Suggestions for suspending two dual NO T5 fixtures above tank

[anastasisariel]

The fixtures are the coralife dual NO T5 fixtures 30" 2x18 a piece. I would really appreciate any feedback and suggestions on ways I could suspend them above the tank so that they are not 3 cm above the surface of the water. It is a 29 Long and there is no shelves or anything above it to make it easier.

Anyone?

[Hoppy]

Search for the many bent conduit light hanger installations here. Or, if you want really simple, look at: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post910650
You should be able to attach the two fixtures side by side pretty easily, or just hang them separately.

[anastasisariel]

Thanks a lot Hoppy; I appreciate it.

[Church]

^ What Hoppy said. Basically the conduit hanger is going to be the easiest thing you can do. Otherwise, the only thing else I can see to do, that would be attractive, is to take the fixtures apart and retrofit them into a new reflector.

[anastasisariel]

Church,

I'm having issues seeing how a conduit hanger will solve the problem. How do I connect the coralife fixtures to this to solve the issue? Sorry, I'm not much of a carpenter lol... at all. I've searched but I'm just not keen enough to put it together in my mind (I didn't find any pictures hehe).

I guess I might just buy an all glass aquarium top for 20 bucks and add a little more light to compensate for any loss to the top. Turning on both my coralife's would definately make up for it since using one alone has been working great for me so far. Unfortunately this won't disperse the light as well as I believe raising the fixture would.

thanks all,

[hydrophyte]

I put together a blog post about hanging up a strip light. It is really easy and inexpesive, requiring only a jack chain, toggle bolts and S-hooks...

http://hydrophytesblog.com/?p=542

[roybot73]

Do you want the fixtures off the tank for aesthetic purposes? I have 2 of those right on top of my uncovered 20L without any issues. In fact, being NO T5s, having them closer to the water's surface will give better light penetration into a deeper tank like a 29.

[anastasisariel]

Thanks for all the replies. I really do appreciate it. And thanks hydrophyte I'm going to check that out immediately.

I'm not doing it for aesthetic purposes at all I'm doing it to disperse the light better than it is currently. By raising it even 3 in it would disperse the light more evenly in the tank.

thanks again!

[mistergreen]

I hung mine to the ceiling. I use regular ceiling hooks and those steel hanging wire graded for 50-100 lbs. I was lucky to have found a wooden beam in the ceiling for the hooks to go into but it should be fine if you don't have a beam. Just get the correct hardware.

I have T5HO so I'm hanging it pretty high up with plenty of space for me to clean the tank with.

[greenisgood]

Have you tried using mirror reflectors to re-direct the light dispersion? That's another line of thought.

DK

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by greenisgood

Have you tried using mirror reflectors to re-direct the light dispersion? That's another line of thought.

DK

Mirrors are poor reflectors of light. They reflect an accurate image of the light, but only a fraction of the light gets reflected. Ordinary white paint reflects more light than a rear surface mirror does.

It works very well to install lights in a box-like enclosure, with the lights mounted deep enough in the box so the sides stop much of the spill over light. If those sides are painted white much of the light hitting them is reflected towards the water.