Hey all, so finally got around to making my cabinet for my T's, here are the specs:

Reason : Our cat likes to watch my T's and knocks over crickets. Was only a matter of time before it was Kitty vs T
Design : The top 'cube' and bottom are separate units, made it like that merely to fit into my car if we move flats.
: Bottom shelf is a book shelf, Mid 2 cupboards, above that 2 drawers, then 8 sections for tanks.
Material : 2Cm thick plywood board
Dims : Approx 1.3M (L) x 1.75M (H) x 0.35M (W)
Cost : Wood :- R650 for the plywood (from builders express)
: Tools :- A couple bucks for self tapping wood screws and hinges, had all the other tools I needed.
: Paint :- The grain of the wood was pretty poor, and there were lots of knots so varnish was out of the question.
: Instead I got a gloss dark brown wood spray-paint, 5 cans @ R49 each and that covered the blemishes nicely.
Time taken: So far about 5 hours over 2 weekends.
Still to do : Back board to cut and fitted.
: Cupboard doors to be fitted (new hinges needed) at the 2nd tier from the bottom
: 2 x drawers to be fitted above cupboards for feeder insects.
: 2 x glass doors to be fitted over the tanks section.
: Lighting to be put into each of the 8 tank divisions

Would appreciate some feedback

I'm having issues working out the lighting for the cabinet, I need 'flat' or 'shallow' light fittings for each of the 8 divisions. Problem is I haven't found anything aside from LED light strips that will fit in without A) Be required to punch through the 2Cm wood or will take up too much of the tank space. Fluorescent tubes are an option but each unit is about R100 so that would be R800 just for the lighting.

Pics are rubbish I know - my phone looks like it has a fish eye lens with the way the pics look tapered lol The cabinet is straight!, I'll try get some better ones if my wife allows me to use her camera

Very nice, well done!!
Looks very good.


I think any lighting you buy is going to come to the figure you gave.

LED strips are sold per meter and that ranges from R90 up.

cascade wrote: Very nice, well done!!
Looks very good.


I think any lighting you buy is going to come to the figure you gave.

LED strips are sold per meter and that ranges from R90 up.

Thanks!
Aaah I was afraid of that...Maybe I should change the roof light fitting to one of those with spot light type fittings that you can 'aim' and just have one pointing to my T' cabinet :laugh:

I use a torch or a light on a cord.
But your room is fairly light.

What about putting lights at the back and not completely close it off at the back, just put something behind the tanks so your tanks don't fall back wards!
So the light can shine down and from the back them you get two lights only.

Looks awesome ,the lighting will look good ,thanks for sharing :thumbsup: