custom stands in Sac area?
- Thread starter DrDNA
- Start date
Like Reefugee said, I am looking for someone who has built aquarium stands before, especially since a 300gal+ tank with water and rocks etc could be a couple tons of weight. I really don't want to be their guinea pig! I did get one price from Exotic Aquariums, but I am looking for a couple other sources before I decide who to go with.
Wee-Reef Master
New member
If you attempt to make it yourself, I'd suggest conferring with Reefugee. He'd made his own and it came out exceptionally nice. I'm sure that he also has tips on what/what not to do. Good luck!
I'm not sure I want to try making it myself, I'd rather have someone make one that has experience making stands. I also don't have the finish carpentry tools either (router, palm sander, etc) and just plain don't have the extra free time to build one right now (wife has me busy finishing the horse barn...).
Thanks for input guys!
Thanks for input guys!
My suggestion to talk to cabinet makers is good if you want a nice-looking stand that looks like furniture. I think you could show them some of the strong DIY designs for the interior bracing and then they can make it all look nice.
When you get down to it, a tank and all weighs a lot, but not that much, ~80-130 pounds/sq. ft. in any one area.
There's a good cabinet maker's shop next to mine and his stuff would be strong enough for a tank with very little modification to what he normally does. I'd recommend him if you want a really nice piece of furniture and are willing to wait several months like I did when he made the kitchen and bath cabinets for our new house last year. I think he has a storefont in Roseville and it's called Casa de Leonardo.
When you get down to it, a tank and all weighs a lot, but not that much, ~80-130 pounds/sq. ft. in any one area.
There's a good cabinet maker's shop next to mine and his stuff would be strong enough for a tank with very little modification to what he normally does. I'd recommend him if you want a really nice piece of furniture and are willing to wait several months like I did when he made the kitchen and bath cabinets for our new house last year. I think he has a storefont in Roseville and it's called Casa de Leonardo.
H20Sidhe
New member
FYI: Water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon. 300 gal would therefore be 2,502 pounds, or a ton & quarter. That is not counting the weight of the tank, canopy, lights and whatever other accessories you have in mind. The weight must be distributed evenly, (tank level, etc.) or you may end up with far more than 130 pounds in a single square foot area.
This is not to imply that a cabinet maker is not qualified to do this, but one must be aware of the particular challenges of trying to contain H2O.
Just my 2 cents!
This is not to imply that a cabinet maker is not qualified to do this, but one must be aware of the particular challenges of trying to contain H2O.
Just my 2 cents!
Have anyone notice how flimsy-looking the commercial stand are? I think most of us DIY type overbuild our stand. But I would rather overbuild than underbuild. ;-)
I would not be too concern about a heavy weight pushing down on the tank. It's surprise how much compression the wood will be able to take. What I would be concerned about is the torsion and shearing of the cabinet. It's easy to address these issues - but it's something to consider. Also - make sure that the cabinet maker does not use ANY particle board. You want it to use laminate plywood (unless you are rich enough to use pure hardwood).
Here is the stand I built. GoSlugsGo help me with the frame. Now that I have taken some wood building class, I have a better idea of how to improve the stand.
If you want to see a really nice stand - take a look at Litle_D's stand. I will probably rebuild my stand when I have our carpet replaced and a new entertainment center installed (and when I have the money to do it.)
I would not be too concern about a heavy weight pushing down on the tank. It's surprise how much compression the wood will be able to take. What I would be concerned about is the torsion and shearing of the cabinet. It's easy to address these issues - but it's something to consider. Also - make sure that the cabinet maker does not use ANY particle board. You want it to use laminate plywood (unless you are rich enough to use pure hardwood).
Here is the stand I built. GoSlugsGo help me with the frame. Now that I have taken some wood building class, I have a better idea of how to improve the stand.
If you want to see a really nice stand - take a look at Litle_D's stand. I will probably rebuild my stand when I have our carpet replaced and a new entertainment center installed (and when I have the money to do it.)
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