hanging lights

[jon1985]

I plan to hang the lights over my new tank but cant hang them from the ceiling.  I was thinking something along the line of a garden flower pot hanger but have yet to find one that suits the job.

It needs to extend 13-15" from the post to the end of the hook.  Would prefer black or stainless colour.  The thinner the better, I dont want this to attract attention, just hold the lights.

Any ideas?

[Hookup]

Get some pipe and rent/borrow/buy a pipe bender...

Bend the pipe 90 degrees...

You can make a floor standing model or attach the pipe to the back of your stand...

[JetJumper]

But I am sure you can make it neater looking then that.  I would personally use some electrical conduit and just make it look nice

[jon1985]

I was at home depot on sunday looking at electrical conduit as thats what I was hoping to use, but when I got talking to the guy there and told him my plans he said he would expect the 1/2" conduit to flatten out when it was bent opposed to stay round.  He said I could bend 3/4" without it flattening but dont want to go that heavy. 

[JetJumper]

Fill the pipe with Sand, this will prevent it from flattening..

[jon1985]

Id thought about the sand idea, might have to try it.

[nissannx]

do you have a conduit bender? i think their around $35 at homedepot. use then return lol??

[jon1985]

no I dont have one and yes they are about $35 at home depot.  I just need to figure out how to bend the conduit without it flattening out.

[Brine]

There is a great idea on this thread
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=35563.0

[jon1985]

I saw that post a few weeks ago and it contributed to my idea.  And if I where to use 3/4" conduit that would work fine, however I wanted something lighter then 3/4", 1/2" was a good choice.  However when bent the 1/2" may flatten out.

I have a steel supplier I know from the company I work for so I will call him tomorrow and see how much 3/8" rod would cost me and then get him to bend it.

[Vincenzo.]

the conduit does not flatten with the bender.

[TLe041]

With the conduit, you can just cut it to size and use elbow joints for the corners as opposed to bending it. This will give a nicer appearance IMO.

[jon1985]

I was going for an arch opposed to 90* corners.  I find the elbows kinda bulky.  I know it may seem picky but I am trying to keep the appearance of the tank light.

[charlie]

Jon1985, there is a project on here that was done by a member "RebeccaB" she did the conduit pipe light hanger with bends , perhaps try sending her a PM for details, if i find that thread i`ll link it here

Edit to add link- http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=35563.msg221317#msg221317

[jon1985]

I am going to pick up some conduit tomorrow.  To bend it I am going to cap it and fill it with sand and see how that goes.

[Vincenzo.]

imo, u dont need sand to fill it. 1/2'' - 3/4'' wont break even holding a 4foot light... because u dont just get a perfect 90 degrees with the pipe bender, its gradual... a perfect example is rebeccaB's that charlie posted.

[jon1985]

Im not worried about it bending with the light on it.  Im worried about it flattening out when I bend it. 1/2" has a much thinner wall then 3/4" so I think it would flatten.  I will fill it with sand, cap it, bend it and un cap it and remove the sand.

[JetJumper]

Im not worried about it bending with the light on it.  Im worried about it flattening out when I bend it. 1/2" has a much thinner wall then 3/4" so I think it would flatten.  I will fill it with sand, cap it, bend it and un cap it and remove the sand.

Thats the way to do it

[jon1985]

Didnt bother filling with sand.  I used 4 22* bends equally spaced and got the look I wanted.  There was very minimal crushing but I think if I had gone much further it would have gotten worse exponentially.

[JetJumper]

nice.

Pictures?