Control Boards...

Kcstoker1 · Mar 3, 2020

Anybody here build one? The cute, clever things with the holes that hide all the power bricks and cords...

photos? Plans? How do they hang up? (Obviously we need to work behind them, so they need to be moveable...)

what materials worked best for you?
Any other thoughts or insights?

thanks.
Using this through safari on my phone sucks.

Retro Reefer · Mar 4, 2020

Some good ideas in this thread to get you started...

Let's see your controller boards/cabinets!!

Let's get a new thread going to show off your controller boards/cabinets! Hopefully this will be a place where people show off what they've done and others can get lots of great inspiration! Let's see 'em!!

www.reef2reef.com

Kcstoker1 · Mar 4, 2020

Thanks, Retro. I’ve looked through that but I’ll give it another shot. Mostly, it’s just aesthetics and preferences in the photos and I’m trying to get to the structure questions. I know some people use hinges, for example. Not too many people talking about those. I’ll flip through the thread again and see if I missed anything or if anything is new.

Retro Reefer · Mar 4, 2020

I put one together as cheaply and easily as possible.. lol. I had a old cabinet that I just pulled the door off of and replaced with a panel. No hinges on mine, just 4 short screws that can be removed in seconds with my drill if needed.

bad pictures but gives you a idea of what I did..

Kcstoker1 · Mar 4, 2020

Nice. What thickness did you go with for the ply?
I love the index cards. In my head, I’m an engineer. In real life, I’m MacGyver’s kid cousin that licked too many 9volt batteries.

Kcstoker1 · Mar 4, 2020

And did you do a coat of Kilz under the black?

amoore311 · Mar 4, 2020

I bought mine from Marine Depot lol.

Eazy Peazy

Kcstoker1 · Mar 4, 2020

amoore311 said:
I bought mine from Marine Depot lol.

Eazy Peazy

the whole cabinet?

amoore311 · Mar 5, 2020

Kcstoker1 said:
the whole cabinet?

Nah, it was the board next to my tank you saw this weekend.

The entire cabinets are for sale at BRS now though, break out that wallet though lol.

Retro Reefer · Mar 7, 2020

Kcstoker1 said:
Nice. What thickness did you go with for the ply?
I love the index cards. In my head, I’m an engineer. In real life, I’m MacGyver’s kid cousin that licked too many 9volt batteries.

Sorry for the delay I didn’t get a notification of your reply.. it’s super thin, I think 3/16” if I remember correctly? I’m also a wannabe engineer ;Hilarious it was my major but life got in the way along with a lucrative job offer so I never finished school. I always try to think through all the possibilities and the index card cut outs gave me an exact visual reference as to how everything would work.. I only licked a 9v once

Kcstoker1 said:
And did you do a coat of Kilz under the black?

I didn’t prime it, just being cheap and lazy.. lol. I did use a quality enamel and gave it a couple coats so it’s sealed up fairly well. The whole theme for this project was cheap and easy so it’s not some fine piece of furniture but it’s functional and I have maybe $25 and about 2 hours of my time in it.

Chessmanmark · Mar 13, 2020

Chris, Did you go to Rich Durso’s meeting? He had a great cabinet in his fish room that hid all his wires. I‘m home for two weeks now and I‘m backing up a terabyte of storage. After that finishes I‘ll see if I can find the pic. It doesn’t show the back, but it was the first time I saw one.

Chessmanmark · Mar 17, 2020

Here is Rich Durso’s cabinet and Pete’s
circuit board. Finally, if I can attach three pictures is Durso’s 180 gallon tank from that meeting.

Chessmanmark · Mar 17, 2020

Meanwhile, there was lots of solidarity outside as well.

CMurphy · Feb 25, 2022

Kcstoker1 said:
Anybody here build one? The cute, clever things with the holes that hide all the power bricks and cords...

photos? Plans? How do they hang up? (Obviously we need to work behind them, so they need to be moveable...)

what materials worked best for you?
Any other thoughts or insights?

thanks.
Using this through safari on my phone sucks.

I like PLC's for this reason. Especially for timing control. Lights, pumps, etc.

CMurphy · Feb 25, 2022

Chessmanmark said:
Here is Rich Durso’s cabinet and Pete’s
circuit board. Finally, if I can attach three pictures is Durso’s 180 gallon tank from that meeting.

I think I remember this meeting.

Smoke-Town · Mar 29, 2022

Those are pretty high tech. Mine is just a board with a hole in it. Not so cool as those above, but it works for now

mattdg · Mar 29, 2022

Smoke-Town said:
Those are pretty high tech. Mine is just a board with a hole in it. Not so cool as those above, but it works for now

That is the coziest looking reef, I have ever seen. LOL! Like it.

mattdg · Mar 29, 2022

I built this cabinet for my 120 mixed reef 4 years ago. Worked a control center into the right side. I wanted to make something versatile, since I knew I'd have this reef for a long time. I put a false floor in the bottom that I can pull out to run cables through. Super easy to pull equipment in and out. I have used a system like this for many years, which is why the RK2 is still in service. Keeps everything safe from humidity and splashing.