Show me Your Fancy STANDS!!!

[xcelprintingcom]

xcelprintingcom,

Wow, nicely done. I like how you did your canopy. Very nice.

Thank You

 

[OneFiddy]

Here's an update of my 60G in cabinet tank. I did all the cabinetry - all built in.

Paint grade MDF/Poplar sprayed semi gloss white.

Black cherry stained maple cabinet backs and 1/2" frame liner around tank opening.

I know this is a reef site, but it has custom reef inserts done by Living Color. Artificial? Yes. Expensive? Very. However, their stuff looks simply amazing. I've got 'insert's on the way that will cover the spaces between the 3 reef pillars and the back tank wall will truly look like a full reef panel, but in 3 pieces so I can get it out of the tank for cleaning/maintenance.

 

[OneFiddy]

Here's an update to my 150. I had originally done this a couple of years ago.
Like all dudes, I couldn't leave it alone and had to start going tool time on it. I did buy one new tool for it - Fein Multi Master - simply the greatest tool ever.

Anyway, here are the changes:

- Removed a lot of the white pilaster molding to show more of the tank. Replaced it with stained maple for more contrast and more tank viewing area.

- Got rid of removable canopy and replaced with fixed canopy which goes all the way to the ceiling. Doors on both sides and the front panel is removable.

- Add the desk area on the left side of the tank so my boys can do art project and watch fish at the same time.

- Modified the base cab so that all panels are removable and added a large door to the back side for water changes which drain right into my sump.

- Added Living Color reef insert. It's a 4 piece unit that comes apart and allows me to get it out of the tank (covers the overflow).

All paint grade MDF and poplar with Black Cherry stained maple.

 

[MentalNote]

Nice stands everyone.

Ochriso, what wood did you use for the stand? Looks great.

 

[colombiano81]

beatiful work guys. This is giving mr some great ideas for my next build

 

[Johnny C]

I wouldn't classify my stand as being ultra 'fancy' but was built to be 100% waterproof and matches my furniture quite nicely.

 

[donzphoto]

I'm trying to decide what type of wood to use for my stand; Any ideas?:fish2:

 

[OneFiddy]

I'm trying to decide what type of wood to use for my stand; Any ideas?:fish2:

Well, it all depends on your level of skill and your home decor/what look you're going for.

For example, you've seen oak, painted, maple, etc on these forums.

Painted - if you go painted, it is a) less forgiving of mistakes (caulk and paint cover what a carpenter aint!) and b) materials are less expensive and c) doesn't require as meticulous a process as staining/topcoating does.

Stained - certainly gives a nice look, but as above requires perfect joints and finishing. Nothing looks worse than a blotchy stain or topcoating job.

I'm not a huge fan of oak because of the grain - that's just my asthetic, but....

Stained - you can go maple or birch plywood with solid maple, birch, etc frames/doors. You can also do Mahogany or other exotics. The key is if you have access to a hardwood store that carries it (won't get it at Home Depot). I'm fortunate to live in Chicago so I have a couple of great stores (Owl Hardwood is my preference).

Painted - you can do birch plywood (nice smooth grain) or even MDF. I like to use a melamine backed MDF sheet. It has white melamine on one side and MDF on the other. This allow me to have the nice smooth and easy to wipe down Melamine on the inside (and saves painting/priming) and the finish ready MDF on the outside. Yes, salt water might hit the MDF, but only a little. Painting the unit with a high quality (Benj Moore, Sherwin Williams, Farrow and Ball) oil based paint will prevent that. Then you can do the face frame in S4S poplar (available at Home D and Lowes). Doors are available at any number of online sources. My fav is Cabinet Doors Depot. The doors you see on my are quite cheap - nice raised panel detail with white melamine back and bored/shipped with Blum clip top hinges.

Our house has a lot of white millwork and white built ins, so I did it to match and then added the contrasting deep cherry (espresso) stained maple trim around the tank opening. I think the white helps the cabinetry blend into the house, but the darker stained wood makes the tank pop more.

 

[ochriso]

MentalNote

we used ash and just cleared over it.

 

[Rhodes19]

OneFiddy,

Very nice. I particularly like the shelving on either side of your 60.

 

[Rhodes19]

CaliDreaminjC,

Wow, I love the finish one your stand. Thats beautifuly made.

 

[hunnicuttz]

This thread is ADDICTING!!!

 

[JCR's Reef]

Very nice stands on this page

 

[csa dad]

i love this thread i will have to post pics up of my stand an tank in progress still need to finish my stand. wish i had the money to do salt water like everyone else but i have freshwater with african cichlids

 

[rodneyri]

did mine a bit different, its mdf that I painted in automotive 2pac paint with a stainless steel laminate border on the base of the tank

 

[kicbox89]

Here is one of mine in proccess!

 

[cet98]

did mine a bit different, its mdf that I painted in automotive 2pac paint with a stainless steel laminate border on the base of the tank

OK...now this one I really like
please show some more pix of this set up, like with the doors open and such...
also, what is the tank sitting on?...
it looks like its sitting on a metal frame or is that metal laminate covering foam????....

do tell!!!....and nice work :thumbsup:

 

[kenjr]

this is my (overkill) stand . i think the floor will give b4 the stand .

 

[BryanB]

i dont know about fancy but for anyone who is skinning a stand i recommend considering what ive done here. simple clean and cost effective. just built this frame and covered it with marine canvas. said and done for under a hundred dollars. all attached by magnets for easy access. check it out tell me what you think. nothing ground breaking but come to think of it i havent seen too many around. going into it i figured i would be unhappy with the end result but fellas i couldnt be happier.

Thank's for the great idea. love it.

 

[SawdustInTank]

I was not sure if I posted this but I built this stand and canopy for my current nano build.

You guys have some nice stands and canopies out there. Good work.