240 cube stand underway.

[mike89t]

Beautiful stand! Very inspirational. Can't wait to see the final product!

I'm still in the process of building mine. Actually all i've done on it is cut up the pieces for the frame.

 

[tsalter]

Thats cool about leaving it open. I have my fish room in the basement so was thinking of leaving mine new stand open as well but trying to hide the plumbing. I am still thinking about it as my new tank is at least 3-4 months away. Can you plumb straight back through the wall or something to hide the pipes?

Tom

 

[sonofgaladriel]

There is an adjacent bathroom on the opposite wall, but not large enough for the sump or the pumps I plan on using. I will be putting the ballast boxes in the bathroom cabinet and running the wires through the wall to the pendants. This will keep them away from the sump and pumps. Everything else will be placed under the tank. I should have ample room, but you're right, having an open bottom would have looked nice with this stand.

 

[scolymia11111]

Any pics with the doors on yet?

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Nope. Sorry. I just ordered them and it will be a week before they're ready. I'm low on the totem pole as he has a full kitchen to complete before he can start my doors.

 

[Bryan89]

Low on the totem pole? You have an audiance of hundreds!

Bryan

 

[trblmkr]

WOWââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ you did an incredible job on the stand. Something like this can never be found in the store.
My uncle was supposed to my tank stand. It was going to be installed behind the bar, with the shelves for my bottles and stuff on both sides. My uncle loved to build, and the furniture he built was beautiful. Most of the wood he used was cut down from behind his house. Unfortunately he passed away, and all of the really good ideas are coming from guys like you. Soââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Ã¢â"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Ã¢â"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Ã¢â"šÂ¬Ã‚¦.. Thanks

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Thanks! It was alot of fun putting this together and I am glad to hear that others can take some of this and put it to good use on their own stands. I'm a firm believer that aquarium stands don't just have to be 'standard' any longer! They can be made to look like custom furniture with just a little extra effort.

 

[trblmkr]

So very true, that's the only way my wife is going to let me get a tank that is over 200 gallons. The houseis going tostart getting built in early July, and the first thing that I work on is my tank and bar. I'm thing of going with Cherry or even hicory. I want something old time bar, but with some changes.

 

[reefwonders]

<<

 

[Ginzo]

Hi Sonofgaladriel,

Very nice stand ! I'm going to build a stand very similar. Just wanted to ask you a couple of questions:

Did you brush the Red Mahogany stain on ?
How many coats did you put ?
What compagny of stain did you use ?
Did you cover the stain with shellac ?

Thanks !
Ginzo :rollface:

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Hi Sonofgaladriel,

Very nice stand ! I'm going to build a stand very similar. Just wanted to ask you a couple of questions:

Did you brush the Red Mahogany stain on ?
How many coats did you put ?
What compagny of stain did you use ?
Did you cover the stain with shellac ?

Thanks !
Ginzo :rollface:

Thank you.
1. Yes, I brushed the stain on heavily then wiped off the excess with a rag to avoid drips or runs.
2. I only put one coat of stain on this application. I also sealed it, sanded it down again, then added 3 coats of satin laquer.
3. MinWax Red Mahogany stain
4. See 2 above.
Good luck with your stand!

 

[xtrstangx]

Hey! Its Max (you sold me 30 pounds of sand). Very sweet! I recognized your avatar and your signature, but not your user name. Remembered that it was yours. Very nice wood working, going to turn out beautiful. I can't wait to see it filled.

My tank is coming along. Rock comes in next week then I should be ready for some chaeto a week or two after my rock's cycle slows down a little bit. (I'm buying a box so it should be extremely uncured D: )

Truly beautiful wood working. Good luck with your tank, I'm going to follow this thread.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Hi Max. Thanks for the compliments. Let me know when you want some macro algae. I've got some chaeto for you.
Do you have a good skimmer? You'll want to get one up and running while your new rock is curing.

 

[Chromis88]

Hitching to this post.

 

[nbd13]

hey quick question,

when you framed the 2x4s what did you use?

did you use plywood and cut ou the center? what did you use to cut it out a miter saw?

how did you attach the doors?

i couldnt see from the pics and wanted to know how you framed the 2x4s and then attached the doors.

i mean i am going to be making a stand for my 60x48x24 tank and am going to use your design.

i will also have three access doors like you did so i can get the the sump on 3 different sides.

anyway let me know what you did like the steps,

also how did you finish the stand?

thanks again!

Nick

 

[sonofgaladriel]

nbd13- If you go back and read the previous posts and look at the progression of the pictures, they will answer your questions.
Its all pretty self explanatory.
I did use screws to hold all of the 2x4's together and finish nails and wood glue for the trim.

 

[nbd13]

thanks will do!

Nick

 

[nbd13]

just read through it and have 1 question,

i assume that you got a sheet of 3/4" ply and cut out the center and then attached the doors to that? or did you do it a different way?

sorry for not understanding this part. its the only thing i do not get.

thanks again!

Nick

 

[sonofgaladriel]

i assume that you got a sheet of 3/4" ply and cut out the center and then attached the doors to that? or did you do it a different way?
sorry for not understanding this part. its the only thing i do not get.
thanks again!
Nick

Hi Nick,
I used premium grade pine 1x3 and 1x6 to frame the openings and attached the doors directly to those boards. Your idea of using a sheet of plywood and routering out the middle would work too, but there would be an exposed edge of the plywood that doesn't look too good. I actually used very little plywood in the construction of this stand. If fact, the only plywood I used was for the inlays of the four colums. Everything else is solid wood.