What do yall use to suspend ceiling - hanging reef lights onto arm fixtures?

[Alpha_and_Gec]

I found a few really cheap reef lights for sale, but they're ceiling - suspended. I can't reach my ceiling and don't have ladders that fit indoors, and I absolutely can't afford them crashing onto the tank. How do I go about fixing them onto arm fixtures? Will some zip ties and duct tape do do or do I have to tie it up with cables?

The lights look like this, if anyone have an ID that'll be sweet too. Intending to grow SPS such as montis and stylo.

 

[littlefoxx]

I found a few really cheap reef lights for sale, but they're ceiling - suspended. I can't reach my ceiling and don't have ladders that fit indoors, and I absolutely can't afford them crashing onto the tank. How do I go about fixing them onto arm fixtures? Will some zip ties and duct tape do do or do I have to tie it up with cables?

The lights look like this, if anyone have an ID that'll be sweet too. Intending to grow SPS such as montis and stylo.

So if you have a stud above that tank you could easily suspend them. No stud they make a little anchor that works with drywall. Have 3 red sea lights plus the hang on mount from red sea. I was so worried about them crashing in the tank, but they hold really well actually. Could try that, I couldnt mount my lights because the tank has a rim. Just putting that out there in case you cant find a mount that works with the lights!

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

So if you have a stud above that tank you could easily suspend them. No stud they make a little anchor that works with drywall. Have 3 red sea lights plus the hang on mount from red sea. I was so worried about them crashing in the tank, but they hold really well actually. Could try that, I couldnt mount my lights because the tank has a rim. Just putting that out there in case you cant find a mount that works with the lights!

I'm worried about the integrity of my ceiling... it's an 80 year old house and my bed is directly above the tank, I do not want to accidentally bring the whole thing down.

 

[shcrimps]

I'm worried about the integrity of my ceiling... it's an 80 year old house and my bed is directly above the tank, I do not want to accidentally bring the whole thing down.

cheap amazon tv wall mounts and angled aluminum from home depot you can suspend them from the wall, the setup i did wasn’t much at all, the aluminum was easy enough to cut with a small hack saw but it’s still strong enough to hold the lights, as long as you put the mount on a stud you’ll be good

I'm worried about the integrity of my ceiling... it's an 80 year old house and my bed is directly above the tank, I do not want to accidentally bring the whole thing down.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

cheap amazon tv wall mounts and angled aluminum from home depot you can suspend them from the wall, the setup i did wasn’t much at all, the aluminum was easy enough to cut with a small hack saw but it’s still strong enough to hold the lights, as long as you put the mount on a stud you’ll be good

gotcha, thanks. Do you mind specifying which aluminium piece you used? Would like to replicate the setup as closely as possible.

 

[littlefoxx]

I'm worried about the integrity of my ceiling... it's an 80 year old house and my bed is directly above the tank, I do not want to accidentally bring the whole thing down.

Oh yeah maybe not!!

 

[The_Paradox]

I'm worried about the integrity of my ceiling... it's an 80 year old house and my bed is directly above the tank, I do not want to accidentally bring the whole thing down.

If you don’t have a joist there, not a stud, use drywall toggles not anchors. They will hold fine.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

If you don’t have a joist there, not a stud, use drywall toggles not anchors. They will hold fine.

I can't anchor onto the wall... the tank sits beneath a window.
It's gotta snap onto the tank.

 

[The_Paradox]

I can't anchor onto the wall... the tank sits beneath a window.
It's gotta snap onto the tank.

Is your ceiling drywall/plaster?

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Is your ceiling drywall?

I think? it looks a little different from the wall but that should just be the paint.

 

[The_Paradox]

I think? it looks a little different from the wall but that should just be the paint.

Probably popcorn. Toggles will work fine unless your lights are over 100lbs

 

[shcrimps]

gotcha, thanks. Do you mind specifying which aluminium piece you used? Would like to replicate the setup as closely as possible.

here’s the piece and also what it looked like after i put things up (just before the tank was completed)

 

[shcrimps]

can take an updated picture if you need/ or to see another angle of how it’s put up

 

[cilyjr]

Is your ceiling drywall/plaster?

80 year old house is likely plaster unless the room was redone.

 

[The_Paradox]

80 year old house is likely plaster unless the room was redone.

Means it will be even stronger. Just go slow drilling the plaster until you hit the lath.

 

[cilyjr]

A single one of those lights do not have enough weight to pull down the ceiling.

The bed above will be fine. Even if the plaster came down which it will not. There are joists running from your load bearing walls across to the other. Then there will be some kind of board on top of that. If your house is 80 years old it's probably going to be barn board. But it could be an early plywood.

A drywall anchor will work even in plaster. Drill carefully. There will be a mountain of dust so definitely cover your tank.

By the way those lights do not need to be suspended from the ceiling. You could use one of the TV mounts mentioned above and just find a way to adapt it to that. There's probably a couple of screws directly into the unit. You could buy machine screws and drill out the mount.

If you choose that route you will still use the drywall anchors in the wall if you do not find a stud. That light probably only weighs 5 to 10lb.

 

[cilyjr]

Means it will be even stronger. Just go slow drilling the plaster until you hit the lath.

This exactly.
Some houses out where I live including my own did something kind of fun. Instead of using lath they used chicken wire even on the interior walls. It's been fun for me!