Tips for hanging large fixtures.

[WVNed]

I have to hang 2 four foot fixtures over an 8 foot tank. I have a drop ceiling and will hang them from the joists above probably with chains.
Here is one of them on my 75.

I have never set up a large tank before and I have always used lights that sat on the tank up until now. They did come with legs but I don't intend to use them. I am not sure how that would work in the center with the weight on a tank brace.
I was wondering about them swinging and being able to move them out of the way to work on the tank.
The only idea I have come up with is to swing them back to the wall and fasten them there while I work on the tank. This seems like the least dangerous method in my mind. This would need something clever to work with the drop ceiling though.

Any suggestions would be welcome
Thanks

 

[virtual reality]

How much room do you have from the top of the light to the ceiling?

 

[WVNed]

24 inch high tank on a 30 inch stand and the ceiling is 8 feet to the grid.
About 3 and 1/2 feet.

 

[JoshH]

If you were looking for something that looks really nice and can pivot. I might suggest some hanging products from MBS standoffs. You could get there pivot mount system and put a 2×4 frame in above the TBar ceiling and screw them into that. I have personally used there straight mount system to hang my Refugium on my older setup and it worked fantastic. Each hanger typically holds between 35-65 Pounds so should be plenty for a light fixture. You could also use a hook and eye screw on either end to secure the fixture to the wall when you swing it back. Plus they have an entire lineup of aluminum hangers which is perfect for our application (these were the ones I used).

This system of mounts paired with a straight mount for the lights themselves is rated for 150lbs and would probably only be $100 when it's all said and done

 

[virtual reality]

You could go a couple ways. You could use cable, I have some hand cable adjusters that you could just slide the light up.
They can hold a 3/4 horse motor and gearbox up with very small cable. That would work. If you don't mind a ladder.

You could also run cable up through the tile put two pulley up there, run back and down the wall for a small hand winch.

You could also get four L- brackets and weld rod to them, then just slide your lights on them back to the wall.

 

[WVNed]

Just do it

need some adjusting but I think it will do.

 

[Peace River]

Just do it
[...] need some adjusting but I think it will do.

Ah, the old beam lift method - nice work!

 

[brewandreef]

Are those the Hamilton MH/T5 fixtures?

 

[WVNed]

Yes 2 250w and 4 T-5

 

[brewandreef]

Nice![emoji1303]Tank is going to be awesome!

 

[WVNed]

I hope so

 

[WVNed]

TLAR

That Looks About Right
29 inches off the stand. About where I will start running it based on when I had one of these on my 75 using the legs which were very short.
If I was OCD it would bother me that the chain on the very left is 2 links shorter than the others.
But I am not.
Strand is level and the lights are level.

The hardware will hold a 1000 pounds. I may build a small canopy to hide the lights. The lights only weigh about 40 pounds each.

Haven't decided that yet.
I think I am going to use 2 cast iron plant hangers to hold the wiring.

 

[Peace River]

TLAR [...] Strand is level and the lights are level.

The hardware will hold a 1000 pounds. I may build a small canopy to hide the lights. The lights only weigh about 40 pounds each.

Haven't decided that yet.
I think I am going to use 2 cast iron plant hangers to hold the wiring.

It looks good from here! The beam mount fits with the rustic look in the room - of course, it needs to look good to you (and maybe others who share your space). I like the iron plant hanger idea! Personally, I think that a reason that I would consider a hood would be to add light deflectors if you find that MH lights are spilling light into the room. Good work!

 

[WVNed]

It looks good from here! The beam mount fits with the rustic look in the room - of course, it needs to look good to you (and maybe others who share your space). I like the iron plant hanger idea! Personally, I think that a reason that I would consider a hood would be to add light deflectors if you find that MH lights are spilling light into the room. Good work!

It wasn't bad on my 18 inch wide tank. I think they will be fine on a 24 inch wide tank if I can get them to not tip from the weight of the wires. Each has 5 heavy cords.
A canopy could counterbalance the weight. Trying to think ahead.

 

[Peace River]

It wasn't bad on my 18 inch wide tank. I think they will be fine on a 24 inch wide tank if I can get them to not tip from the weight of the wires. Each has 5 heavy cords.
A canopy could counterbalance the weight. Trying to think ahead.

Good! That should work as long as the distance from the top of the tank to the lights hasn't increased.

 

[KrisReef]

Nice work!