DIY thrift store cabinet build...yea its awesome!

BanZI29

Still just a reefer noob!
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I posted these pix on my build thread but also wanted a separate thread for this because.... it was alot of work and I wanna show off!!! J/K
Anyway I bought this Cabinet thing from a ReStore Habitat for Humanity store. It's a great place too.
It cost me $125 but it is VERY sturdy and had all the storage I will need. This took me almost 3 months to finish because of life :)
This is how it started out:
20210506_195228_HDR.jpg
Had to sand everything down and get rid of the thick varnish on it
20210606_181151_HDR.jpg

When I took off the top, discovered that this was a "revamped" hotel cabinet piece. if you look on the side edge, it looks like someone just took a circular saw and tried to play "jason" with it. A good thing was that the other side of the top was a hard plastic surface to YEA built in waterproofing!!!
20210703_182541_HDR.jpg
20210606_181155_HDR.jpg
decided to paint it a sea blue and teal, just like those colors
20210606_181206_HDR.jpg
20210703_182556_HDR.jpg

bought a ADJ power station and made a dedicated space for it in the cabinet
20210506_195150_HDR.jpg
20210703_202320_HDR.jpg

and it fits perfectly!!
20210703_205832_HDR.jpg

put the top back on and more painting.
20210703_202351_HDR.jpg

I wanted to do an epoxy poured top but...budget! :( so spray paint it is.
20210730_160148_HDR.jpg

wanted to put in all the electric stuffs in the cabinet but wanted to have easy access to it. so, built in a slider wall.
20210730_160158_HDR.jpg
20210730_160207_HDR.jpg

FINALLY done. time for the big move. I also re-scaped the tank with a new Carib-sea live rock and get corals in a safer place. A lot of them have outgrown their original home location. Yes I know the torch fell over, dang conch snail. I got him back up fast.
20210730_164404_HDR.jpg

out with the old.... cleaned the sand and glass. (after this pic was taken)
20210730_175837_HDR.jpg

and in with the new!
20210730_185539_HDR.jpg

from here I reconnected and installed all the electrics, ran all the stuff for the ATO.....then discovered I somehow killed the ATO pump AFTER it was wired in DOH!! Saltwateraquarium.com for the save! Wish I was able to get the wire management better but its loads better then it was.
20210802_160745_HDR.jpg

everything is connected and everyone is in there new home spot. hope they like it.
20210731_011743_HDR.jpg

Heres a better shot of the cabinet. I ditched the old bucket and got this container from the LFS Fintastic aquariums.
20210803_200535_HDR.jpg

I am still working on getting the doser setup for all-for -reef but the tank is not ready for that yet. giving it a week or so for everyone to settle in and the params to stabilize. Also have my water change pump setup so changes should go alot faster now. Kinda sucks that I cant use my slide out yet. the cords on my Current USA lights and main pump are too short. Getting Extensions soon.
20210803_201500_HDR.jpg

I am still waiting on the handles I ordered as they are on backorder. they are shell-shaped so that should look awesome!
After all is done, this is the result. looks pretty good I think. these pics are about 2 days later as I wanted everyone to be settled and not all closed up.
A
20210802_160705_HDR.jpg
20210802_160653_HDR.jpg
20210802_160632_HDR.jpg
20210802_160622_HDR.jpg
20210802_160616_HDR.jpg

Had to run the UV for a little bit too. had a small bacteria bloom show up the next day. I have a green killing machine UV and it cleared it up fast. So that is the build and it is mostly done. I still need to make a floating shelf above the tank to attach my lights. I bought some 15" ReefBright XHO's to supplement my Current USA Orbit Marines, which BTW have been my main lights since I started this last year. All the corals have grown and thrived with these lights and I love the whole integration setup with their LOOP Bluetooth controller. I also use 2 of their wave pumps and their main DC pump and they all have been great with no problems and work perfectly with the LOOP controller.
I will have the lights a bit higher so needed the extra PAR and UV from the XHO's. I will post those pix when I finish it.
20210803_201643_HDR.jpg

Had to make the last pic reppin R2R. I hope you all like this and please, it you have any suggestions or see something that may not be right, Please let me know. I would really appreciate it.
 

