How to run cords or disguise them?

statru · Nov 2, 2016

I'm soon setting up a new 90 gallon reef (so expect MANY future postings with questions! I haven't set up from scratch in 20 years or so.) I'm stepping up from my 50 gallon I've outgrown. Instead of building a wall to divide my living room & dining room, we're using the new tank/stand as a room divider, so the tank will be seen from both rooms. The end of the 36" tall stand will butt up against a 36" H x 30" W x 24" D kitchen cabinet that I'm going to use to store some of my fish supplies and to mount my electrical equipment inside, surge protectors, etc. in. I'm planning on making a hole in the lower side of the stand and cabinet parallel to one another to run my cords (return pump, heater, grounding probe, skimmer pump, etc.) from the sump into the cabinet. Then once everything is in place, I'll fill the gap between the cabinet and stand with a piece of matching filler wood so you can't see the cords. Ok, so those cords are out of sight... What do I do with my power head electric cords in order to plug them in without unsightly cords running down the side of the tank? I didn't know if I had to or would even be able to run the power head cords down the drain to the sump, then out along with all the other cords or not? I don't even know if I'd have enough connected electric cord to run it that far. I'm going to be using a glass canopy and setting the light strips on that until I come up with the funds to put a canopy on it that will match to stand. I have never used a glass canopy before and haven't even removed it from the box it was shipped in yet. Is there a 'cut-out' in the glass to run cords up & out of the tank or do I have to make modifications to it? I know the lighting system cords will most likely have to be running down the side nearest the kitchen cabinet. I haven't decided yet how I'm running those into the cabinet. Would it look right to wire-tie or bundle all the cords together and run them between the end of the cabinet's countertop and the tank stand then into the hole? Just wondering how anyone here overcame a similar situation or what they used to disguise the cords for aesthetics purposes? I'm thinking of wrapping a stem of wired ivy around them. I don't know any other solution.

Willz · Nov 2, 2016

I'm getting some spiral wire wrap to deal with my light's wiring. It's not super attractive, but at least it is neat. I'll also be using black zip ties to try and aggregate as much as possible together and then run it as unobtrusively as possible to the controller or outlet. When I was in the planning stages I tried to ensure that my wavemakers (Gyre 150 x 2 with controller) are on the rear wall of the tank which is painted black so you can't see the hanging wires. Just some quick suggestions that I have made on my tank, which may be applicable for your situation :) My tank is visible from three sides as well.

Tagging along to see what the other creative DIY folks have for ideas.