Can my tank support my light?

[Shnetts]

I just got a new nicrew hyper reef gen 2 200W. It’s going on a IM lagoon 25 with 8mm glass. My concern is this light is HEAVY. I reached out to nicrew and they said a minimum of 8-10mm glass but 12 is highly recommended.

My question is how sketchy is mounting the light on the back glass with only 8mm glass

 

[purpfish]

This is my worst fear and why I ended up hanging my light

 

[purpfish]

Especially if you bump it

 

[Shnetts]

This is my worst fear and why I ended up hanging my light

I would much rather hang it. I just have limited options now that the tank is setup. I can drill into my walls and can’t really access the back of the stand to do a stand mounted

 

[JHSteepat]

This is my worst fear and why I ended up hanging my light

Same here.

 

[purpfish]

Then maybe try to have two sides supporting it that’s tough

 

[Shnetts]

I was thinking about doing a rms side tank mount. But dang 200 for just the mount Is crazy

 

[purpfish]

U could always diy something aluminum

 

[Shnetts]

U could always diy something aluminum

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Just wish I could diy something that looked as good as a professional mount

 

[CO2TLEY]

I have a Neptune Sky (RMS mount) on my 20G WaterBox and its been on there for over a year. I also had the same concern but it hasnt been an issue

 

[X-37B]

Not sure the weight of your light but I run a xr15 gen 5 with mount on my IM 15.
Although heavy it is secure and stable on the thin glass.

 

[Shnetts]

I have a Neptune Sky (RMS mount) on my 20G WaterBox and its been on there for over a year. I also had the same concern but it hasnt been an issue

Not sure the weight of your light but I run a xr15 gen 5 with mount on my IM 15.
Although heavy it is secure and stable on the thin glass.

Are they full metal mounts? The nicrew is basically a copy of those designs

 

[CO2TLEY]

Are they full metal mounts? The nicrew is basically a copy of those designs

The clamp on the tank and bracket that screws into the light is plastic. The arm is metal

 

[X-37B]

Are they full metal mounts? The nicrew is basically a copy of those designs

Radion mounts are aluminum and the clamp is plastic.

 

[BryanM]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Shnetts]

I wouldn't do it.

from experience? or just because

 

[BryanM]

from experience? or just because

Not worth the risk of breakage.

 

[JHSteepat]

Maybe I am paranoid given the strength of tempered glass and you can take the following as you wish, but glass is an amorphous solid, and has some liquid qualities. Over the life of a tank (10+ years??), I am not sure if this comes into play, but can't help thinking about deformation of the glass the tank is clamped on, especially with the torque created by 15+ lbs of weight supported by a fairly long lever arm clamped to the edge of the glass of a rimless aquarium (I have an Orphek Atlantic Icon and 1/2" glass on a rimless tank), combined with all the talk of seam failures and combined with internal water pressure from powerhead. The deformation may be immediate due to the weight, or due to long-term effects. In either case I believe it is a significant enough stressor to avoid. I haven't seen any engineering write-ups on the long term effects of such stressors on an aquarium, so I passed on supporting the light from the glass of the (rimless) tank.

I chose to err on the side of caution and just hang the light(s) above the tank.

 

[DrkNMighty]

I have an Orphek Atlantic iCon which is a fairly heavy light. I was concerned with the weight of the light overtime, not to mention the light sagged some on the mounting arms. I have vaulted ceiling where the tank was so I wasn’t really willing to hang the lights. I took what I would consider a hybrid approach. I mounted the light where I wanted it with the arms and then I took a stainless steel ring and fastened it to a stud in the wall. Then I took piece of the hanging kit and fastened that to the ring in the wall to help alleviate the sagging and distribute some of the weight of the light.