T5 Lighting Rack

roader247 · 07/29/2006, 07:41 PM

Hi All

I am looking for any ideas on mounting my T5 lights in my hood. I was originally going to go with MH but after I got my hood built I decided to go T5's. due mostly to heat and power usage. I have an Icecap 660 and reflectors and end caps the hood is high about 2 foot and has 2 doors in the front. I would like to be able to raise and lower them for access to the tank. I think I will be able to start on it this week as long as nothing goes wrong at work, I'm always on call

iamquockie · 07/29/2006, 09:20 PM

any pictures of the hood? all i did was mount them straight across----hood about 2 feet high you can pretty much mount them anyway you want and still have access to the tank through the doors.

bassnman11 · 07/29/2006, 11:56 PM

You could build a open wood frame to mount the lights on. Attach it to the rear of the hood with hinges. Use screen door hooks or make wood props so you can raise the light frame and secure it in the up position while working on the tank. T5 should be 3 to 4 inches obove the water for most effect.

roader247 · 07/30/2006, 09:49 AM

Well here's my hood I finally got it. The hinge idea may work any othe idea's

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Thanks for the help

Mark

roader247 · 07/30/2006, 12:44 PM

Any more idea's would be greatly appreciated

roader247 · 07/31/2006, 09:31 AM

Bump

David Grigor · 07/31/2006, 10:56 AM

For a lower tech design, you can mount like bassman mentioned but just drill on the side of the canopy some holes in 1" increments and then just use pegs to hold the shelf up much like modular furniture/entertainment centers do.

This way is adjustable for acclimation and when needed to raise them for any major cleaning just move the pegs higher.

David Grigor · 07/31/2006, 10:57 AM

For a lower tech design, you can mount like bassman mentioned ( open wood frame ) but just drill on the side of the canopy some holes in 1" increments and then just use pegs to hold the shelf up much like modular furniture/entertainment centers do.

This way is adjustable for acclimation and when needed to raise them for any major cleaning just move the pegs higher.

roader247 · 08/21/2006, 06:59 PM

Any More Ideas

flycasterjosh · 08/22/2006, 06:27 AM

Roader,

I dont think people know what you are asking for, so I am going to assume, since I am considering the same things.

T5 lighting should be 4-5 inches from the water. If you have a hood that is built for MH and is 10-15 inches tall. it doesnt make sense to mount the lighting to the top of the hood, since it will be way higher than it should be to properly light the tank.

Is what you are asking is how to have a fixture that you can sit close (4") to the water for normal use, but be able to move it up/down for service, etc?

I am no engineer, but what about mounting the lights/reflectors to a "floating" piece of plywood and then running 4 corner eye hooks in to the top of your hood that would suspend the plywood and make it adjustable through some cables/pulleys or something?

David Grigor · 08/22/2006, 12:47 PM

I can't think of any other way than the 3 mentioned:

hinged, adjustable shelving pegs, or pulleys.

Just pick one. All three will work.

Pulleys probably the most tricky to get them to work becuase it doesn't weigh much getting both ends to raise and lower evenly.

07/29/2006, 07:41 PM	#1
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	T5 Lighting Rack Hi All I am looking for any ideas on mounting my T5 lights in my hood. I was originally going to go with MH but after I got my hood built I decided to go T5's. due mostly to heat and power usage. I have an Icecap 660 and reflectors and end caps the hood is high about 2 foot and has 2 doors in the front. I would like to be able to raise and lower them for access to the tank. I think I will be able to start on it this week as long as nothing goes wrong at work, I'm always on call __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

07/30/2006, 09:49 AM	#4
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	Well here's my hood I finally got it. The hinge idea may work any othe idea's [IMG][/IMG] Thanks for the help Mark __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

07/30/2006, 12:44 PM	#5
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	Any more idea's would be greatly appreciated __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

07/31/2006, 09:31 AM	#6
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	Bump __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

07/31/2006, 10:56 AM	#7
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	For a lower tech design, you can mount like bassman mentioned but just drill on the side of the canopy some holes in 1" increments and then just use pegs to hold the shelf up much like modular furniture/entertainment centers do. This way is adjustable for acclimation and when needed to raise them for any major cleaning just move the pegs higher. __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank

07/29/2006, 09:20 PM	#2
iamquockie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dfw Posts: 276	any pictures of the hood? all i did was mount them straight across----hood about 2 feet high you can pretty much mount them anyway you want and still have access to the tank through the doors.

07/29/2006, 11:56 PM	#3
bassnman11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 674	You could build a open wood frame to mount the lights on. Attach it to the rear of the hood with hinges. Use screen door hooks or make wood props so you can raise the light frame and secure it in the up position while working on the tank. T5 should be 3 to 4 inches obove the water for most effect.

07/31/2006, 10:57 AM	#8
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	For a lower tech design, you can mount like bassman mentioned ( open wood frame ) but just drill on the side of the canopy some holes in 1" increments and then just use pegs to hold the shelf up much like modular furniture/entertainment centers do. This way is adjustable for acclimation and when needed to raise them for any major cleaning just move the pegs higher. __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank

08/21/2006, 06:59 PM	#9
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	Any More Ideas __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

08/22/2006, 06:27 AM	#10
flycasterjosh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lithia, FL (Fishhawk) Posts: 264	Your Question Roader, I dont think people know what you are asking for, so I am going to assume, since I am considering the same things. T5 lighting should be 4-5 inches from the water. If you have a hood that is built for MH and is 10-15 inches tall. it doesnt make sense to mount the lighting to the top of the hood, since it will be way higher than it should be to properly light the tank. Is what you are asking is how to have a fixture that you can sit close (4") to the water for normal use, but be able to move it up/down for service, etc? I am no engineer, but what about mounting the lights/reflectors to a "floating" piece of plywood and then running 4 corner eye hooks in to the top of your hood that would suspend the plywood and make it adjustable through some cables/pulleys or something?

08/22/2006, 12:47 PM	#11
David Grigor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Brooklyn Center, MN USA Posts: 4,951	I can't think of any other way than the 3 mentioned: hinged, adjustable shelving pegs, or pulleys. Just pick one. All three will work. Pulleys probably the most tricky to get them to work becuase it doesn't weigh much getting both ends to raise and lower evenly. __________________ Neptune Systems 2016 Marine Aquarium Hobbyist of the Year Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef show tank