Cord Chaos - How do you solve it?

footgal

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 4, 2020
Messages
6,505
Reaction score
11,007
Location
Houston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
First - @footgal glad to know that you're contributing to the reefing community by posting here and selling frags locally. I started reefing in college when I was broke as one could be (ramen for days) - but we find ways to make it work and all bad things pass in time - including COVID!

But also keep this in mind, there is a difference between offering reasonable prices for something that you worked hard to nurture and grow and 'highway robbery'. It's okay to charge a bit more knowing that you had to invest in growing those corals and its a method for you to recoup the costs. A lot of the prices people pay coming from companies like WWC is for the guarantee and quality of the corals and the crazy designer aspects but not everyone needs that. It's like the difference between a Ford sedan and a Mercedes-Benz - both are cars and will accomplish the same thing but one has more prestige with the community.

I think 10 bucks is a bit lowball personally, whereas maybe 20 - 25 is more reasonable and most likely a better price for larger frags. I know we are veering a bit off topic from the cord discussion here, but whenever someone needs support that's what this place is for - myself included. Just keep in mind @footgal - for all things in reefing - seldom do good things happen fast. Things will look up in the long run!
Thanks for the encouragement! With all the reefers in Houston it’s pretty hard to get people to buy the low end stuff (like the Xenia and zoas Im selling) so I have to price pretty cheaply. Here’s a frag I recently sold for $15
595690CE-213E-4A71-918A-FC6CC6C18EF2.jpeg
86BA2858-2DFB-431E-BB97-F1AD454FB188.jpeg
 

Millwright

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 29, 2016
Messages
80
Reaction score
99
Location
Brunswick, OH
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Cable-ties, velcro bands, Velcro, screws and planning is all it takes.
As for straightening out all the wires that come with our hobby, look at your stand. Envision where you want all your controllers. Put your vision on paper. Plan out your build. Remember If you don’t like it you can always change it.
If everything is in the stand with their respective power bricks or in a control panel mounted externally make sure it is vented. When venting I prefer two holes. One up high with a computer fan mounted over it Exhausting air out. The second one opposite side bottom as to draw cooler air through. The hole that the air comes in through place some Velcro around it with a piece of filter pad attached to help keep everything cleaner.
A few of my own experiences. I was having a hard time finding cable tray locally. I didn’t want to order some and wait for it to arrive. So I made my own out of 1/4” hard board and painted it.
I also couldn’t find a Power strip with an easily accessible on/off switch that would keep my wiring to the back of my cabinet. So I made my own with a power strip, aluminum outdoor work box, a few cable glands to secure the wiring in the box, an outlet, a single pole two rocker switch and some wire nuts. Now with the flick of the top switch everything that should be off for a water change turns off. Bottom switch controls the bottom outlet.( sump cleaning with auxiliary pump, etc) top outlet always powered (shop vac)
And remember just because something was made to hold or do one thing does not mean you can’t use it for something else within reason. Example- I got tired of my temp probe suction cup coming off the glass. So I reconfigured a spare ato top off water clamp to hold my temp probe.
Make sure you have a drip loops. Only bundle one wire from one appliance to itself. Avoid bundling them into circles as to avoid creating a magnetic field. Vent your control cabinet. Keep everything neat and organized. And last but not least. None of your wiring should look like the last pic....

F43B793B-6672-4799-9847-1A2129BDB095.jpeg 60BA324D-5ECC-420E-A674-D8C809754935.jpeg 6EE801D2-CDA0-4126-999A-0AE066604504.jpeg BCE1A58D-A204-428E-B6EC-1AC84C2C9477.jpeg 3A04369E-BC7A-4848-ACB3-3B32C1CD549B.jpeg
 

Luckyduck

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
684
Reaction score
461
Location
Webster, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks @Luckyduck - To say this is one of the least organized things in my house (besides my computer desk) might tell why this is an important thread to me. How do you handle the power supply boxes? Are they set down somewhere or mounted?
All of that stuff is either on the floor or hanging or 3M velcroed to the tank (wave maker controller). My power strip is not pretty where all the cords come together though that's a different story! Lol And the Seneye cord I hid the best I could.

