DIY Rail and pulley system...

[Tonyscoots84]

hey guys im designing a rail system for my retro kit halides.. at the moment there both reg. parabolic reflectors, which one day will be upgraded to the lum. mini's, i just got other upgrades and addons to do before then....

so i was wondering how can this be done... this is how my lighting is at the moment...

im also gonna bring down the halides a bit more to maybe about 5-6" of the top of the water... the point of doing the rail system is so i can move the halides out of my way when i need access to the tank... same goes for the retro t5's but that i was thinking of a pully system unless anyone knows a better idea...

any and all input and help will be greatly appreciated....

 

[steveo32]

Did you want to raise them when you want to get in there, or slide them from one side to the other? I think to slide them you could use somehting like drawer tracks.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

thats what i was thinking steveo... like the drawer tracks... i was thinking sliding them back so i can work in the tank when needed...

 

[MO~IDOL]

hope this help T

 

[Craig]

just a crazy idea. i saw a guy on reefcentral a while ago who did this. He attached two electric actuators to his canopy and wired those to a switch. you could pimp your canopy! If you have a foot or two to spare above your canopy that would give you the best access

 

[kimoyo]

I would make a box out of angle aluminum using rivets (like how melev did his, http://www.melevsreef.com/days8214.html). The aluminum will make it really lite but strong. Attach the box to your canopy with the rails and mount your lights on the box.

Mcmaster.com has all sorts of rails with their weight capacities.

 

[steveo32]

Be sure to get some sort of lock or stopper. You don't want them sliding around when not in use.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

moidol that will def. not work mainly because that main section is all glued and screwed into itself... im gonna have to make something like kimoyo has shown with melevs reefs site....

craig way to much work but i will def. use the actuators on my next monster tank :biggrin:...

any other ideas or a easier way to make what melev did or something similar or just something with tracks.. come on guys throw some ideas my way...

thanks guyz....

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i gotta take a ride out to home depot and see what options i have available for tracks... im def. going to use the aluminum though... i will take pics of the entire process...

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

i gotta take a ride out to home depot and see what options i have available for tracks... im def. going to use the aluminum though... i will take pics of the entire process...

I'll be eager to see.

 

[DEEPWATER]

how bout oneof these rail systems

 

[Tonyscoots84]

ronen how much for the 1st one :biggrin:

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i was trying to make it simple though.. all i would need to do is move the light out of the way so i can gain access to the tank.. pretty much just push the fixture back..

 

[DEEPWATER]

ronen how much for the 1st one :biggrin:

:irked:

 

[michaelm2431]

Here's how I have mine setup on drawer slides. Cheap and easy.