ADJ 8 Outlet Powerstrip on Biocube 29

[WM15]

I don't know how many people still use these American DJ outlets on their tanks anymore due to the prevalence of controllers and their own dedicated outlets. However I don't feel as if I need to spend the money at this time on a controller due to a few reasons. I have an AI Prime HD on the way that I will be able to control from my phone. I have a JBJ ATO and also have a lab grade temp probe and have yet to have issues with temp swing. I also have a lab grade pH probe I can use at anytime and have yet to dose anything that would throw off pH at this point.

So I've seen others in the past use these and figured I'd give it a shot. Now I'm sure you can mount these however you want and some may do it a different way. Im just trying to show how I went about it. I did some measurements and found it might be plausible to mount this right under the front viewing pane of the tank.

The problem is the power strip holes for screws just barely reach the edges of the stand. I didn't trust this anyway so I found away to mount it anyway

To preface this. I'm a college student and live in apartment style living so I don't have access to a multitude of tools that many others have that would make this process a lot easier and probably more refined. (you'll see why I said this at the end)

Heres what I used to complete this little project.

• ADJ 8 Outlet Powerstrip
• Tape measure
• Hacksaw
• Small Drill
• #8x1-1/4 in screws
• #8x3/4in screws
• 1/8 in drill bit
• 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 2ft board

My first move was to take the doors off the stand. Then I cut the poplar wood with the hacksaw into 12 in pieces. After that I slid each piece up into the top right and left corners with each piece flat with the side edges of the stand to make sure they fit and see how they looked. You don't really need that long of a piece but I did it just cause it fit and cutting the board in half was the easiest.

<a href="http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/wmorrow99/media/IMG_0850_zpslroim4sh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w491/wmorrow99/IMG_0850_zpslroim4sh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0850_zpslroim4sh.jpg"/></a>

Then came time to drill. For me I made both holes 1 inch down from the stand lid. The first hole is 2 inches from the front of the stand and the second is 6 inches from the front. Basically you just have to avoid the screw type metal plate that fastens the stand top to the stand sides. You can see how I have the boards aligned in the next photo.

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After that it was pretty easy. I just slid the power strip into the gap and pushed it tight against the top and screwed it in.

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Now I was able to remove my second power strip powering my ATO and ATO reservoir heater and then plug the rest of my equipment in the tank.

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This is my last part that I need to touch up (yea I know it looks like crap, thats what happens with a hacksaw). I cut the top inch off of the doors so they didn't hit the switches and they came out crooked. I've got a friend who has access to a ban saw and belt sander so it should be no issues to get them straight again and put the door knobs a little lower.

<a href="http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/wmorrow99/media/IMG_0853_zps8e4gi5tm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w491/wmorrow99/IMG_0853_zps8e4gi5tm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0853_zps8e4gi5tm.jpg"/></a>

Thats about it. I hope this sparked some ideas for people and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

 

[NEaquaman]

I love it. I run my tanks as inexpensive as possible while still having great results. My wave maker is a 3 dollar timer set on my pumps from target and has been fine for over a year. This will make things easier for me to turn off and on as maintenance is done. I'm taking this idea. Great job man

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[WM15]

I love it. I run my tanks as inexpensive as possible while still having great results. My wave maker is a 3 dollar timer set on my pumps from target and has been fine for over a year. This will make things easier for me to turn off and on as maintenance is done. I'm taking this idea. Great job man

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

Thanks! And it has definitely made maintenance a lot easier. Instead of looking for which cord is my powerhead to shut off for feeding I just flip a switch. It also doesn't hurt that you can pick these up for $30 on amazon. My next step is to make some small labels to under each switch denoting whats plugged in.

 

[skiingfast]

I'm curious how you had enough outlets.

You have two pumps and a heater in the sand alone. That's 3/8 used up.

Doesn't the BC29 have 2/4 plugs, CFs, LEDS white, LEDs Blue, Pump. That would now be, if correct 5-7/8.

Then you have the DT heater and possibly 2 of them. A skimmer, powerhead, and perhaps a refugium light. Now you are past the 8 outlets.

 

[WM15]

I'm curious how you had enough outlets.

You have two pumps and a heater in the sand alone. That's 3/8 used up.

Doesn't the BC29 have 2/4 plugs, CFs, LEDS white, LEDs Blue, Pump. That would now be, if correct 5-7/8.

Then you have the DT heater and possibly 2 of them. A skimmer, powerhead, and perhaps a refugium light. Now you are past the 8 outlets.

I just put up an AI Prime today. Thats what this was in prep for. I forgot to show that all the previous lights PCs (10k and actinic), and moonlight LEDs were plugged into a separate power source in prep to be taken down today.

As the outlets stand today:

1. AI Prime HD
2. MJ 1200 Return pump
3. Tunze 9001
4. Koralia powerhead
5. JBJ ATO
6. Heater in back chambers
7. Heater in ATO reservior

8 is open and I'm planning a GFO/Carbon reactor for it.

 

[WM15]

Also a heads up, the picture under my username is not what the tank looks like anymore. That was about 7 years ago when I had the tank set up in high school.