My 80/20 build W/ Cabinetry & Leveling Casters

[Shadows Reef]

Thank you! I have those same hinges and have built a new stand with parts from Tnutz.com (they’re fantastic!). I’ll dig through their website for some series 15 M4 bolts and hardware. I was thinking I was going to have to try to drill out the holes in the hinges, but that has proven to be extremely difficult! The metal just chews bits up.

Your welcome man, Sorry to hear of the headache, i know he has a ton of option on his website.

I have to say M4 is a perfect screw, because M5 five is too big and M3 just seems too small.

Another thing I just thought about is make sure the screw head is coned so it sits flush with the hinge

 

[jbrady429]

Your welcome man, Sorry to hear of the headache, i know he has a ton of option on his website.

I have to say M4 is a perfect screw, because M5 five is too big and M3 just seems too small.

Another thing I just thought about is make sure the screw head is coned so it sits flush with the hinge

Thank you very much for the information! I really appreciate the help!

 

[shanearoonie]

I’m impressed with your planning on this! Interested in the lighting inside the cabinet. I think I see LED strips around the top perimeter. Was it only around the top, or down sides also? Lighting looks very even. Also, did you get lights specifically designed for moist environments?

 

[Harpo]

WOW, what a build. Very inspiring! Someday I hope to have a build this epic.

What APC are you using, what are you running on it & how many hours is it good for?

 

[Shadows Reef]

I’m impressed with your planning on this! Interested in the lighting inside the cabinet. I think I see LED strips around the top perimeter. Was it only around the top, or down sides also? Lighting looks very even. Also, did you get lights specifically designed for moist environments?

Super late response but I hooked up some door switches to each door to be able to trigger the lights on and off (also powered off of one of the Neptune’s 24 V outputs )
from the Neptune Systems breakout box.

As far as the LEDs, I used a sealed LED strip light, suitable for moist environments that wraps around the entire inside on both sides.

I’ll post a new photo of the tank, not sure if I updated that fact I had to get a new glass display as it cracked in my move. Same tank as didn’t want to redo the plumbing

 

[lsageser]

Hi Shadows Reef, (belated) congrats on an amazing build!

I was planning to do a similar new build project with a welded stand, but you’ve inspired me to go the extruded aluminum route. Probably a smart choice since I doubt my welding skills would be up to the task of supporting the ~100g tank I am aiming for! Really impressed at all the work you’ve done with the cabinetry.

How often do you move your tank? My tanks are in my garage/man cave, which is a nice setup with vinyl wood floors. Literally everything is on casters (work benches, 3d printing stations etc) and gets moved every 6 months or so to make room for various projects/builds. So the idea of being able to slide the tank over to make room for the latest project is a huge draw.

I’m planning to go with a 48x24x18 acrylic tank, but otherwise I plan to put together a build very similar to yours. Like I said… what you’ve done is truly inspiring…!

 

[Shadows Reef]

Hi Shadows Reef, (belated) congrats on an amazing build!

I was planning to do a similar new build project with a welded stand, but you’ve inspired me to go the extruded aluminum route. Probably a smart choice since I doubt my welding skills would be up to the task of supporting the ~100g tank I am aiming for! Really impressed at all the work you’ve done with the cabinetry.

How often do you move your tank? My tanks are in my garage/man cave, which is a nice setup with vinyl wood floors. Literally everything is on casters (work benches, 3d printing stations etc) and gets moved every 6 months or so to make room for various projects/builds. So the idea of being able to slide the tank over to make room for the latest project is a huge draw.

I’m planning to go with a 48x24x18 acrylic tank, but otherwise I plan to put together a build very similar to yours. Like I said… what you’ve done is truly inspiring…!

Thank you, I don’t move it often, but when I do it’s to get to cables in the back, which is a godsend.

unfortunately the tank glass broke when I moved and had to get a new tank, maybe later tonight if I have some time ill post some new photos with more details of how my tank is now and I have to say going with the aluminum extrusion was the best decision ever, and I would definitely do it again.

 

[lsageser]

Thank you, I don’t move it often, but when I do it’s to get to cables in the back, which is a godsend.

unfortunately the tank glass broke when I moved and had to get a new tank, maybe later tonight if I have some time ill post some new photos with more details of how my tank is now and I have to say going with the aluminum extrusion was the best decision ever, and I would definitely do it again.

Thanks, would love to see any new pics. I am a little paranoid about glass breaks (and live in an area that's due for an earthquake !) so I'm going with a 3/4" thick custom acrylic tank.

Am also toying with the idea of mounting the sump on heavy duty drawer slides to make access easier. Probably overkill but I like over engineering things...

 

[Shadows Reef]

Thanks, would love to see any new pics. I am a little paranoid about glass breaks (and live in an area that's due for an earthquake !) so I'm going with a 3/4" thick custom acrylic tank.

Am also toying with the idea of mounting the sump on heavy duty drawer slides to make access easier. Probably overkill but I like over engineering things...

