Hanging Pendants from Floor Joists

[Mac1]

Morning all!
What's the best way to hang a couple of home-made pendants from the floor joists above a tank?
I don't know if the joists are perfectly positioned for where I want the tank, so I may need to make the mounting adjustable, to a degree. My tanks are down the basement, and I was going to make some wooden boxes up to house a pair of PFO Perpendicular reflectors, and just hang them above the new tank from the floor joists above.
Tips, tricks, suggestions welcomed. I would prefer a mounting type that allows for easy access to the top of the tank (lights can swing out of the way, be pulled up, etc).

- Mac

 

[Anonymous]

Just a few logistical Q's

How high are the joists above the tank?
Do they run perpendicular or parallell to the long face of the tank
. Are we talking about your 6' long 230 gal?
Are they exposed? can you get to the sides of them easily?

How big is the box the lights are in gonna be?
Is the ballast(s) going to be mounted in the box, or seperately?
How much is the pendant gonna weigh when it's done?

B

 

[Mac1]

Just a few logistical Q's

How high are the joists above the tank?

Bottom of the joists are about 22 inches above where I expect the tank to sit. (it's not actually down here yet, on the stand, so... I'm going off my measurements)

Do they run perpendicular or parallell to the long face of the tank?

Parallel.
It looks like there's two Right about where I want them, but... Might not be dead on.

Are we talking about your 6' long 230 gal?

The same...

Are they exposed? can you get to the sides of them easily?

Sides? You mean the beams themselves? Yes, it's a drop ceiling here in the basement, and I've got the panels pulled off. So I can get to the boards, but there are heat vents running down between the joists I'll prolly end up using..

How big is the box the lights are in gonna be?
Is the ballast(s) going to be mounted in the box, or seperately?
How much is the pendant gonna weigh when it's done?

I plan on putting a pair of PFO's "Perpendicular" reflectors next to each other, and just make a plywood rectangular box to go around them to make it look a little prettier. Nothing real fancy, using the same slotted wood I made the stand out of, so it matches. About 2 feet long, 15 incehs front to back, 10 inches tall? Together with the bulbs I can't imaging it weighing more than... 20-30 lbs? And even that I think is over-estimating. Ballasts will be remote, so I just have to run a cord to the thing from another room. Going to get the reflectors pre-wired w/ sockets, and just get some of the Ballast extension cords they sell.

:idea: Oh hell, I just bought the friggin thing, so I'm still not used to having it, but here's a couple pics!

Here you can see the area the tank's going to go in. The footprint you can see on the floor where I've cut the carpet out. The photo of the floor joists was taken from the ground with me lying on my back. The red lines show the two beams I'd like to use. (and don't mind the algae on the glass.. haven't cleaned it in weeks).

- Mac