PeterC99

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I posted these pix on my build thread but also wanted a separate thread for this because.... it was alot of work and I wanna show off!!! J/K
Anyway I bought this Cabinet thing from a ReStore Habitat for Humanity store. It's a great place too.
It cost me $125 but it is VERY sturdy and had all the storage I will need. This took me almost 3 months to finish because of life :)
This is how it started out:
20210506_195228_HDR.jpg
Had to sand everything down and get rid of the thick varnish on it
20210606_181151_HDR.jpg

When I took off the top, discovered that this was a "revamped" hotel cabinet piece. if you look on the side edge, it looks like someone just took a circular saw and tried to play "jason" with it. A good thing was that the other side of the top was a hard plastic surface to YEA built in waterproofing!!!
20210703_182541_HDR.jpg
20210606_181155_HDR.jpg
decided to paint it a sea blue and teal, just like those colors
20210606_181206_HDR.jpg
20210703_182556_HDR.jpg

bought a ADJ power station and made a dedicated space for it in the cabinet
20210506_195150_HDR.jpg
20210703_202320_HDR.jpg

and it fits perfectly!!
20210703_205832_HDR.jpg

put the top back on and more painting.
20210703_202351_HDR.jpg

I wanted to do an epoxy poured top but...budget! :( so spray paint it is.
20210730_160148_HDR.jpg

wanted to put in all the electric stuffs in the cabinet but wanted to have easy access to it. so, built in a slider wall.
20210730_160158_HDR.jpg
20210730_160207_HDR.jpg

FINALLY done. time for the big move. I also re-scaped the tank with a new Carib-sea live rock and get corals in a safer place. A lot of them have outgrown their original home location. Yes I know the torch fell over, dang conch snail. I got him back up fast.
20210730_164404_HDR.jpg

out with the old.... cleaned the sand and glass. (after this pic was taken)
20210730_175837_HDR.jpg

and in with the new!
20210730_185539_HDR.jpg

from here I reconnected and installed all the electrics, ran all the stuff for the ATO.....then discovered I somehow killed the ATO pump AFTER it was wired in DOH!! Saltwateraquarium.com for the save! Wish I was able to get the wire management better but its loads better then it was.
20210802_160745_HDR.jpg

everything is connected and everyone is in there new home spot. hope they like it.
20210731_011743_HDR.jpg

Heres a better shot of the cabinet. I ditched the old bucket and got this container from the LFS Fintastic aquariums.
20210803_200535_HDR.jpg

I am still working on getting the doser setup for all-for -reef but the tank is not ready for that yet. giving it a week or so for everyone to settle in and the params to stabilize. Also have my water change pump setup so changes should go alot faster now. Kinda sucks that I cant use my slide out yet. the cords on my Current USA lights and main pump are too short. Getting Extensions soon.
20210803_201500_HDR.jpg

I am still waiting on the handles I ordered as they are on backorder. they are shell-shaped so that should look awesome!
After all is done, this is the result. looks pretty good I think. these pics are about 2 days later as I wanted everyone to be settled and not all closed up.
A
20210802_160705_HDR.jpg
20210802_160653_HDR.jpg
20210802_160632_HDR.jpg
20210802_160622_HDR.jpg
20210802_160616_HDR.jpg

Had to run the UV for a little bit too. had a small bacteria bloom show up the next day. I have a green killing machine UV and it cleared it up fast. So that is the build and it is mostly done. I still need to make a floating shelf above the tank to attach my lights. I bought some 15" ReefBright XHO's to supplement my Current USA Orbit Marines, which BTW have been my main lights since I started this last year. All the corals have grown and thrived with these lights and I love the whole integration setup with their LOOP Bluetooth controller. I also use 2 of their wave pumps and their main DC pump and they all have been great with no problems and work perfectly with the LOOP controller.
I will have the lights a bit higher so needed the extra PAR and UV from the XHO's. I will post those pix when I finish it.
20210803_201643_HDR.jpg

Had to make the last pic reppin R2R. I hope you all like this and please, it you have any suggestions or see something that may not be right, Please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Beautiful job on your stand! Are you a carpenter?
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

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