Kelley's 37 gal system. from the start
- Thread starter kelley_mc
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kelley_mc
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Here is the lower stand with the plywood sides and framed face. The face is made with solid oak secured together with pocket screws. The solid oak frame has been datoed so that the plywood sides can fit tightly into the front giving a strong and clean looking joint. As you can see, "skin" has been raised to cover the black trim around the lower part of the aquarium.
Here is an image with the tank on the lower stand. As you can see, the black trim is still partially visible. The remaining portion will be covered with 3/4 solid oak with a rounded edge. That will completely conceal the black trim. In an earlier post, I diagramed how this was done.
OOH! I am out of room on my RC image account. I will obtain a photobucket account and post more pics soon.
Here is an image with the tank on the lower stand. As you can see, the black trim is still partially visible. The remaining portion will be covered with 3/4 solid oak with a rounded edge. That will completely conceal the black trim. In an earlier post, I diagramed how this was done.
OOH! I am out of room on my RC image account. I will obtain a photobucket account and post more pics soon.
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kelley_mc
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Wow, photobucket is easy. I already have an account and the pics are on their way.
Here is an image of the corner of the stand from the inside view. This is where the tank will sit. In this image, you can see the trim has been added and now the black of the aquarium won't be visible.
In this image, you can see the top of the stand with the trim added. You can also see toward the back of the trim is the stainless steel screws that will be used to hold the sides in place later on.
Here is a good shot of how the tank looks in the corner. Please keep in mind, the wood is not glued at this point so some of the joints appears "loose"
More pics to come...
Here is an image of the corner of the stand from the inside view. This is where the tank will sit. In this image, you can see the trim has been added and now the black of the aquarium won't be visible.
In this image, you can see the top of the stand with the trim added. You can also see toward the back of the trim is the stainless steel screws that will be used to hold the sides in place later on.
Here is a good shot of how the tank looks in the corner. Please keep in mind, the wood is not glued at this point so some of the joints appears "loose"
More pics to come...
kelley_mc
Active member
Here is a pic of the side of the canopy and skin behind the tank.
You can see that it is one piece. There is a dado cut that is used to hold the 3/4" oak that will sit on the tank itself to hold the canopy in place.
Along the top and front, there are pocket holes that will be used to secure it to the front face and top of the canopy once completed.
At the very bottom, you can see the 2 over-sized holes that will accommodate the stainless steel screws shown above. That will keep this part of the skin in place, but also allows for easy removal when necessary.
One of the final step will be to cement the veneer around the exposed edges of the plywood.
You can see that it is one piece. There is a dado cut that is used to hold the 3/4" oak that will sit on the tank itself to hold the canopy in place.
Along the top and front, there are pocket holes that will be used to secure it to the front face and top of the canopy once completed.
At the very bottom, you can see the 2 over-sized holes that will accommodate the stainless steel screws shown above. That will keep this part of the skin in place, but also allows for easy removal when necessary.
One of the final step will be to cement the veneer around the exposed edges of the plywood.
kelley_mc
Active member
This is the front face of the canopy.
It is secured together with pocket screws. This piece also has a dado cut that will accommodate the 3/4" oak that will sit along the top front of the aquarium. Pocket holes are also drilled on this piece to fasten it to the top.
Here is an image of where the rear skin meets the stand. Sorry, the pic is a little blurry.
It is secured together with pocket screws. This piece also has a dado cut that will accommodate the 3/4" oak that will sit along the top front of the aquarium. Pocket holes are also drilled on this piece to fasten it to the top.
Here is an image of where the rear skin meets the stand. Sorry, the pic is a little blurry.
kelley_mc
Active member
Here is an image of the doors that we built.
One of the things that always drove me crazy about fishtanks was light escaping from the stand an canopy. I did not like the look of a nice fishtank with a crack of light showing around the doors. To help reduce this, the backs of the doors was cut out around the edge. This cutout will fit right in the opening and should help block the light. Here is an image of the back of the door. Sorry, the quality is a little off.
And here are the doors installed.
One of the things that always drove me crazy about fishtanks was light escaping from the stand an canopy. I did not like the look of a nice fishtank with a crack of light showing around the doors. To help reduce this, the backs of the doors was cut out around the edge. This cutout will fit right in the opening and should help block the light. Here is an image of the back of the door. Sorry, the quality is a little off.
And here are the doors installed.
kelley_mc
Active member
Here are some completed image shots. The entire stand needs to be glued and screwed together. That will be done after finish sanding. Then staining, sealing and painting will need to be done. In addition, there will be some finish trim added under the top overhang and the stand trim overhang.
kelley_mc
Active member
Thank you very much!
Hmmm... not that much considering what a store bought one costs.
I think the material list was the following:
1 4'x8'x3/4" sheet of oak plywood
1 4'x2'x1/4" sheet of oak plywood
1 3/4"x8"x10' piece of solid oak
Couple 2x4s
Small piece of 3/4" subfloor (for the bottom of the cabinet)
and that's it.
As for lighting, I will be starting with 150 watt MH with 6 blue and 6 white moonlights. If I feel that is not enough, I will add supplemental lighting.
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