Need Help with a DIY

[KorD]

Ok here is the deal... I picked up a small tank for the countertop in our kitchen (every room needs a tank )

The tank measures 23.6"x6.7"x9.4" (6 gal long rimless)
The light I have measures 24 inches but the bracket for mounting on the tank is a total of 24 3/4". I have had this light for a while and upgraded to a chinese fixture for over our DT. So I figured I would use this one for the kitchen tank....

A little about the light
It is an elive dual track pod light (add or take away pods if needed)
can not be hung
has those bent coat hangers setup for the mounting on the tank


The thing I do love about this light is the way I can personally adjust the par rating for the tank it will be on.. just simply remove a few pods and or add different colors. I do not really want to have to go out and get a new light since I have this one and also a 30" T5 HO just sitting around right now.


The only thing I can come up with is to find coat hangers and bend them backwards of the way the legs are bent for it to fit on the tank.. or get acrylic and increase the side rim out further ro rest the legs on...

What do you have in mind?

here is a picture of the setup and the problem in question.

 

[143MPCo]

Just flip the hanger inside, assuming you can un-screw it?

If it's like most it's just an end cap with two or more screw holding it on, if you un-screw it flip it so the hanger sits inside it should be fine... don't think the water line will be that high, could be wrong?

 

[GHill762]

I had that problem on a tank before, I ended up bending conduit to use as mounts for the legs. added benefit of making the height adjustable..

 

[redfishbluefish]

If flipping the brackets doesn't work, how about two strips of glass on either end....similar to eurobracing, but the glass would extend past the tank to fit the light brackets. Simply silicone the glass onto the top of the tank.

 

[KorD]

Flipping the brackets is a NO go, I would have to bend them since I do not want the light that close to the water level.

Conduit might work.. I'm just not picturing how to get it to work.. LOL

 

[143MPCo]

this is thinking out of the box...
two on either side?

 

[KorD]

ism't that for a Garmin..LOL
I would need 4 of them, two on each side or I would have to do a balancing act every time I go near my light... I could make it work...

 

[143MPCo]

ism't that for a Garmin..LOL
I would need 4 of them, two on each side or I would have to do a balancing act every time I go near my light... I could make it work...

"out of the box"... lol
Figure if you flip the holding clip sideways it could work, but 4 would be better still gives you a "clean" look?

 

[saltyphish]

you could take 2 pieces of acrylic about a 1/2'' wider than the brackets and lets say about 2'' long one for each side bend a 90 degree angle in the middle to make a bracket. Notch the edge on side the lights are going to sit on where each side of the wire bracket would rest on the acrylic to keep it from sliding off the bracket. Use superglue to attach the other side to the top of the aquarium.

 

[lyscer]

It is hard to tell how far out that goes. But what about using a cable management cover/channel? Not sure if it would stick out far enough for you. It could then also give you a place to hide the heater chord and a power head chord that exit the tank and go to an outlet/timer.

 

[KorD]

It is hard to tell how far out that goes. But what about using a cable management cover/channel? Not sure if it would stick out far enough for you. It could then also give you a place to hide the heater chord and a power head chord that exit the tank and go to an outlet/timer.

Not bad, I am looking at about a 3/4 to an inch of difference from the light to the tank.

 

[NanoFever]

Could frame in the top of the tank and make an "open" canopy or something.

 

[KorD]

Ok.... just got this tanker care of... it only took a good long look at what was laying around the house, and some super glue

Legos fit perfectly over the lip of the tank and I was able to extend it out on both sides to make the light fit perfectly..

It's a free, way to do it until my kids see I stole their legos

 

[lyscer]

We are going to need pictures

 

[Skydvr]

Yes, we need pictures of the Lego light bracket modification.

I was thinking you could take some acrylic or lexan (the cheap stuff from the hardware store would do) and bend it using a heat source (multiple cheap options available).

Bend a fairly tight U to fit over the rim of the tank. The section on the inside wouldn't need to be too long, maybe half inch to 3/4, maybe shorter. Have it extend down two to three inches before folding it back up over itself, then bend a 90° angle away from the tank at the desired height. It wouldn't really be adjustable without making another one and it is not as easy or classy as the Legos, but it would be less noticeable.

I don't really have a way to post a picture of what I mean. The only way I can think to describe it was if you took the p-trap from a sink drain and bent that down to fold over the edge of the tank, then the light would rest on the part that connects to the rest of the plumbing. Of course the bends would be tighter, but that would be the general shape.

 

[KorD]

Alright... since you all want to see the before finished product ( I am heading to the lego store on monday to pick up all the true pieces I need in black lego parts)
This is the basic makeup before gluing it together.
The pictures do not show it well, but the lego bricks are one peg below the rim holding it to each side of the glass. It does not sit flush on top
I made one for each side and I might see if I can fine the "L" shape ones so I can also build upwards to raise the light higher also.. Still a work in progress, but it is doable

 

[Skydvr]

That's pretty awesome.

I took four minutes with a scrap piece of lexan and a heat gun to show you what I meant. The piece wasn't long enough, so it would put the light lower, but you can get the idea.

 

[KorD]

Not bad, I have to run over to an acrylic manufacture tomorrow to pick up some scrap they have. I'm building a refuge for this tank. I got a great deal on a pump, heater, and a small skimmer.. This thing will be sweet when it is done and ready to go.

Maybe I will see what scraps I have left over tinker with other ideas I have