Hanging halide fixtures

[Jared J]

How does everyone go about hanging their fixtures. This fixture I just got has legs that can mount on the tank or it can be hung by a cable that came with the fixture. The cable screws into the fixture on one end and on the other end of the metal cable there is a stainless steel hook. Do you mount this from the ceiling or from arms mounted on the wall?

[ScruffyRubicon]

I had mine hanging from teh ceiling.

[VWD]

The ceiling for the most part, you can make up something if you don't want to drill in your ceiling

[Jared J]

How do you use the hook ends? Got any pics?

[ScruffyRubicon]

You need to find a rafter and screw into it.

[Loverotties]

Or a toggle bolt kind.

[Jared J]

Hmm... maybe I'll just use the legs. This fixture is heavy,

[ScruffyRubicon]

My fixture was very heavy too(72" Coralife Aqualight Pro). You will be fine as long as you hit the rafter.

I had a Jeep top that weighed better than 150 lbs that I use to hang , and leave hanging, all summer by a single eye bolt.

[Jared J]

Yeah....not using the legs. It looks stupid and it doesn't fit well. It's gonna have to hang but I will need to find something that looks stylish and won't look like a "jackleg" did it. <---quote from the wife

[Loverotties]

Good luck with what you deside.

[Jared J]

I'm going to go with some 12" decorative brackets mounted to the studs in the wall and a nice piece of oak or maple stained and poly'd as a shelf above the tank that the lights will mount to. I cant stand to look at those legs on there. Going to lowes tonight to see what I can find.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by Jared J

I'm going to go with some 12" decorative brackets mounted to the studs in the wall and a nice piece of oak or maple stained and poly'd as a shelf above the tank that the lights will mount to. I cant stand to look at those legs on there. Going to lowes tonight to see what I can find.

Make sure you post pics when you are done! Looking forward to seeing what you do!

[crvz]

Sounds like a great solution, let us know how it plays out.

[Jared J]

Well, we (meaning my wife) decided against a shelf holding the lights so I picked up a hanging kit at the LFS on clearance for 9.98. I did end up mounting an 8"x36" shelf on the back wall where the tank will go for reef type displays. I have pics I just need to get them posted.