Updated for you, I’ll take new pics tomorrow, I don’t know why, but I never take pictures of my aquarium. I think I’ll even do an Apex showcase lol

But a pull out drawer for the sump is a great idea, and with 80/20 aluminum extrusions definitely easy to do, however, I would highly recommend getting with one of that fabrication company I recommended in my thread just so that way they can properly test it under a load in AutoCAD to make sure everything is safe

 

[Arkayology]

Amazing build! I really like the progression. I would love to see recent pics of the setup.

 

[Shadows Reef]

Amazing build! I really like the progression. I would love to see recent pics of the setup.

There really isn’t too much different. I haven’t gotten any new fish. I really need to. Corals are somewhat bigger though, I’ll also show photos of the my quarantine tank in my office.

i’m crazy about quarantine when it comes to getting new fish, It becomes a whole entire operation once I get started, you know what I mean?

Which is why I’ve refrained from getting new fish lol


I’m very methodical when it comes to quarantining before anything goes in my big tank.

For most fish this is my process
I usually start with formiln and methylene blue bath (safety stop brand is easy go to) before going into QT for about the first two weeks I'm going to feed mysis binded with general cure and focus slowly raising copper to 2.5 over 10 days, I love copper power because I can just make a big 2.5 batch and dilute it as needed and be set. While running copper it’s also a good idea to run something like Nitrofurazone in the water to aid the fish, whenever you’re using copper, you have to keep in mind that copper is an oxidizer so to prevent burns on the fish the nitrofurazone antibiotic properties will help keep most fish stress-free in a high copper environment.

Usually 2 weeks at 2.5 copper levels but it’s more depending on what I am targeting

Once I stop and transition the fish to water without copper and I'll dose general cure into the water column for about a week and just observe.

 

[lsageser]

Such a great build thread. Attached are some pics of the setup I am working on, which is about two thirds done. Same concept/construction as what you’ve got going except it’s a peninsula lagoon tank.

Do you have details on the specific type of Blum hinges you used for the cabinet doors? I’m still a ways from setting these up but want to make sure I get the right ones when I do.

 

[Shadows Reef]

Such a great build thread. Attached are some pics of the setup I am working on, which is about two thirds done. Same concept/construction as what you’ve got going except it’s a peninsula lagoon tank.

Do you have details on the specific type of Blum hinges you used for the cabinet doors? I’m still a ways from setting these up but want to make sure I get the right ones when I do.

Thank you, I like your set up as well, I wanted to do a peninsula like yours , but at my last house i didn’t have enough space, my new house does.

One of these days may sell the glass tank and get a peninsula version, and convert this stand into a peninsula.

Or just take it down temporarily to plumb in a closed loop for a UV… haven’t decided.

If I go the Peninsula Route , I’ll have to redo the woodwork, but I think this time I might be able to get acrylic at a cheaper price and go with my original plan.(the 1/2” acrylic for the cabinetry)

Luckily, I made my plumbing extremely modular and so I can easily take it down and replumb it

I need to double check through purchase records, I bought so many different kinds, that was a true struggle so I’d be glad to help you there.

 

[lsageser]

Thank you, I like your set up as well, I wanted to do a peninsula like yours , but at my last house i didn’t have enough space, my new house does.

One of these day my sell the glass tank and get a peninsula version, and convert this stand in to be a peninsula.

Or just take it down temporarily to plumb in a closed loop for a UV

If I got the Peninsula Route , I’ll have to redo the woodwork, but I think this time I might be able to get acrylic at a cheaper price and go with my original plan.(the 1/2” acrylic for the cabinetry)

Luckily, I made my plumbing extremely modular and so I can easily take it down and replumb it

I need to double check through purchase records, I bought so many different kinds, that was a true struggle so I’d be glad to help you there.

Thanks, let me know what you find - much appreciated!

Yes I checked into the acrylic cabinet cost and it has come down a bit. I am thinking of going this route but a little afraid of drilling out mounting holes for the hinges, seems like wood would be easier for this.

 

[Shadows Reef]

Thanks, let me know what you find - much appreciated!

Yes I checked into the acrylic cabinet cost and it has come down a bit. I am thinking of going this route but a little afraid of drilling out mounting holes for the hinges, seems like wood would be easier for this.

Here’s the info:

Blum Hinge 38B358BF22
Blum Cup Spacer 38C355B9(only used on side doors)
Blum TIP-ON for Self/Soft Close 956A1006

Nice that’s great to hear!

Yeah the MDF I used was very forgiving, As far as the drilling out in acrylic, I would recommend having it laser cut and bored professionally just give them the diagram that Blum provides on their website for them to line it up property on the sides.

That would be one expensive mistake, so I think having that material professionally cut is a big need.

 

[lsageser]

Here’s the info:

Blum Hinge 38B358BF22
Blum Cup Spacer 38C355B9(only used on side doors)
Blum TIP-ON for Self/Soft Close 956A1006

Nice that’s great to hear!

Yeah the MDF I used was very forgiving, As far as the drilling out in acrylic, I would recommend having it laser cut and bored professionally just give them the diagram that Blum provides on their website for them to line it up property on the sides.

That would be one expensive mistake, so I think having that material professionally cut is a big need.

Perfect- many thanks!

I have a local guy, John at Acrylicdesigns.com, who is a miracle worker with acrylic.., i bet he can drill those hinge mounts for me.