Easy Stand Build 120 Gallon

[amberjade53]

This is the stand I am building for my new 120 Gallon.

Decide to make it a little easier that straight from scrap wood.

There is two 24x24x31 Base Cabinets from Home Depot. They were on sale for 65 each. Then I used 2x6 and 2x4 to reinforce and combine.

Turned out pretty good and is easy enough for anyone to make.

My drilled overflow will run through the floor to the basement so I was not worried about room under the cabinets.

 

[RocketEngineer]

While it looks good, I have two issues:

1) Particle board + water = mess. The first time you have a spill, the particle boards are going to swell and fall apart. Considering how many panels in those cabinets are made of the stuff, I don't see it having much durability. This is especially true for the bottom where the sump would sit.

2) At that price, I could have picked up 2 full sheets of 3/4" plywood. A plywood stand would be much more dimensionally stable and durable long term. Even if I resorted to a 2X4 internal frame, I think it still would have been less expensive and significantly stronger.

I give you 10 points for inventiveness. But I have to subtract 9 for using the low grade cabinets the box stores try to pass off.

 

[woodnaquanut]

While it looks good, I have two issues:

1) Particle board + water = mess. The first time you have a spill, the particle boards are going to swell and fall apart. Considering how many panels in those cabinets are made of the stuff, I don't see it having much durability. This is especially true for the bottom where the sump would sit.

2) At that price, I could have picked up 2 full sheets of 3/4" plywood. A plywood stand would be much more dimensionally stable and durable long term. Even if I resorted to a 2X4 internal frame, I think it still would have been less expensive and significantly stronger.

I give you 10 points for inventiveness. But I have to subtract 9 for using the low grade cabinets the box stores try to pass off.

I'm going to deduct another half point for making it way more complicated than needed!

Skinning Rocket's stand seems a whole lot easier than building within an existing couple of boxes.

What really matters in the end is are you happy with it and does it hold the tank up!

 

[BAETech2004]

I understand what Rocket is saying( regardless of it coming off pretty rude), just use some polyurethane, or something similar to seal the particle board everywhere. As long as you seal it very, very well, it will be JUST fine. They build stand out of particle board every day, they last juuuuust fine. I'd do 3-4 light coats( even better if you know someone with a decent HLVP spray gun, or a cheap one can be had from Harbor Freight for 30.00) to make sure you don't miss anything. The run a bead of caulk around internal joints. Thing will work awesome, problem solved. Nice job on the stand!

 

[amberjade53]

I see all your points.
1. the particle board should not get wet since the 3/4" top is covering all that up.
2. My sump is in the basement and nothing is stored under the tank in the cabinets below.
3. It just makes it easiest for us that our not good at building square true cabinets.

I really do appreciate all of the comments and concerns though.

 

[RocketEngineer]

1. the particle board should not get wet since the 3/4" top is covering all that up.

Famous last words :hammer:. Ever knock a powerhead off the glass and have it spray water out of the tank? I have. Never say never, Murphy comes at you from all directions.

Lucky you. I wish I had a basement for all my tank stuff. My display would be one of the smallest tanks in the system.

3. It just makes it easiest for us that our not good at building square true cabinets.

That's one reason I used a stock metal stand and added panels to it for my office build. Same idea. If I were to do something to you, I would have used the purchased cabinet face and just made it a new box. Have the folks at the store cut the plywood and gone from there. Hindsight is 20:20 though.

I really do appreciate all of the comments and concerns though.

Good to hear. I think too many folks take critical to mean rude. I just don't want folks making mistakes that they will regret a year from now. I've made my fair share of them.

Good luck with the build.