Light mounting with canopy AI prime

[JAWSIII]

Hi all. I have a mounting/ position type question. I purchased a 65 gallon tank with canopy (that my my wife likes) and actually due to my space and no sump yet. I kinda like the finished look as well. The tank canopy was custom built by a carpenter. The original builder made the canopy with cutouts on each side that was designed to nestle a fluval marine and reef light.

I knew that I didn’t want that light at all and also had to come up with a way to get good lighting without destroying the canopy aesthetic

I decided on 2 prime 16 ( as the tank is only 36”) and I cut out with a hole saw two holes big enough for the light and placed the primes on top the canopy.

It has worked ok but I always was concerned that some light was being wasted because there is a crossbrace in the canopy that cutoff some of the light. See pics.

What I have come up with is to take 2 aluminum u channel tubes and sit them inside the old fluval cutouts and then rest the primes on top all inside the canopy.

Pros

Light closer to the water
No light being wasted on the canopy
Tank looks way better and shimmer is not as bad
Cleans up the top of the tank a bit

Cons

Heat concern
Harder to remove when having to take canopy off

My BIG question/concern are the primes staying put just resting on top of the aluminum bars. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Do the fans cause enough force to move the light all? They have never moved just sitting on canopy but I was never concerned about that cause there was no way on them going thru the hole. But now although I think unlikely if they were to shift they would be in the drink.

I did think about perhaps using a modified version of a hanging kit and trying to attach it inside that way but I don’t want to make it too difficult to have to remove when I do have to remove the canopy

Any thoughts/ suggestions??

 

[Saltyreef]

I would buy the hanging kits for the primes and suspend them from the rails or underside of the canopy.

 

[JAWSIII]

Here is what I came up with. $13 at Lowe’s for the hardware.

 

[Saltyreef]

Nice good job on the diy

 

[DocRose]

Here is what I came up with. $13 at Lowe’s for the hardware.

Getting ready to do this exact same thing for my Prime. Can you tell me what size screw you used to secure the light to the bracket? I also see you have washers.

 

[JAWSIII]

I cannot remember the exact size What i did was went to LOWES with the light and looked on the specialty fastner drawer. I do remember it being SS and a Metric size and yes i used washers because the corect screw Dia size was a bit too long and I wanted a tight fit.

Good Luck

 

[DocRose]

I cannot remember the exact size What i did was went to LOWES with the light and looked on the specialty fastner drawer. I do remember it being SS and a Metric size and yes i used washers because the corect screw Dia size was a bit too long and I wanted a tight fit.

Good Luck

Thanks for getting back to me. I found out it's a M5-.80 x 16mm screw (indeed metric). Hope this helps anyone else that comes across this!