RMS Multi Light Rail Mount question

griff500 · Dec 20, 2018

I have the RMS mounts on the back of my current tank. I'm going bigger and fancy using the rail, partly due to the lights not being 100% level on the current mounts but also to allow me to add a further light in future without having to muck about making extra holes in the jump guard.

Questions:

1. I assume that the arms are exactly the same as I already have and so are the bits that connect the light to the rail, so all I will need to purchase is the appropriate length rail. Correct?

2. For a 60" tank what would be the shortest length rail I could use? Could I get away with the 50" rail, given that the arms will reach across the tank somewhat?

Cheers!

Reefing Madness · Dec 21, 2018

mfinn · Dec 21, 2018

griff500 said:
I have the RMS mounts on the back of my current tank. I'm going bigger and fancy using the rail, partly due to the lights not being 100% level on the current mounts but also to allow me to add a further light in future without having to muck about making extra holes in the jump guard.

Questions:

1. I assume that the arms are exactly the same as I already have and so are the bits that connect the light to the rail, so all I will need to purchase is the appropriate length rail. Correct?

2. For a 60" tank what would be the shortest length rail I could use? Could I get away with the 50" rail, given that the arms will reach across the tank somewhat?

Cheers!

1. Yes
2. the 50" rail is for use on a tank that is less than 58.5". If your tank is more than that, you would have to buy the 60" rail.
It gives the sizes on ETM's website.

griff500 · Dec 21, 2018

mfinn said:
1. Yes
2. the 50" rail is for use on a tank that is less than 58.5". If your tank is more than that, you would have to buy the 60" rail.
It gives the sizes on ETM's website.

Thanks. My tank will be 59"... I was hoping to find out if I could get away with the smaller length rather than one that's wider than the tank as it wouldn't look great like that.

xabo · Dec 22, 2018

I could be mistaken but I believe you'll need a different type of X bracket to use the multi light arm.

mfinn · Dec 22, 2018

xabo said:
I could be mistaken but I believe you'll need a different type of X bracket to use the multi light arm.

There is only one for the xr30 and one for the xr15

xabo · Dec 22, 2018

Was thinking that this is the one you currently have: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ecotech-marine-rms-xr30-tank-mount-kit.html

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

xabo said:
I could be mistaken but I believe you'll need a different type of X bracket to use the multi light arm.

That's the one I currently have and I'm sure the brackets and arms are the same. The multi-light one simply has a longer track than supplied with the standard RMS mount.

Does anyone have this setup and can advise on the length issue?

mfinn · Dec 23, 2018

griff500 said:
That's the one I currently have and I'm sure the brackets and arms are the same. The multi-light one simply has a longer track than supplied with the standard RMS mount.

Does anyone have this setup and can advise on the length issue?

You are correct that there is only one light mount for all generations of the XR30.
I would call ETM. Or the distributor you go through.
They would be able to give you exact information.I recently sold my Radions with the RMS rail system.
I believe I bought the 72" long rail for my 72" long tank.
When I was taking it apart I noticed lines drawn on the top of the rail part where the tank mount brackets ended up going to.
It looked like there was 4"-5" to spare on each end.
I'm not sure if that extra length was needed for stability.
One thing I do know about the long 72" rail, is that it sagged a small amount.
While to most I've talked to about this, it didn't seem to bother them, but it did me.
I ended up modding my long rail with a piece of 3/4" x 3/4" angle iron, to straighten it out.

So I'm thinking that if you were to try and use the shorter long rail piece you might end up with more sag.
Hope all that makes sense.
Again, call ETM if you can.

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

Thanks mfinn. I don't like how the standard mounts drop slightly on my tank and a bit of sagging on the rail would annoy me. It sounds like it should work but I've sent them an email to find out what they say about it.

mfinn · Dec 23, 2018

griff500 said:
Thanks mfinn. I don't like how the standard mounts drop slightly on my tank and a bit of sagging on the rail would annoy me. It sounds like it should work but I've sent them an email to find out what they say about it.

I've seen a couple threads where a person used the long rail, but used the ceiling cable mounts. They didn't sag like mine and looked pretty good.
I went to a ATI T5 fixture and used the ceiling cable mounts ( even though for years I said I never would).
I'm actually pretty happy with it.

Be prepared to wait for a return email. I've had issues with their response time in the past.

As far as the amount of sag, mine was about 1/4" - 3/8" over the 72" span.

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

mfinn said:
I've seen a couple threads where a person used the long rail, but used the ceiling cable mounts. They didn't sag like mine and looked pretty good.
I went to a ATI T5 fixture and used the ceiling cable mounts ( even though for years I said I never would).
I'm actually pretty happy with it.

Be prepared to wait for a return email. I've had issues with their response time in the past.

As far as the amount of sag, mine was about 1/4" - 3/8" over the 72" span.

Unfortunately I can't ceiling mount or I'd probably go for the ATI Hybrid Powermodule.

I've got a spare Radion XR30 and so the rail will be all I need to go from two lights over the old tank to three over the new tank (plus another diffuser). I just don't want a load of rail sticking out of each end...

Hopefully the sag will be less over a shorter length than it was on yours. We'll see if they get back to me!

xabo · Dec 23, 2018

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ecotech-marine-rms-xr30-tank-mount-kit.html If you have the bracket shown at the 4:28 mark, I don't think it'll work with the multi-light rail system.

You'll need this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/multi-light-rms-slide-for-xr30.html

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

xabo said:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ecotech-marine-rms-xr30-tank-mount-kit.html If you have the bracket shown at the 4:28 mark, I don't think it'll work with the multi-light rail system.

You'll need this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/multi-light-rms-slide-for-xr30.html

I've just had a look at mine and I believe you are correct - they only slide on in one direction - whereas the ones for the multi-light clearly have to slide in both directions. I've looked a the picture of the bracket on the Ecotech website and it looks different. Thanks for your persistence.

mfinn · Dec 23, 2018

xabo said:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ecotech-marine-rms-xr30-tank-mount-kit.html If you have the bracket shown at the 4:28 mark, I don't think it'll work with the multi-light rail system.

You'll need this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/multi-light-rms-slide-for-xr30.html

Yeah, I agree with griff500, you may be correct on this.

xabo · Dec 23, 2018

Sure thing.......................how about posting a pic when you have it setup.

griff500 · Dec 23, 2018

xabo said:
Sure thing.......................how about posting a pic when you have it setup.

Will do.

griff500 · Dec 30, 2018

I’ve solved the issue! I’m going to use GHL Flex mounts - a much nicer appearance, fitted to the cabinet so no cutouts in the jump guard and neat cable management!