Hey all hoping to get some experience from you all with options here.
I'm looking at a nice 48' HQI+ t5 system and don't really want to hang the system from the ceiling... I live in a condo and cement ceilings are a B**ch to drill into etc.
Does anybody out there have creative options for mounting a fixture like this? no canopy...
I was about to get a straight TEK t5 fixture with mounting legs but this used unit came up and i'm seriously considering it.
Thanks!!
You can make a DIY light mount using conduit. This is what I did since I didn't want to mount anything in the ceiling. If you want more information on how I did, I'd be happy to send you pics and explain the process to you and its very simple to do. Anyone can do it even if you not that much of a DIY person. It only cost me around 45 bucks to make also. Shoot me a PM if you want some pics with details.
lol i have a hammer drill you can borrow to drill into the concrete
i dont have the link anymore but this guy on rc bought an ikea shelf was stainless steel and put it onto the wall and then hung the lighting from that, also can use it to put stuff ontop of...
heres one on ikea
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/60103750
now with this i know theres brackets you drill into the wall...then slide the shelf into the poles on the bracket and all is invisible....would work well
Quote from: Tyler.L on May 20, 2009, 04:17:10 PM
heres one on ikea
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/60103750
it's funny cause I actually have that shelf sitting in my condo not doing anything haha.. but it wouldn't support the 20+lbs and I hate to electrify my fishies.
I did find this http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/diy/index.php I think making it a little more precise in height would stop it looking like a piece of gym equipment (as my brother called it) maybe only going 2-3'' above the actual lighting unit. and since I have a central overflow on the tank you wouldn't see the pipes when looking into the tank either.
is says:
Max. load 18-44 lbs depending on type of wall and fastening.
Different wall materials require different types of fasteners. Use fasteners suitable for the walls in your home (not included).
Coordinates with other products in the LACK series.
should work regardless put an extra "L" Bracket in the middle just for the extra support then
Quote from: lost_at_sea on May 20, 2009, 04:30:06 PM
it's funny cause I actually have that shelf sitting in my condo not doing anything haha.. but it wouldn't support the 20+lbs and I hate to electrify my fishies.
I did find this http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/diy/index.php I think making it a little more precise in height would stop it looking like a piece of gym equipment (as my brother called it) maybe only going 2-3'' above the actual lighting unit. and since I have a central overflow on the tank you wouldn't see the pipes when looking into the tank either.
Thats exactly what I made for my 5.5 gallon to hang the fixture from. As for seeing it when you look into your tank you can paint the back or put one of those black backgrounds on it. I posted some pics of mine below for an idea of what I did.
Setup on back of Stand(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Ftskinner2002%2FDSCF2544.jpg&hash=9fe064facbcf3a0daf377ea2c3906334ef1e4332)
All setup and painted. (https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Ftskinner2002%2FDSCF2572.jpg&hash=f4651df3baefc1c95c4713a2245952091238a2a9)
I painted it with Krylon Fusion black spraypaint and after the last pic I used small black tiewraps and secured the cords to the conduit (EMT - Electical Metal Tubing) so it looks nice and clean. The EMT is about 8 bucks per 10 foot sections at Home Depot.
I put this design together this weekend - I've convinced myself that it is a prototype. If you are interested I can provide some lessons learned while building it.
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_eUprgDB53xU%2FShSFKUAvFgI%2FAAAAAAAABzM%2FXj7zF1A8be0%2Fs400%2FDSC03198.JPG&hash=2f814c07f6a1bbb066cdad360db4b2b30c0728c4)
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_eUprgDB53xU%2FShSFLUlk31I%2FAAAAAAAABzQ%2FLSdWIMdXIKA%2Fs400%2FDSC03199.JPG&hash=5bf4717039bb04460be09f2d1090014519c0a0b8)
I am in the same boat now myself, interestingly enough! I was considering a 8x54w tek, which is actually a VERY light fixture compared to many of the HQI + T5 setups, and a member here sold me a Aquamedic 250x2 HQI + 24x2 PC Aquaspacelight for a GREAT price and I love the light!
Only thing is, it has internal ballasts, and is a heavy sucker ! (Probably about 40 lb + ). In my case it may be worth asking the new land lord when I move whether he minds me drilling up into the ceiling to hang it properly, or if I will build a conduit type hanging system that attaches to the stand etc. In my case, these problems are definitely an afterthought, as I got such a great deal on a really slick fixture.
tskinner, do you think the EMT's could support a 40lb + fixture without issue?
Quote from: mikerobart on May 22, 2009, 08:05:38 PM
tskinner, do you think the EMT's could support a 40lb + fixture without issue?
I used 3/4 inch and made the bend in it about 110 degrees rather than 90. I couldn't budge it by hand to bend it back. My fixture is 14 lbs. You could try 1 inch if you want. On the back I have it supported by U brackets, 6 of them actually. If you want to see some more pics or some more details, shoot me a PM and I'll send you more info.