Peninsula Tank Lighting Options

[Sean Norman]

I am in the planning stages of purchasing a peninsula style tank- vacillating between the Waterbox and the Red Sea 650. I did get a quote on a custom tank that had a corner overflow, but I like the idea of something that is a little more plug and play. My LFS is a Red Sea dealer and I can purchase through them and get a little bit of a deal and more importantly I have a human to deal with if I have any issues..
My question is about lighting. I will be placing this in the middle of a room, so I will not be near a wall. The ceiling is vaulted, so hanging wires from it would not really work. I have seen a few designs with a bracket or stand where the lights span from end to end with no support wires from the ceiling. My guess is this would need to be steel or high strength aluminum.
Has anyone done anything similar?
Thanks.

 

[C. Eymann]

I am in the planning stages of purchasing a peninsula style tank- vacillating between the Waterbox and the Red Sea 650. I did get a quote on a custom tank that had a corner overflow, but I like the idea of something that is a little more plug and play. My LFS is a Red Sea dealer and I can purchase through them and get a little bit of a deal and more importantly I have a human to deal with if I have any issues..
My question is about lighting. I will be placing this in the middle of a room, so I will not be near a wall. The ceiling is vaulted, so hanging wires from it would not really work. I have seen a few designs with a bracket or stand where the lights span from end to end with no support wires from the ceiling. My guess is this would need to be steel or high strength aluminum.
Has anyone done anything similar?
Thanks.

I have hung fixtures from vaulted ceilings, just need to know where roof joists are and mock up using string and a level.
Personally I think it looks way "cleaner" than having a big arm holding the lights, one neat idea I did for a clients tank who didn't like the looks of the wire supports coming from the ceiling is I used Stainless steel railing tubes to sheath the wires as it matched the oceanic tech tank Stainless stand/finish.
Just an idea.

 

[dantimdad]

Fab up acrylic legs/supports. Plenty of strength and won't obscure the view too much.

 

[artieg1]

Lots of options if doing pure LED or pure T5. I use this tank mounting setup with 3 AI Hydras, it sits on each long end of a tank that is 6 feet wide:

AI HMS Dual Arm Tank Mount Rail Kit - AquaIllumination

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

You could also do Reef Brite strips, but I found those lights were not sufficient for corals, alone. What you cannot really find is a hybrid LED/T5 in this kind of setup, without hanging. That is what I have been trying to figure out. But I have been very happy with the 3 AI Hydras, and the tank mount system is well made and solid.

I love the look of a rimless peninsula tank in the middle of a room.

 

[Greybeard]

Vaulted ceilings aren't really a problem...

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

This is the cleanest look I've seen for what it sounds like you're looking for:

 

[Andre Arnold]

I have an Aluminum "L" bracket that I made from 80/20 on my Peninsula 500.. I got the idea from @LV3.. Also got the Idea to mount the bracket to the back of the stand from @David Taghehchian on his tank.

 

[AcanthurusRex]

I would use 80/20.

 

[Sean Norman]

That is what I was looking for- some type of L bracket that I can have float out over the tank. Not sure if I want to go with the Red Sea light package and adapt it, or do something on my own. I really like your aquascape- love the descending reef look.