Can't hang my huge T5 fixture on the ceiling. What are my options?

[Kayvon]

I doubt my ceiling can bear the weight of this thing. I am currently thinking of bending conduit to hang it, but I have no idea if it can take the weight either. Does anyone have any experience with this? How did you mount your heavy lighting fixtures?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I used 1/4" conduit and it's currently supporting this.

If you're worried about it, you could always use 1/2".

 

[jboone82590]

You could get someone to weld up a few brackets to hang them from.
Where are you located?

 

[IvanW]

 

[IvanW]

I have 10 Hydra 52's on that frame.

 

[Kayvon]

I used 1/4" conduit and it's currently supporting this.

If you're worried about it, you could always use 1/2".

How heavy is that light setup?

You could get someone to weld up a few brackets to hang them from.
Where are you located?

The tank is sitting below a sloped staircase one one end and a normal ceiling on the other. A bracket mounted to the ceiling wouldn't work unfortunately.

 

[jboone82590]

How heavy is that light setup?



The tank is sitting below a sloped staircase one one end and a normal ceiling on the other. A bracket mounted to the ceiling wouldn't work unfortunately.

I ment where are you located. Not the tank lol.
Maybe you could make something that attaches to the wall.
Maybe some pics may help.

 

[A. grandis]

Why is the ceiling not an option. All you nee is 2 screws on.
I've had ATI fixtures hanging from aluminum air conditioner ducks with stainless screws for years.
Don't let the wight of the fixture tell you what a good solid screw can handle. It's the way you do that matters.
Ask help from a professional. You'll be surprised.
Grandis.

 

[hatfielj]

All you need to do is find the studs in the ceiling. Mount a piece of wood directly to the studs, then mount the light brackets anywhere along the piece of wood. It will be very solid

 

[A. grandis]

T

All you need to do is find the studs in the ceiling. Mount a piece of wood directly to the studs, then mount the light brackets anywhere along the piece of wood. It will be very solid

Yes, and they sell the stud finder at your local hardware store...

Grandis.

 

[hatfielj]

T

Yes, and they sell the stud finder at your local hardware store...

Grandis.

Eh, I wouldn't bother buying one of those. Just draw a line across the ceiling where you plan to mount the piece of wood, then drill small holes with a long, thin bit across the line until you hit the studs. You'll know when you hit one because the bit will be harder to push all the way in. When you're not on a stud it will break through the dry wall pretty quickly and easily.
And when you're done, the wood will mount over the holes so you'll never see them. Paint the wood the same color as the ceiling and it won't be noticeable.

 

[Greybeard]

I doubt my ceiling can bear the weight of this thing. I am currently thinking of bending conduit to hang it, but I have no idea if it can take the weight either. Does anyone have any experience with this? How did you mount your heavy lighting fixtures?

A flat ceiling is not required... mine is vaulted, with beams. I intentionally centered the tank under the beam edge. That's an 8 bulb 4ft TEK T5 unit, ballasts are internal. It's fairly heavy, I guess. Couple 3/8" eye hooks, into the decorative box beam. Secure as it can be.

 

[A. grandis]

A flat ceiling is not required... mine is vaulted, with beams. I intentionally centered the tank under the beam edge. That's an 8 bulb 4ft TEK T5 unit, ballasts are internal. It's fairly heavy, I guess. Couple 3/8" eye hooks, into the decorative box beam. Secure as it can be.

Really nice. Well done!
Those Tek Lights were also great!!!

Grandis.

 

[Jimbo662]

I use rails from 8020.net. They'll hold just about anything.

 

[Kayvon]

To anyone who ends up searching this topic in the future: I ended up using Aqua Illumination's HMS light hangers for their LED lights and drilled thru them using a titanium drill bit for metal. I also used a center punch to put a notch where I was drilling beforehand so the bit wouldn't skip. The powermodule hanging kit raised to the top puts the light at around 6" from the water. I didn't think of using rails supported by the tank itself because I didn't like the thought of a heavy fixture supported by glass. I then considered the fact that many people used wooden canopies that sat right on the tanks and changed my mind.

 

[Esage]

To anyone who ends up searching this topic in the future: I ended up using Aqua Illumination's HMS light hangers for their LED lights and drilled thru them using a titanium drill bit for metal. I also used a center punch to put a notch where I was drilling beforehand so the bit wouldn't skip. The powermodule hanging kit raised to the top puts the light at around 6" from the water. I didn't think of using rails supported by the tank itself because I didn't like the thought of a heavy fixture supported by glass. I then considered the fact that many people used wooden canopies that sat right on the tanks and changed my mind.

Did you use two HMS singles ?

 

[Kayvon]

I used the HMS light track which extends the full length of the tank (48")