Lets see your DIY stands; pictures wanted

[chrismhaase]

Guys,

I am about to finally make my own stand here pretty soon. I have made a few for friends. I just moved, had to sell everything, and I am ready for a new setup. This is my plan- a 90 gallon reef setup. I was thinking of doing a 4x4 posts in the corners that are notched out so the framer that the tank sits on will be supported by 4x4s instead of screws. Here is a link of what I was thinking. http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/75g_stand/index.shtml

I also want to add a water catch in the bottom, this is what I was thinking... take some vinyl flooring(linoleum) and attach it on the bottom and bottom sides, caulk it. This way it makes a seal at the bottom for spilt water and any other mess. Then I will kilz the whole stand to seal it from the moisture.

I NEED PICTURES OF YOUR STANDS!! I am really looking for special add-ons, WOODWORKING AND TRIM PICTURES, and of course and suggestions. Also, is this a good design?

Thanks for everything, and please send me or attach pictures of the outside and insides of your stands. Especially different but helpful ideas.

Thanks, Chris

 

[chrismhaase]

P.S. I will be putting this stand on hardwood floors. Do I need to do anything special? i.e. a rug or carpet section under the stand to make up for any irregularities?

 

[friendtothefish]

Hello chrismhaase ,

I recently built a 90Gal setup. Here is a link to the build thread. DIY 90Gal Reef

But since you asked for pics, here is a pic of the Stand:

My tank is on Hardwood floors too! the plan wasent to have anything under the tank, but I put a peice of carpet upsidown at the beggining, thinking I would slide it out later, But I ended up just triming it around the feet and leaving it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[emora]

Here's mine. Just finished the installation a few weeks ago and I'm happy as a pig in ... well you get the idea.

The cabinet is laquered MDF.

The stand frame is stainless steel.

Under the "hood" ... WFO

 

[emora]

By the way... full details and many more pictures on my Blog http://www.arrecifemadrid.com/blog/?p=94

 

[chrismhaase]

friend to the fish, what was your approxiamte total cost, and do you think the carpet is necessary item? Nice stand and tank. Thanks, Chris

Emora, great built in look. this is somewhat what I was thinking. I have a few questions, 1. where did you get that stand, did you do it yourself? Cost? 2. When you attached it to the wall, did you cope your woodwork to match the wall and did you caulk along the wall so no light escapes? 3. do you have heat issues?
Thanks. Chris

 

[chrismhaase]

Emora. Do you think I should use the carpet to act as a buffer? This way if everything is not level, it will level out because the carpet will act as a medium between the stand and hardwood floors?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here is ours (not quite finished yet)

In the works:

Closeup of trim:

With one coat of stain/poly:

I'll have access to the sump from the front and both sides. The side doors will be pop-ons, while the front doors will be hinged.

Total cost: a little under $200

Oh, and it's for a 75 gallon and measures 49" X 19" X 42".

---
Wendy

 

[chrismhaase]

Wendy, the picture where it says "close up of trim" is that two seperate pieces (one on top and the other going down the side?) I like that wood work. Are you gluing the trim? Or are you using a nail gun?

 

[adnup]

Heres one for a 55 I threw together

I never put a finish on the stand....oh well..I will someday

 

[Phyxius]

Here is the one I did for my 90. I built it also with the water leak theory in mind. It has a 4" lip that goes all around bottom of inside of stand. Its been all caulked and sealed so it will hold a good amount of water before hitting the floor if needed. Tank sits inside of stand as well as canopy sits over the edge so all the tank trim is hidden.
It was made with 2x4 supports that hold the weight of top frame and 2x6 spans across the top so I could go without center brace. It was then primed with primer and then marine enamel applied over the top of that. Outside is just stained and then 3 coats of poly. Other pics on pg 6,7 of my gallery.

When I firsat got tank switched over from my 65 and just got water and rock in it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9448687#post9448687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismhaase
Wendy, the picture where it says "close up of trim" is that two seperate pieces (one on top and the other going down the side?) I like that wood work. Are you gluing the trim? Or are you using a nail gun?

Yes, they are 2 separate pieces (top and bottom). We used glue and small nails (we don't have a nailgun).

I'll post a picture later on because it looks as if we'll be able to finish the stand this afternoon.

---
Wendy

 

[AZDesertRat]

Mine is here.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1043063

 

[sabodish]

i wanted something a little more contemorary in design..im not a huge fan of a ton of molding and stained wood, so i built this..

in hindsight, the only thing i would change is making it 36" tall instead of 30" tall.

 

[emora]

Emora, great built in look.

Thanks.

1. where did you get that stand, did you do it yourself? Cost?

I dont weld. A friend of mine did it for me. Cost? If I recall correctly it was the cost of the materials and a few frags.

2. When you attached it to the wall, did you cope your woodwork to match the wall

I dont understand what you mean.

and did you caulk along the wall so no light escapes?

That's right.

3. do you have heat issues?

Yes. If you have a close look at the pictures, the return for my living rooms's Air Conditioning is just above the tank. I vent it directly to the return plenum. If I need to I can take air directly from the AC duct into the top cabinet. Fans will keep it well ventilated and my chiller will maintain the tank temp.

 

[emora]

Oops. Forgot the picture where you can see the HVAC duct above the stand.

 

[emora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9448651#post9448651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismhaase
Emora. Do you think I should use the carpet to act as a buffer? This way if everything is not level, it will level out because the carpet will act as a medium between the stand and hardwood floors?

The moulding around the base of the stand takes care of the different levels. In my case the floor is fairly level. Hoever the walls are neither plumb nor straight. But the moulding takes care of the differences. A small bead of caulk created a perfect finish.

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

This is my stand for an oceanic 110 I'm working on now. I'll be doing the doors tomorrow.
He's where I'm at now.

 

[emora]

Here is a picture of my first stand. It supported my 100 gallon tank until I replaced it witht the stainless steel stand picured above.

I built it with wood and MDF.

The back plate of MDF gave it side shear bracing. It was fine for over a year but I was planning to anchor it to the wall for greater support. When I found someone to weld the steel frame I replaced the wood stand.

 

[Satori]

I know you're looking for wood stand ideas. I built mine out of steel, but since I skinned it with wood it might give you some ideas. I used 3/4" plywood and common trim, and the accents are nameplate blanks from the hobby section at Walmart.