Stupid question, but...

[JXNATC]

Hi all...this is probably a stupid question, but I'm wondering what, if anything, you all use to secure or route power cords inside of your aquariums. I love being able to submerge pumps, but my neuroticism makes me want the cords to be neat, close to the glass and relatively straight. I was looking at something like this , but they allegedly don't hold up well in salt. Any thoughts?

 

[MnFish1]

Curious - do you have an opaque background - or clear? Marineland makes an external 'cord organizer'. I don 't have any cords inside the tank - now - but - tended to use rock, etc to hide them - plus an opaque back. with powerhead - pull the cord taut, over the rim of the tank - and then tape to the back so that it at least looks 'straight'. you can also run cords along the inside rim of your tank rim. Now that I've said all that - a picture of what you're wanting to conceal and what your tank looks like. FWIW I have not heard of something to be used 'inside' the tank

 

[kados]

I'm with you on this. Lucky my sumps both have cord management cutouts at the top to hook or thread the wires through. First I use those velcro zip ties to bunch the pump wires together so at least they're in a neat in a single bunch. I used an acrylic rod to keep that bunch straight up the sump because the GEO sump has the rod and brackets built in as option to be used for optic sensors for an ATO. I used for securing the wires. Maybe you can use a similar approach using acrylic rod or 1/2" pvc pipe or similar and similar using heater brackets.

EDITED: Sorry I thought you meant in the sump..

 

[JXNATC]

Curious - do you have an opaque background - or clear? Marineland makes an external 'cord organizer'. I don 't have any cords inside the tank - now - but - tended to use rock, etc to hide them - plus an opaque back. with powerhead - pull the cord taut, over the rim of the tank - and then tape to the back so that it at least looks 'straight'. you can also run cords along the inside rim of your tank rim. Now that I've said all that - a picture of what you're wanting to conceal and what your tank looks like. FWIW I have not heard of something to be used 'inside' the tank

I actually have a black vinyl cling with my company's logo on it. I don't have water in the tank yet, but I can see the cords across part of the graphic.

 

[MnFish1]

I actually have a black vinyl cling with my company's logo on it. I don't have water in the tank yet, but I can see the cords across part of the graphic.

AHHH - that makes a little difference. what cords do you want to manage? Placing anything against a black background (assuming its not a white cord lol) will be a big help. Some way to anchor the cord to the bottom of the tank (i.e. Rock) then bringing it up the corner. But again - if you mean for pumps - I would mount them on the black back - and pull them taut over the top. Hopefully someone will have a better answer. I mean you could also silicone them - but with failure, etc - that is a problem

 

[JXNATC]

I'm with you on this. Lucky my sumps both have cord management cutouts at the top to hook or thread the wires through. First I use those velcro zip ties to bunch the pump wires together so at least they're in a neat in a single bunch. I used an acrylic rod to keep that bunch straight up the sump because the GEO sump has the rod and brackets built in as option to be used for optic sensors for an ATO. I used for securing the wires. Maybe you can use a similar approach using acrylic rod or 1/2" pvc pipe or similar and similar using heater brackets.

I haven't received the sump yet, but I believe that had cutouts also. Fingers crossed.

AHHH - that makes a little difference. what cords do you want to manage? Placing anything against a black background (assuming its not a white cord lol) will be a big help. Some way to anchor the cord to the bottom of the tank (i.e. Rock) then bringing it up the corner. But again - if you mean for pumps - I would mount them on the black back - and pull them taut over the top. Hopefully someone will have a better answer. I mean you could also silicone them - but with failure, etc - that is a problem

I'm planning on having two Icecap 2K gyres on the back and those are the cords that will be most visible as the gyres will be below the overflow box about 1/3 of the way down. I'll have two Icecap 4K gyres, one on each end, but they'll be at the top so I'm less concerned with seeing those cables. I wonder if I could get somebody with a 3D printer and some magnets from the orange store to come up with something?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

What coords do you have in your aquarium, I have usual heater, UV filter, skimmer and wavemaker? All internal, I do find some coords very short to manage so I adjusted my power outlet closer, my cables are in back two corners of my aquriam, power coords to my equipment is from the top

 

[Chrisv.]

On the scale of questions asked on internet forums, this is totally not a stupid question!

I have used suction cups designed to hold airline tubing in the past. Honestly these days I have no tolerance for cords in the display. Everything goes in a sump or the back of an aio.

 

[JXNATC]

What coords do you have in your aquarium, I have usual heater, UV filter, skimmer and wavemaker? All internal, I do find some coords very short to manage so I adjusted my power outlet closer, my cables are in back two corners of my aquriam, power coords to my equipment is from the top

I'm hoping to only have the cords for the gyres in the display tank. Everything else will be in the sump or in the return lines.

 

[JXNATC]

I'm with you on this. Lucky my sumps both have cord management cutouts at the top to hook or thread the wires through. First I use those velcro zip ties to bunch the pump wires together so at least they're in a neat in a single bunch. I used an acrylic rod to keep that bunch straight up the sump because the GEO sump has the rod and brackets built in as option to be used for optic sensors for an ATO. I used for securing the wires. Maybe you can use a similar approach using acrylic rod or 1/2" pvc pipe or similar and similar using heater brackets.

EDITED: Sorry I thought you meant in the sump..

No worries! I knew what you meant!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use automotive protective sleeve

 

[JXNATC]

On the scale of questions asked on internet forums, this is totally not a stupid question!

I have used suction cups designed to hold airline tubing in the past. Honestly these days I have no tolerance for cords in the display. Everything goes in a sump or the back of an aio.

I can't believe that I haven't seen anything designed that will work in salt.

 

[MnFish1]

I haven't received the sump yet, but I believe that had cutouts also. Fingers crossed.

I'm planning on having two Icecap 2K gyres on the back and those are the cords that will be most visible as the gyres will be below the overflow box about 1/3 of the way down. I'll have two Icecap 4K gyres, one on each end, but they'll be at the top so I'm less concerned with seeing those cables. I wonder if I could get somebody with a 3D printer and some magnets from the orange store to come up with something?

OHHH you have a sump - you will hardly notice the cords from the gyres - do not (IMHO) mount them in the middle of the tank - mount them at each long end of the tank - on a variable schedule. You will not be disappointed - and you will have great flow - and no cords. I still don't quite get it though - you can look at my build thread - no cords visible. Yet there are 2 gyres. I think you might want to put them on 'the ends of the tank' - at the top - hope this helps!

 

[JXNATC]

OHHH you have a sump - you will hardly notice the cords from the gyres - do not (IMHO) mount them in the middle of the tank - mount them at each long end of the tank - on a variable schedule. You will not be disappointed - and you will have great flow - and no cords. I still don't quite get it though - you can look at my build thread - no cords visible. Yet there are 2 gyres. I think you might want to put them on 'the ends of the tank' - at the top - hope this helps!

I plan on the two 4K's on the long ends being on a variable schedule. The 2K's in the back middle I plan on programming with a light/moderate Sine pattern.