Light Fixture: New Problem to Solve

[Kashta]

Even with my engineering skills, I'm at a lost at what you should do. That is is some serious bracing on that tank!

Perhaps you should attach the legs to a piece of wood the same length as the edge of the tank. That should give you enough stability for it to stand, but if the hinges are stiff, it might be difficult to tilt the light upwards if you wish to do so.

You're not kidding about serious bracing. The center piece is a 12-inch slab of 3/8-inch glass. Added a center brace photo below.

If the legs sat lower down on the outside edge, I'd do what you said about putting a piece of lumber underneath to center and distribute the weight of the light better. But with it sitting so high, the side edges just barely clear the edge of the glass. I guess this might be okay, but I still wonder. Also added a outside view of the left leg mount below.

Gravity is really reliable and doesn't go out unless you forget to pay the bill. Seriously though if it bothers you, you could glue some tabs for the clamps to grab onto using Loctite Stick-N-Seal.

I like the idea of using Loctite Stik-N-Seal.. and I appreciate the reminder about gravity. It's been a few days now and that light hasn't gone anywhere.

 

[bushwhacker]

i have that same fixture in the 48" size on my 75 gallon, i dont have the glass braces on the sides of the tank so i cant help ya with that but all in all i'm happy with the light

 

[Bk718]

technically you can just take off the legs and lay the fixture down on the top.

 

[The Zigman]

Heres my Idea...

you can make the block taller to raise the whole fixture up a bit to clear the frame. You could use epoxy, screws, or similar stuff to attach the blocks..

or you could screw the led to the frameof the tank opn the outside... be careful not to crack the glass.

 

[Kashta]

i have that same fixture in the 48" size on my 75 gallon, i dont have the glass braces on the sides of the tank so i cant help ya with that but all in all i'm happy with the light

That's good to hear, bushwhacker. I'm real happy with the new light too. As long as it doesn't burst into flames on me. lol. When it got here, it looks a lot better.. sturdier.. than I expected it would be. And these light systems aren't real complicated, so if some part goes bad.. that's easy enough to replace or upgrade ourselves.

technically you can just take off the legs and lay the fixture down on the top.

That's true, Yuriy. It's not so wide that it's in the way. I have plenty of clearance to get into the tank. So I don't care if I can tilt it up or not. With all that wattage staring me in the face, I'd be blinded anyway if I angled it back. lol.

I would still like it to be raised up at each end somehow. It looks a lot better that way. The light is a perfect fit with this tank and stand.

I'll show you how the light looks from further away. It's not a photo-ready tank yet, though. The water level is low because I haven't scaped it yet. The dark lumps on the bottom are nylons filled with bacteria-established gravel. And the plants aren't anchored yet.. just dumped in there floating for a few more days. I was trying to get eco-complete for this, but it needs too much. So I'll use gravel I already have... then remove these dark lumps after it's fully cycled. It's also dark and murky looking -- mainly because of the cell phone camera (that white light throws the color balance way off), but also because the top water is covered in duckweed. I need to sell some of that off or throw it away. Anyway.. here's a little peek at the goldfish there now until Sprocket and Alexsei (two large comets from Flaringshutter) get here in the next week or two.

 

[Kashta]

Another tank shot...

Here's the tank as it looked when I bought it last summer (photo from my profile page). Craigslist special: 110 gallon tank and sturdy, custom-built cabinet with a black laquer finish -- for $125.00. I intended to use this for saltwater (someday), but the goldfish multiplied on me, as they are prone to do.. so they've got it now. Maybe I'll get salty in my next incarnation.

Dimensions are 60" wide x 18" deep x 24" tall.

Ordinarily, I would have built my own hood for the top... but I'd never be able to match the look of the glossy black lacquer on the bottom with a wood stain/poly or black painted wood canopy. It's a massive tank anyway, so I like it with an open top and a strong light above it.

 

[Kashta]

Heres my Idea...

you can make the block taller to raise the whole fixture up a bit to clear the frame. You could use epoxy, screws, or similar stuff to attach the blocks..

or you could screw the led to the frameof the tank opn the outside... be careful not to crack the glass.

Ohhh.. I'd be afraid to screw into that fake wood trim. I just looked closer at that.. it's just a thin layer on the outside of glass.

It's still a good idea. Using a wood block to prop this up is similar to what zzyzx85 was getting at, adding a raised wood edge. Could do that just under the mounting legs (only) as you suggest or build a fake rim running along both sides and across the back... leaving the front open for accessibility. If I made a fuller strip like that, I could also bevel or curve it down to the real top edge when looking at the terminating end pieces from the front.

The fake wood trim around the top is covered with some kind of plastic or vinyl stuff. So glue the bottom of the wood block to that and also to the inner part of the leg. Which adhesive would be the strongest bond between wood and plastic (or vinyl).. that would also be permanent and waterproof? Epoxy? Loctite Stik-N-Seal? Something else?

I just saw another problem with the inner part of these mounting legs, where the bolts are. That's going to interfere with two approx. 30" glass tops I will have to have cut and fitted for this tank. There's a recessed lip on the center and end braces to hold up two glass or plexiglass lids. (Grrrrr!)

I'll use The Zigman's photo to highlight this recessed lip part... circled in magenta.

 

[ghinksmon]

This may be too simple but what if you tightened it just to the exposed top lip? From the photo it looks like about 1/2 of the "pad" at the end of the screw would make contact. This won't be secure enough to truly lock it down, but it may be enough to prevent it from accidentaly shifting. A bit better than just letting it sit there, and the weight won't be on the glass brace.

 

[pik01]

ah, I remember those two goldies being up for grabs, they looked gorgeous haha

 

[Kashta]

ah, I remember those two goldies being up for grabs, they looked gorgeous haha

Yes, I'm so excited. This is the tank that will be their new home... they're the ones I'm setting this up for.

My other goldfish are camped out here to help add bio-load and boost the cycling (while eating up all my plants). And I bought an all-white comet as a tankmate to go with them. He was 12 cents from a feeder tank and looks like he's doubled in size now that he's getting decent food.