Jan August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 I have two projects I want your advice or help on; 1- How to hang my light fixture from the ceiling with what I've got. We've hit pipe and need an alternate plan to place the lights in the same place. My husband is great about doing all sorts of things to help me out with this hobby, but he is really not good with constructing, measuring and cutting wood, etc.. 2- How can I modify my sump to keep debris and detritus out of the return? I'm thinking that maybe adding another baffle in the chamber where the intake return is, just before the pump, as well as filter media; but how and what? The way it's set up now debris gets into the return as well as the UV. It's just a matter of time before the sleeve cracks from something that shouldn't get in there. I can try to post pictures or you can stop by. Let me know. Thanks. Jan
icecool2 August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 Pictures of what you have to hang, etc. would help a lot with the creative process.
BowieReefer84 August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 (edited) Get a piece of 5/8" or so hardwood from lowes. They sell them pre-cut to certain sizes. Attach the hardwood to the ceiling (hitting a joist or two), and paint it to match. Attach your lights to the wood... This will hold way more weight than you would ever need it to. Make a cheap plumb (string and anything that weighs more than a feather) to find the center point to mount the lights. Edited August 17, 2012 by BowieReefer84
Fishie August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 what kind of light fixture do you have ...how much does it weigh... i have my leds hanging off the drywall using the screws that basically turn into a V when they go past the drywall...they say they are rated for like upto 50 pounds...the leds only weigh like 3-4...and i also pulled with my hand down pretty hard and it was solid...i test it every now and then... let me see if i can find a link... if you can find a stud that would be even better.. my stud had an odd placement so i did not go that route.
Fishie August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 (edited) here is a quick link of of what they look like before they expand once inside... http://www.mcmelectr...CFUff4AodbwEAMw then you can screw your fixture on the outside over it. ifcourse i would not use them with anything weighing more than single digit in pounds Edited August 17, 2012 by Fishie
icecool2 August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 Be careful with those Fishie. They aren't designed to hang things from the ceiling, only from a wall. A 50 pound rated one may only be able to hold 10 pounds vertically.
BowieReefer84 August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 Also, they may be rated for use in 5/8" drywall, while many ceilings use 1/2" board...
Fishie August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 (edited) Be careful with those Fishie. They aren't designed to hang things from the ceiling, only from a wall. A 50 pound rated one may only be able to hold 10 pounds vertically. yea the radion weighs 3 pounds each..and its been fine with it...no issues at all...which was why i asking her for the weight spcifically...and wouldnt put it if it was beyond 9 pounds at most. although now that the radion has the new mount out...where u can link 2 of them together...it would be perfect since my stud runs across the center if the tank...but meh...its fine now...so ill just leave it be.. Edited August 17, 2012 by Fishie
icecool2 August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 I do the ole' pull test too on things like that. My last fixture hung from the ceiling was WAY over-engineered. It could have weighed 300 pounds and I would have still been fine. There are anchors specifically for ceilings too...
Jan August 17, 2012 Author August 17, 2012 Long and heavy! Coral life pro with x2 - 250 watt MH and 4 T5's what kind of light fixture do you have ...how much does it weigh... i have my leds hanging off the drywall using the screws that basically turn into a V when they go past the drywall...they say they are rated for like upto 50 pounds...the leds only weigh like 3-4...and i also pulled with my hand down pretty hard and it was solid...i test it every now and then... let me see if i can find a link... if you can find a stud that would be even better.. my stud had an odd placement so i did not go that route.
Chad August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 The shipping weight (which I recognize doesn't always mean anything... though it's unlikely to be less) is listed as 22 pounds. Are the ballasts separate? That probably knocks 10 pounds off the weight.
zygote2k August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 I wouldn't worry about debris through the return and into the UV. The sleeves are pretty tough- I've seen peagravel get shot through a 24 bulb sterilizer unit by a 2hp pump and not a single sleeve cracked. Put a foam block before or around the return pump.
Fishie August 17, 2012 August 17, 2012 yea i use a foam pad before the inlet to return pump...and clean it every 3 weeks or so...otherwise it can slow down flow over time
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