How to hang Aquatic Life T5 fixture?

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

Hi all I was gifted the Aquatic Life T5 fixture by my GF yesterday and today I realized my ceiling is concrete and im not about to drill through that. I dont even have the proper tools for that.

This is what im working with. The back side of the tank is drywall... Not sure what I can do

tankstudy · Feb 22, 2020

I just used some of those drywall nails with 12" Shelf brackets from lowes.

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

tankstudy said:
I just used some of those drywall nails with 12" Shelf brackets from lowes.

Pic?

tankstudy · Feb 22, 2020

lpsouth1978 · Feb 22, 2020

I just got one s well and my ceilings are too high for me to hang from. I ended up getting some steel pipe, attached it to the wall (studs of course) and hung the fixture from those. Only cost a few bucks and looks pretty good IMO.

20200221_111955 by Lyle Southard, on Flickr

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

lpsouth1978 said:
I just got one s well and my ceilings are too high for me to hang from. I ended up getting some steel pipe, attached it to the wall (studs of course) and hung the fixture from those. Only cost a few bucks and looks pretty good IMO.

20200221_111955 by Lyle Southard, on Flickr

can I get these at homedepot?

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

Crates & Pallet 12 in. Black Steel Shelf Bracket for Wood Shelving 69104 - The Home Depot

This heavy-duty shelf bracket has the look of a hand-forged bracket with its hammered metal edges and softened corners. It goes perfectly in a rustic or industrial home decor scheme. Great for open shelving

www.homedepot.com

Maybe this? from wall to the front corner of my tank its 24''

lpsouth1978 · Feb 22, 2020

Zeal said:
can I get these at homedepot?

That's where I got them. The pipe comes in 18" and 24". My tank is 18" deep and sits a few inches from the wall, so I went with the 24" length. You would just need the pipe, flange, and end cap for each one. I use simple carabiners to connect the wire to. This allows me to slide the light along the pipe to get the placement I want. Got everything from Home Depot.

W1ngz · Feb 22, 2020

I'd go with the shelf brackets. The flange and pole looks nice, but there's nothing bracing it so all of the weight of the lighting is pulling outward on that top screw. Also, the further away from the wall you hang anything, the greater the force is on that one single screw.

It's a bit pricy, but aquaticlife makes a floating suspension kit.

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

W1ngz said:
I'd go with the shelf brackets. The flange and pole looks nice, but there's nothing bracing it so all of the weight of the lighting is pulling outward on that top screw. Also, the further away from the wall you hang anything, the greater the force is on that one single screw.

So the one I linked is enough?

lpsouth1978 · Feb 22, 2020

W1ngz said:
I'd go with the shelf brackets. The flange and pole looks nice, but there's nothing bracing it so all of the weight of the lighting is pulling outward on that top screw. Also, the further away from the wall you hang anything, the greater the force is on that one single screw.

It's a bit pricy, but aquaticlife makes a floating suspension kit.

True, But if you sink the screw into a stud, there is NO WAY that fixture or pole are going anywhere!

W1ngz · Feb 22, 2020

Zeal said:
So the one I linked is enough?

If the center of your tank is 12" or less from the wall, yes. Otherwise it will end up offset towards the rear.

lpsouth1978 · Feb 22, 2020

Zeal said:
So the one I linked is enough?

I don't think a 12" bracket would be long enough for you. otherwise something like that would work, just needs to be longer.

W1ngz · Feb 22, 2020

lpsouth1978 said:
True, But if you sink the screw into a stud, there is NO WAY that fixture or pole are going anywhere!

Ah, I must have skimmed over the stud part. I was picturing this kind of situation.

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

I really like the sleek look of the tube

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

Looks like Home Depot only has 15” of the L shelfing

lpsouth1978 · Feb 22, 2020

W1ngz said:
Ah, I must have skimmed over the stud part. I was picturing this kind of situation.

DANG!!! Yeah mounting anything with some weight to drywall only is not a good idea. I always locate studs using magnets (they stick to the head of the screws). Then I can easily mount right to the studs. Works every time,

Zeal · Feb 22, 2020

Would 15” be good enough??

BrandonS · Feb 22, 2020

Cheapest place to buy the pipe and flanges is Amazon. I built a bunch of book shelves that style and it was a third the price than going to home Depot