, but still have the bottom aluminum bar touching the floor.

 

[pickupman66]

Thanks so much! So it goes to the floor. I think I can make that work. Hopefully my light comes in. Btw, what % do u run your lights at?

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[mfinn]

Thanks so much! So it goes to the floor. I think I can make that work. Hopefully my light comes in. Btw, what % do u run your lights at?

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I have a gen 1 Radion and I have them set at 65% on this tank.
But that was after a 4 week acclimation, starting at 40%. The acclimation is very important when you go to led lighting from all others.
Even the most intense mh or T5 lighting doesn't even come close to leds.

 

[mfinn]

Thanks so much! So it goes to the floor. I think I can make that work.

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The reason I split the main bar in 2 pieces was, I wasn't sure how high to mount this fixture. But having it at 9" over the water turned out to be perfect for a 30" long tank.
I think that with what I know now, I would just make a solid one piece bar and eliminate the extra work making it adjustable.

 

[pickupman66]

Awesome man. Mine is over a 10 gallon and my main tank is all led anyways. I could only find 1/4 " aluminum around here so I bought a 4 foot piece of that and a 4 foot piece of square tubing for the upright. I bent the bar already and it looks fantastic. Just hope I didn't get it too short. My light is supposed to come in next week sometime.

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[mfinn]

I did a google seach for places that carried 2" x 3/8" stock in my area and was surprised to find 3 different places.


When I first made mine, I thought I wanted to stay with the brushed aluminum look, but I have been thinking about having the top part anodized.
I have a few spare pieces of aluminum bar. I may just check into it next week to see what the cost would be.

Have you thought about what finish you want?

 

[pickupman66]

Well here it is... I was just going to polish it. I did a little but didn't put much effort. I bet it too short first so I had to invert it and have the square taller but it is good and only 1 inch wide total. There is a little flex so I accounted for that and can bend it a bit more when the light gets here. I did heat it up and bent in my vise. Drill pressed the holes in it.

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[mfinn]

Awesome.
Very clean.

 

[pickupman66]

Thanks. I'm happy. I drilled 18 holes in the upright. The holes in the curved piece are 6" apart. All I need is the light.

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[jimmybling31]

Just as a hint with these lights. Start at around 50 percent power with them and work it up slowly. You will run at 100 percent soon though. It'll just take a couple weeks.

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[pickupman66]

Thanks jimmy... it can't get here fast enough.

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[mfinn]

Just as a hint with these lights. Start at around 50 percent power with them and work it up slowly. You will run at 100 percent soon though. It'll just take a couple weeks.

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With my Radion I started at 40% and have it at a maximum of 65% with lps and sps.

Not many actually use their led fixtures at 100%. Atleast not that I have seen with the Radions.