[Drewsplantednutz]

So yesterday I decided I was going to clean the look of my tank up and somehow hang my light to get some aquaponic plants growing on top. So I spent an hour at the depot and could only come up with the idea of simple plant hangers. It seemed an ok idea, so i grabbed some sheet rock shrews and toggle bolts and headed home. Couldnt find my stud finder so I started blastin holes in the wall. One side I found a stud, the other side, just dry wall. So I tryed a drywall screw and insert thing and that wouldnt hold it. I slammed a toggle bolt in there. now my light is hung, but I dont trust that left support with the toggle bolts. Im just affraid if it comes down that metal plant hanger is going to smash my tank right open. So any ideas? I was thinking getting light hanger pulleys at the hydroponic store (the one people use to hang their pot plant light and filters) and just hanging it from the ceiling. But those use toggle bolts through the ceiling. I need clean ideas????

 

[oldpunk78]

Just make a light bar out of some wiring conduit.

 

[Kathyy]

If you put up a board attached to studs then you can put the hangers where they need to be. If you put a board on top of the first board you have a shelf which could make that first board make sense.

How heavy are your lights? You can buy dry wall hangers rated for quite a bit of weight.

Or look into making hangers attached to the tanks stand. Not sure the L shape of metal pipe works for heavy lights but a U shape attached on the sides should be sturdy enough. There was a very attractive L shape made of 2x4s posted recently.

 

[57770]

How tall is your ceiling? I think having thin cable with ceiling bolts looks quite slick. IMHO

 

[Oxl]

You could use a butterfly bolt for your current hanger to secure the drywall side or go for a set of suspended pulleys hung from the ceiling that allow you to move the light up and down with ease: http://tinyurl.com/77a3o3w

 

[talontsiawd]

Google "ADA style light bar" and you should find a detail thread by Tom Barr.


I have done copper pipes before. You take a cap and drill. Use a dry wall anchor and screw it in. Pretty simple looking, not the most attractive but it works and doesn't add much on the wall compared to a shelf/bracket

The next is just that, use a shelf.

Kathyy's idea is also very good. Get a board, dress it up and find the studs. Then you can attach whatever to it.

 

[Drewsplantednutz]

I didnt even think about just making a shelf and hanging it from it. Thats an awesome idea thanks

 

[AirstoND]

U bolt a pipe to stand legs or backboard. and go for a L-shaped conduit pipe that is a smaller OD than pipe ID.

 

[57770]

Check out something like this: http://www.buildmyled.com/suspension-mounting-kit/

 

[Drewsplantednutz]

Finishing up today. Having a shelf helped organize my stuff so much better. And cleaned up the look alot.

 

[HD Blazingwolf]

mine hangs frm eyelets in my ceiling and 50 lb test line.. almost completely unnoticeable.. most people ask me if i bought the special hanging line that's in museaums!!! LOL