DIY Chinese black box mount

[TN_Huskymama]

I just recently purchased a Mars Aqua light. My ceiling is pretty high up compared to my 75g tank, so I am searching for DIY ideas on building a suspension system for the light.
Anyone who has a Chinese black box, how have you suspended or mounted your black box?

 

[Peace River]

Hi @TN_Huskymama! I hope that you are doing well! I hung my pair of black box lights from the ceiling, but when researching options I remember seeing several DIY mounting options on YouTube. Good luck!

 

[TriggerFinger]

Hi @TN_Huskymama
I hung mine using TV mounts. Not the nicest looking but it works for me because I wanted to be able to move them away from the tank completely for maintenance.

 

[Caseyoidae]

I went to homedepot and bought some 1” square tubing, a couple 90 degree brackets and some spray paint. Mounted to back of stand on one tank. Other tank I built a floating canopy mounted to back of stand with square tubing. Just some cheap pine boards, corner trim and some drop ceiling supports.

 

[Urtoo]

I too used TV mount. I have a SB reef, I removed the VESA mount and strung steel cords through that hole to suspend my lights. Allows for moving the lights away during maintenance.

 

[creativeballance]

C-channel and some hooks.

 

[SoggyNW]

I have my 300w mounted to a piece of 3/4 EMT conduit mounted to the stand with uni-strut

 

[TN_Huskymama]

Y’all, So I just hung my new black box over the left side of my tank. I have my Current Orbit Pros on the right side of my tank.
The black box is set to 80 blue 20 white. I CANNOT get my Current Orbit Pro to even come close to this color! Even at 100% blue it still looks very faded.
I am officially sold on the black box lights!

 

[TN_Huskymama]

C-channel and some hooks.

I might have to try this. The way my ceiling is set up, I can’t properly hang a second box from it.

 

[ludnix]

You could possibly do a mounting board on the ceiling that is screwed into studs and cantilevered slightly past the lower ceiling to allow even mounting of the light fixtures. It might look kinda goofy though with a little bit sticking out ...

 

[kcpike11]

I built a floating canopy for my Reef Breeder Photon V1s, I was going to hang on the wall with TV mounts but was worried about the weight. I ended up using a french cleat and a couple of shelf brackets for support. I have about 10" of clearance which makes maintenance a bit tricky, but its manageable.

 

[RockStarReefer]

Bookshelf viparspectra mount

 

[RockStarReefer]

Bookshelf

 

[Zach B]

Got lucky, Our light is mounted onto the hood of our 45. This is a new box for us, just replaced our last no name after 5 years. Hope yours works out!

 

[RockStarReefer]

The setup

 

[RockStarReefer]

If anyone wants more details about this please let me know

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I just recently purchased a Mars Aqua light. My ceiling is pretty high up compared to my 75g tank, so I am searching for DIY ideas on building a suspension system for the light.
Anyone who has a Chinese black box, how have you suspended or mounted your black box?

Mounted mine with 80/20 extrusions.

 

[stefanm]

Mounted mine with 80/20 extrusions.

What size are the extrusions, 20x20mm?

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

What size are the extrusions, 20x20mm?

15 series (1515)

 

[stefanm]

15 series (1515)

Nice, very sleek we can only get 2020 minimum size here.