Building a professional stand

Anthony777 · 2026-07-29T17:25:30-0400

Im looking for help with designs or advice on how to build a professional cabinetry stand like you see at the stores.. not using 2x4s or 2x6s but using just the thick plywood and 1x4s and 1x6s. Everywhere I look im finding videos of the ones using 2x4s and 2x6s but none the way im talking about. I have a large sump and plenty of equipment going under tank so I need all the room I can afford. Thanks for any help possible. Anthony

winxp_man · 2026-07-29T17:28:36-0400

I just did a 4040 extrusion build. solid. I think I built mine too tall at 40”, might drop it to 36” total.

Fish Fan · 2026-07-29T17:46:23-0400

Anthony777 said:
Im looking for help with designs or advice on how to build a professional cabinetry stand like you see at the stores.. not using 2x4s or 2x6s but using just the thick plywood and 1x4s and 1x6s. Everywhere I look im finding videos of the ones using 2x4s and 2x6s but none the way im talking about. I have a large sump and plenty of equipment going under tank so I need all the room I can afford. Thanks for any help possible. Anthony

What size tank do you have?

The 2x4 frame stands are very easy to make and very strong, even for people with limited woodworking tools and experience.

If your tank is about 75 gallons or less, you can simply build a cabinet out of 3/4" plywood that will support the tank. Do you have experience building cabinets? What kind of tools do you have at your disposal?

Here's a 75 gallon stand I made almost 15 years ago now. It is built like a cabinet, no 2x4's or construction timber; oak ply and maple trim. It was supposed to have cabinet doors, but in the end my wife liked the open shelf look, but you could definitely add doors:

Here's one I made just recently for a small 12x12 cube tank. This is 3x4" oak plywood and solid oak trim, and though I added a curve to the legs, this is basically nothing more than a cabinet; no 2x4's: