How important are under-cabinet aesthetics to you?

[samnaz]

The area inside my tank works as a storage area and I could care less what it looks like. The DT on the other hand is really all that people should put there time and effort into. I went over to a friends house last year and his tank looked like garbage but he showed me under the stand and it was meticulously organized. I’m not one to hold back my opinion so I told him his undertank storage area etc.. was the best I’ve seen but that his tank looked horrible, that he should probably spend the time he has with doing something with the DT instead of inside the stand.

Disagree. Perhaps to him, the display tank and the guts below were exactly as he intended. What I love about this hobby is there isn’t a right or wrong way (generally speaking). A lot of times it’s just preference or opinion or personal taste. To some the display is all that matters. To others, it’s whats behind/below the display that matters. You do you.

We all love reefing. We can love it for vastly different reasons.

 

[Doctorgori]

Wires everywhere attract salt.... and if anyone has seen 3-5 yr old setups that are not routinely wiped down ...well water, salt and electricity are dangerous....
I personally like clean organized and wiped down which makes things last longer if for no other reason than you notice issues ..this is not possible in a disorganized salty mess underneath

Probably should post this in a build thread or diy as I’m building a cabinet as we speak with underneath organization safety and wipe down maintenance being primary

 

[JCOLE]

I have a sump closet, and that disqualifies me ;Hilarious

What is that bin to the left and what do the labels say?

 

[jsker]

What is that bin to the left and what do the labels say?

That is my saltwater mixing bin. I used a Resturant NSF grade Lexon with a lid. I also have to power head to mixed the salt and RO/DI. I use the DOS for my water changes and one of the DOS pumps pulls the new saltwater out of the bin and old saltwater out of the sump for my water changes.

I also have to sensors mounter on the side of the bin. One to shut down the power heads when the water is low and the other to shut down the DOS if the water get to low. I also have a drain in the bottom piped into a central drain.

 

[krbshappy71]

I’m holding out for the Red Sea AIO for just this reason. After peeking under the hood of other setups I realized I want more than a tote. I want those pretty white and red pipes and all matchy-matchy, power strip thing in other side, etc. Willing to wait til I can get what I want, there’s often times I have to wait because am too particular. I agree with others, not a right or wrong way if it is what you want. (As long as it’s good for the critters involved too of course)

 

[mta_morrow]

Nice but not extreme

 

[C. Eymann]

Nice but not extreme

Has that American DJ strip given you any trouble? I had one a long time ago and within the first month I had two switches/outlets burn out on me.

Also, McCormicks huh? you dont give the tank the good stuff eh? I guess ethanol is ethanol?

Nice looking setup !

 

[CelticReef]

I like it clean easy to access and wide open

 

[laverda]

This is under my stand.

 

[mta_morrow]

Has that American DJ strip given you any trouble? I had one a long time ago and within the first month I had two switches/outlets burn out on me.

Also, McCormicks huh? you dont give the tank the good stuff eh? I guess ethanol is ethanol?

Nice looking setup !

Thanks! 18 months and no issues with the power strip. Probably just jinxed it!

as for the cheap vodka, I bought that bottle cause it was the cheapest glass I could find!
I mix w vinegar and rodi and make my own NoPox.

 

[Billldg]

Thanks! 18 months and no issues with the power strip. Probably just jinxed it!

as for the cheap vodka, I bought that bottle cause it was the cheapest glass I could find!
I mix w vinegar and rodi and make my own NoPox.

What, your fish and corals ain't worth a good bottle of Grey Goose, LOL!!!

 

[duke62]

Don’t care at all what my sump area looks
Like at all. Mine is a home made sump with a shelf that my skimmer and rowa sits on, a big fuge and wires everywhere lol not near the water or fire hazard everywhere but yeah they are out there. Tank looks awesome so I don’t care

 

[S2G]

I told myself i wouldnt post pics of my cabinet but oh well. I like ugly cabinets and I cannot lie lol. I need to drill my refuge and install waterproof panel for the wall

 

[Bob Escher]

My sump area is so small ( 20x20) all I have room for is my sump a trigger systems cube. And a shelf for my DOS, all cabling run to a outside cabinet where I keep my apex.
is the sump pristine no. I try though

 

[ADAM]

I should mention, that the doors are off of my stand more often than not. There is always something I need to mess with, so I often leave them off....but that is changing now that my daughter is walking.

You can bet your sweet hiney that those doors will be back up in this case! As a father of 4, I can attest to that and also tell you that clownfish will throw a huge temper tantrum if you take their Legos away! Best to not let Nemo have Legos in the first place and save the argument.
Recently the under cabinet space and controller section have been picking at my nerves. I’m just not that good with planning and placement yet, only been in the salt hobby 13 years or so though. I’d be happy to hire someone to go thru and organize and setup everything and maintain it from that point. As mentioned before, being a father of 4 the somewhat of a rat nest of wires from the tank aren’t as bad as the Barbie and Army men massacre that’s normally in the same viewing region as the tank so it’s relative.
I am envious of all the great looking sump setups. This thread may be the kick in the pants I needed to fix it up this weekend.

 

[coseal]

pretty important! #openstandclub lol

Untitled by shaun s., on Flickr

 

[smartwater101]

pretty important! #openstandclub lol

Untitled by shaun s., on Flickr

Lol i clicked on your hashtag, really hoping to find threads with examples and breakdowns of how to keep things that organized.

hashtag sadface

 

[Behnken]

I like it nice and clean.

 

[smartwater101]

I like it nice and clean.

Did you paint the handles of your gate valves? That looks so much better than the bright red they normally have!

 

[Behnken]

Did you paint the handles of your gate valves? That looks so much better than the bright red they normally have!

Yes I did. You need to scuff them up a little with some sandpaper to get the spray paint to stick to the plastic though.