IMG_20200807_165531.jpg IMG_20200807_165620.jpg IMG_20200807_165946.jpg
 

Luckyduck

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
684
Reaction score
461
Location
Webster, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for the encouragement! With all the reefers in Houston it’s pretty hard to get people to buy the low end stuff (like the Xenia and zoas Im selling) so I have to price pretty cheaply. Here’s a frag I recently sold for $15
595690CE-213E-4A71-918A-FC6CC6C18EF2.jpeg
86BA2858-2DFB-431E-BB97-F1AD454FB188.jpeg
Wow that's a really nice Chalice!
 

Luckyduck

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
684
Reaction score
461
Location
Webster, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thank you! Miami Hurricane, grew it out from a 2”x2”
B2B8A6BD-DE82-4EAB-80F8-48A79EA25CA9.jpeg
That's what it is! I just saw one on eBay the other night. I was very tempted. Where do you have yours placed in your tank? And what kind of lights are you running if you don't mind me asking.
 

footgal

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 4, 2020
Messages
6,505
Reaction score
11,007
Location
Houston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
That's what it is! I just saw one on eBay the other night. I was very tempted. Where do you have yours placed in your tank? And what kind of lights are you running if you don't mind me asking.
It’s right on the bottom of the tank, pretty low flow area under one of my AI Prime HDs
C6127162-7086-4C00-A0AB-7D95D3E5143E.jpeg
7884A06A-27FC-44DC-925F-BF72C921A1CC.jpeg
 

Nover05

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Messages
14
Reaction score
78
Location
At Home
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
To mount power bricks I use cable ties that have a hole for a screw. With a little practice you can get a power brick to stay flat against a wall with 2 of these. Screw it on the wall like the in the pic. Bend it out from the wall and go around the brick and then bring it up behind it. Cinch it up. I also make wire control points with these.
nsi-industries-wire-management-7500mh-64_1000.jpg
This dude is living in 3020.
Genius and will be using ASAP. This mixed with command hooks, wires will be an easy process.
 

Luckyduck

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
684
Reaction score
461
Location
Webster, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It’s right on the bottom of the tank, pretty low flow area under one of my AI Prime HDs
C6127162-7086-4C00-A0AB-7D95D3E5143E.jpeg
7884A06A-27FC-44DC-925F-BF72C921A1CC.jpeg
WOW! That's a gorgeous tank! Wow. How big? How long that been running for? And did I say wow? Lol

I actually just switched out my Prime 16HD for a Noopsyche. Pretty awesome light, definitely better coloration than the Prime which I was skeptical about at first. PAR ratings on this light are sick. I just ordered a Finnex Marine 2+ 16" Nano LED to accent it. Great price on Premium Aquatics.
 

footgal

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 4, 2020
Messages
6,505
Reaction score
11,007
Location
Houston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
WOW! That's a gorgeous tank! Wow. How big? How long that been running for? And did I say wow? Lol

I actually just switched out my Prime 16HD for a Noopsyche. Pretty awesome light, definitely better coloration than the Prime which I was skeptical about at first. PAR ratings on this light are sick. I just ordered a Finnex Marine 2+ 16" Nano LED to accent it. Great price on Premium Aquatics.
Just set it up in February 2020. Was my 16th birthday present. Set it up using sumped wet live rock that was at least 10 years old and water change water for the first 2 months. Put coral in on the second day it was set up and so far have only killed 3 corals total, only two were my fault (bjd and a goni). This tank is my whole life
 

CodyBot

Game Master
View Badges
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
46,975
Reaction score
41,572
Location
Houston, TX
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Like other people said, the best answer is to close the door. If that still bothers you then you create a “door” inside the door that you can close. Make a raised panel and shove the clutter behind it. Hide what you don’t like to see but make sure it’s still accessible.
 

plasma327

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
220
Reaction score
199
Location
Morgantown
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am with most. Let the cables loop back and forth and let them lay. You'll be taking things out for maintenance at some point. All my cables are hidden inside the stand and behind the tank so the outside has a clean look. I use the little 3m adhesive tabs to help group and hide the cables. Close the door and gone!
 

Luckyduck

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
684
Reaction score
461
Location
Webster, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just set it up in February 2020. Was my 16th birthday present. Set it up using sumped wet live rock that was at least 10 years old and water change water for the first 2 months. Put coral in on the second day it was set up and so far have only killed 3 corals total, only two were my fault (bjd and a goni). This tank is my whole life
WOW well it shows that it's your whole life!

16?! I'm amazed that you have been able to accomplish that! I started @ 18 but did not have anything close to that in the beginning. I'm 36 now. Do you have a mentor? Parents keep reef tanks? Regardless excellent work, you should be proud!
 
Back
Top