Reef Cabinet

[Mschmidt]

The longer I reef, the more stuff I seem to collect. Meds, food, cleaning supplies, backup, dosing charms, you know what it's like. So I am designing a controller cabinet.

The space I have to fill is 12"x24" and as tall as I want to make it. That will be 5 feet. Five feet because I can then get the sides, top, bottom, and a shelf put of one sheet of plywood. Here's the "napkin drawing".

There will be a pegboard that pulls out of the center on which I will hang all the things. Electrical will be in the bottom, the rest in the top.

 

[Peace River]

I like it - it sounds like a great project! Can't wait to see pictures of it when you get it put together. Good luck on your adventure!

 

[vetteguy53081]

The longer I reef, the more stuff I seem to collect. Meds, food, cleaning supplies, backup, dosing charms, you know what it's like. So I am designing a controller cabinet.

The space I have to fill is 12"x24" and as tall as I want to make it. That will be 5 feet. Five feet because I can then get the sides, top, bottom, and a shelf put of one sheet of plywood. Here's the "napkin drawing".

There will be a pegboard that pulls out of the center on which I will hang all the things. Electrical will be in the bottom, the rest in the top.

I have this with storage inside the box

 

[Mschmidt]

Q: anyone know of slides that once extended will rotate 90 degrees? I am trying to make the other side of the pullout useable. if that is not possible, I can hinge the pullout. I will get more than a back of envelope drawing eventually.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Q: anyone know of slides that once extended will rotate 90 degrees? I am trying to make the other side of the pullout useable. if that is not possible, I can hinge the pullout. I will get more than a back of envelope drawing eventually.

sounds cool!

 

[Mschmidt]

I got this far. I will likely not design further as it will be easier to measure and cut the mounting wall that pulls out on slides than drawing it. I would need to measure anyways as real measurements are different.

hinged on the right so it opens to the wall. shame it is too narrow to fit buckets. guess I'll have to find a different place for them. perhaps on top of the whole thing. I am also using this to child-proof the fish stuff. so I am on some kind of clock for finishing.

 

[JGT]

This kinda reminds me of a pantry kitchen cabinet. Each section pulls out and has shelves accessible from both sides.

 

[Doctorgori]

You ever thought about using ball bearing drawer slides similar to Red Seas thing? Also what are your wire management plans? Electrical plans? Surge protectors, et? Lighting?
Small item organization? Dividers?

 

[JGT]

This kinda reminds me of a pantry kitchen cabinet. Each section pulls out and has shelves accessible from both sides.

If time is a factor, HD has these which can be used for the guts of the cabinet. Come in different sizes and reasonably priced.

 

[Mschmidt]

This kinda reminds me of a pantry kitchen cabinet. Each section pulls out and has shelves accessible from both sides.

yep that's the concept. pegboard divider wall on drawer slides. I Like to Make Stuff on the yous tubes did something for his kitchen reno that is the inspiration.

You ever thought about using ball bearing drawer slides similar to Red Seas thing? Also what are your wire management plans? Electrical plans? Surge protectors, et? Lighting?
Small item organization? Dividers?

I have some slides but, I'd like something that pulls out then rotated 90 degrees so I can easily use both sides. no luck on that yet. it'll look something like this:

cable management: controllers on the front, cords and the rest on the back, zip ties, and 3D-printed power brick mounts. the surge protector (it's also a battery backup) is probably mounted on the front next to the controllers. some stuff will stay in the cabinet under the tank, but that is so I can turn the whole strip off for water changes.

If time is a factor, HD has these which can be used for the guts of the cabinet. Come in different sizes and reasonably priced.

snap dude! that saves a lot of work! edit: it's not exactly what I have in my head, but it might be close enough.

 

[Mschmidt]

It's started. Plans changed, it is now in the small corner by the door, not tucked behind the tank.

82 inches tall, 33 wide, and 5 inches deep. Will take some finagling to get everything in there with it so shallow, but it's moving.

Got dark before I got pictures of where we are now.

If the 5 month old lets me, I should be done in 4 more hours.

 

[Peace River]

Cheering for you! I see progress!!!

 

[Mschmidt]

Cheering for you! I see progress!!!

It's been gnawing at the back of my mind since this thread started.

I will say, one thing I am bad at (I suspected it going in though) is cutting rabbits freehand with a skill saw. Freehand because I didn't want to set up the track. Probably would have saved time and effort if I had just done that.

 

[Projects with Sam]

It's been gnawing at the back of my mind since this thread started.

I will say, one thing I am bad at (I suspected it going in though) is cutting rabbits freehand with a skill saw. Freehand because I didn't want to set up the track. Probably would have saved time and effort if I had just done that.

Its amazing the difference the right tools make!

 

[Mschmidt]

Its amazing the difference the right tools make!

Right! And I have a router on my Christmas wish list also they are on sale. Table saw os out as there is no room for it, unless it lives outside...

 

[Fish Styx]

Its amazing the difference the right tools make!

Every job has a tool and every tool has a job!

 

[Mschmidt]

Every job has a tool and every tool has a job!

I was hoping for "new job, new tool" but we (read: I. The Mrs is fine) need to spend less money.

 

[Fish Styx]

I was hoping for "new job, new tool" but we (read: I. The Mrs is fine) need to spend less money.

I know how that goes, believe me.

 

[Mschmidt]

Go blue gobble y'all. It's thanksgiving, that means I'm building fish tank stuff.

Cutting the doors to length because I measured the top and bottom to the full width, not adjusted for the doors. Note the cutting guard. Made life a lot easier and more exact.

Scrap wood for the back, but it'll do the job fine.

 

[Mschmidt]

And we're done for today. Ran out of trim so I will get more tomorrow from the home Depot and I need to adjust the hinges at least on the top half, but it's in place and I'm happy with it. I'm by no means a master cabineter, but I get it done.
And it was all scrap from another project (except for the trim which was stolen from that project).

Also to 3d print cups and hangers for all the stuff.