Building your own stand

[renman303]

Has anyone built their own stand? I am remodeling a room with cabinets and thought, "Why not use the same cabinetry to use as a stand for my new 180 gal?" Just cover the top with 3/4" ply and it should be infinately more sturdy than the pressboard crap they use for stands?

Thoughts?

Dave

 

[dngspot]

You can easily cover most of anything. I have a 150 Gallon tank that is framed from angle iron. I welded it together and then covered it with 3/4 oak plywood. I then trimmed it with oak; all of the wood came from Home Depot. I also built a 55 Gallon stand. It is framed from 2x2 lumber, I cut 2x4s down the center on my table saw. I then covered it with 3/8 pine plywood, not the cabinet grade. I then painted it.
Take a look and let me know what you think.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/96845150.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/9684555.JPG

 

[dkh0331]

There are a plethora of DIY stand threads in the DIY forum. Just go thru the DIY forum and you will find them.

HTH

David

 

[renman303]

Believe me, I tried doing a "Search" on "Stands" in the DIY section but the server keeps saying "Try later". It must be maxed out with people doing searches.

 

[dngspot]

It is not very hard to make a basic stand. For a 180 gallon stand, I would measure the out side diameter of the tank, width and length. Then I would build from 2x4 the top box. I would lay them on the wide side up. Then I would make 6 4x4 legs, 4 for the corners and 2 for the center. Then make a lower box, I would miter the ends of the 2x4's. All boards would be drilled and bolted together with lag bolts. They would have to be counter sunk. Make sure that the top and bottom of the frame is covered with plywood. I then would cut sheets of plywood, your choice, and then mount them to the frame via screws or finish nails. Trim all rough edges with wood. Cut door openings and then cut doors, again trim and mount to cabinet. This is basically how my 150g is built. The frame will look rough but the plywood will finish nicely. Really, heck I am a mechanic not a carpenter and I did it.