Advice Wanted - Cabinets, countertop, etc for a 90g build

[Mtterry]

All,

I currently own an IM40 and I have decided to upgrade to a larger tank. I have decided to purchase a 90g and would like some advice.

I'd like to do base cabinets across 91'' of a wall. Then have 2 24inch cabinets above the tank itself, and some taller side cabinets on the sides.

• How do folks protect the cabinets from all the moisture from the evap.
• Can i modify existing off the shelf cabinets? Will a formica countertop support the weight?
• Do i put a backsplash on the wall behind the tank?

input, pictures, ideas are all appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[Ron Reefman]

• How do folks protect the cabinets from all the moisture from the evap.

Are these going to be finished cabinets or bare wood? I would not even consider any cabinet to hold up the tank and sump unless it's real wood and not particleboard. I used finished white cabinets. I also built a drip/splash tray for inside the cabinet so water that spills around the sump doesn't get to the base of the cabinet. You can see what I did in my build thread. Evap isn't much of an issue with finished cabinets.

• Can i modify existing off the shelf cabinets? Will a formica countertop support the weight?

Even with real wood cabinets I did add supports under the counter top as a normal counter top isn't strong enough IMHO. You might also consider adding a bead of silicone to the bottom and side seams inside the cabinet with the tank and sump. That way spills, splashes, drips don't get in between the panels of the cabinet where it can be absorbed and cause the wood or particleboard to swell. Formica on a thick wood base (1" marine plywood with a 2x4 support as a joist underneath) is fine. I just used white FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) sold at Home Depot.

• Do i put a backsplash on the wall behind the tank?

I did. From the floor to 7' up the wall. Again I used FRP as I wanted white, it's very waterproof and it's way cheaper than any plastic, acrylic or sheet pvc. My last tank leaked out the back and the spray dug a hole into the drywall!

input, pictures, ideas are all appreciated.

You can see photos and discussion of my build here:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ron-reefmans-50g-cube.409412/#post-4856266

You can ask me questions here, in my build thread or sand me a PM if you want it to be private.

This shot was during my adding on the second cabinet for the sump. I moved the sump and put a 20g aquarium under the main tank as a reservoir for the auto top off system.

 

[don_chuwish]

Dealing with evap moisture is all about fans. I have a simple 120mm computer fan pulling air out of my stand. It's quiet and doesn't move a lot of air but it's enough.

 

[Mtterry]

• How do folks protect the cabinets from all the moisture from the evap.

Are these going to be finished cabinets or bare wood? I would not even consider any cabinet to hold up the tank and sump unless it's real wood and not particleboard. I used finished white cabinets. I also built a drip/splash tray for inside the cabinet so water that spills around the sump doesn't get to the base of the cabinet. You can see what I did in my build thread. Evap isn't much of an issue with finished cabinets.

• Can i modify existing off the shelf cabinets? Will a formica countertop support the weight?

Even with real wood cabinets I did add supports under the counter top as a normal counter top isn't strong enough IMHO. You might also consider adding a bead of silicone to the bottom and side seams inside the cabinet with the tank and sump. That way spills, splashes, drips don't get in between the panels of the cabinet where it can be absorbed and cause the wood or particleboard to swell. Formica on a thick wood base (1" marine plywood with a 2x4 support as a joist underneath) is fine. I just used white FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) sold at Home Depot.

• Do i put a backsplash on the wall behind the tank?

I did. From the floor to 7' up the wall. Again I used FRP as I wanted white, it's very waterproof and it's way cheaper than any plastic, acrylic or sheet pvc. My last tank leaked out the back and the spray dug a hole into the drywall!

input, pictures, ideas are all appreciated.

You can see photos and discussion of my build here:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ron-reefmans-50g-cube.409412/#post-4856266

You can ask me questions here, in my build thread or sand me a PM if you want it to be private.

This shot was during my adding on the second cabinet for the sump. I moved the sump and put a 20g aquarium under the main tank as a reservoir for the auto top off system.

My dad is a distributor for a cabinet maker pretty close to us. He said they offer particle board as standard but you can request plywood which is stronger as well.

The cabinet would be finished to match my existing built in down stairs.

See photo.

 

[Mtterry]

Dealing with evap moisture is all about fans. I have a simple 120mm computer fan pulling air out of my stand. It's quiet and doesn't move a lot of air but it's enough.

I guess where I use filler panel I could pipe air through there and add some vents of some sort like an entertainment cabinet vent system..

 

[Ron Reefman]

The plywood with whatever they paint or coat the cabinet with will work OK. Just remember a 90g tank is going to weigh in at roughly 700 to 800 pounds and any deflection in the flat base it sits on (the counter top) will cause stress in the seams of the tank. It doesn't take much before a seam splits open, or more likely a glass panel cracks and you have a massive leak and flood. It's happened to me (once) and it's happened to a friend of mine (twice) with 220g tanks that cracked, the glass burst out and virtually everything in the tank ended up on the living room floor... and the water spread all over the house. It's an all tile floor with no basement, so water went everywhere and damaged baseboards, drywall, cabinets and furniture! So a strong flat base for the tank to sit on is critical.

BTW, like you, my aquarium cabinets are the same as our new kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Photo taken before I did a back splash.

 

[Mtterry]

The plywood with whatever they paint or coat the cabinet with will work OK. Just remember a 90g tank is going to weigh in at roughly 700 to 800 pounds and any deflection in the flat base it sits on (the counter top) will cause stress in the seams of the tank. It doesn't take much before a seam splits open, or more likely a glass panel cracks and you have a massive leak and flood. It's happened to me (once) and it's happened to a friend of mine (twice) with 220g tanks that cracked, the glass burst out and virtually everything in the tank ended up on the living room floor... and the water spread all over the house. It's an all tile floor with no basement, so water went everywhere and damaged baseboards, drywall, cabinets and furniture! So a strong flat base for the tank to sit on is critical.

BTW, like you, my aquarium cabinets are the same as our new kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Photo taken before I did a back splash.

Ron -- did you say you used FRP as a base for the tank?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Ron -- did you say you used FRP as a base for the tank?

I used a thin sheet of FRP as a cover or laminate, like you would use Formica, on top of a 3/4" sheet of marine plywood. I've spilled lots of stuff on the FRP and it cleans up very easily.