Salty stage: Have you ever built a DIY aquarium stand?

[Reefin' rumors]

 

[LaloJ]

Nice builds here. From my point of view, there can be nothing more rewarding for the dedicated aquarist, than building a project from scratch, that includes a nice stand, I love woodworking so for a few years I've been doing them myself.

 

[sandmanfd]

Working on mine now, tommorrow the sides and doors go on I’m attaching with strong magnets a friend got from a scooter shop, don’t have room to swing doors open. Also last coat of kilz primer then white vinyl wrap.

 

[rd62rdstr]

I’ve built a few. This is my latest. Built into a niche but used for my Discus.

 

[vlangel]

I voted other because although I have never built an aquarium stand, I did repaint and dress up with decorative trim wood

an Aqueon stand.

 

[alton]

When I see these builds it reminds me of my first stand which held a 135 back in the 80's. Stand weighed more than the glass tank with 2x4’s, 2x6’s and ¾” plywood. I have learned that nothing wrong with that kind of construction, but it is not needed. Second tank a 200 I used oak plywood, after ten years it developed a little bit of cancer and was easy to cut out. Third large tank was a 300DD and stand was made from oak hardwood. Fourth tank was a planet and to get the full warranty I went with their stand. Next came a Planet 310 and stand was made from Baltic Birch which is what I believe Planet uses? Going back down I used Baltic Birch for my 120. The reason for Baltic Birch/Russian Plywood is 13 ply’s on 18mm versus 5-7 on regular 18mm plywood plus exterior glue and no warping when using it for doors.

 

[RocketEngineer]

 

[ClownSchool]

Thank you, she was one of a kind! Sadly, I lost her to cancer a few years ago.

I’m so very sorry for your loss. I understand how losing a loved one shatters the heart. I pray you’re healing with the precious memories from your time shared together.

 

[EmprrStrksBk]

Built this stand with a friend for my 260g aquarium.

@Arron209 Love the wood work here! Do you have the plans and materials you could share here?

 

[Rjramos]

Made at home under the mango tree,lol! Simple and strong. 2x4’s with stock corners ripped off. Making them less than 4, which they already are. If your joints are strong it will hold a ton! True cuts, pre sunk screws, wood glue, and wood plugs for a clean finish. 3 coats of lacquer for protection and a nice clear natural pine finish! I’ve done better hard woods also, with same principles different dimensions. The last pic is my current dual 60 gal frag tanks. Same design, separate stands, sharing same filtration and water underneath.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I prefer to build my own, then I can massively over engineer them. This stand which Im currently replacing the doors on has had two previous door styles and is 10 years old and still could take the weight of several 6x2x2 tanks. It’s so solid.

 

[TwinReefMom]

We have our frag tank on an old refinished cedar chest. We wanted something that would be lower to the ground so it was easier to do maintenance but not so low that our twins could reach in easily and grab things.

 

[Redemption626]

Some of our 150G before we downsized. All DIY but the tank. Trying to load pics from work so I'll see where the post is and some pictures of the current set up later on.

Do you still have plans for this stand if so would you mind sharing?

 

[Arron209]

@Arron209 Love the wood work here! Do you have the plans and materials you could share here?

Didn’t really make plans lol. It’s a wrap for a steel stand. I used cabinet grade birch plywood.

 

[rcillig]

you all got some incredible talent... what is the idea height for DIY stands.

 

[Chris Shelton]

Do you still have plans for this stand if so would you mind sharing?

I didn't use a set of plans. I had an idea in my head and just built on the fly. I have several pics in various stages but no measurements or drawings so to say.

 

[jsker]

Some really nice craftsmanship everyone!!

 

[Foxy-88]

Built this stand at my old house before I moved into my new one as it was being built. Matched the color of my cabinets in my new house and already had the plan to put the shiplap wall up in my living room to tie the stand into the house even down to matching the cabinet hardware in my kitchen. I built it to have a removable panel on the right side of the stand to give me a tight fit for a 40 gallon breeder tank which I built specifically to house that 40 gallon tank. Made the panel seemless so that it doesn't even look like it is a part of the stand and then added cabinet switches on each door so regardless of which door I open it will turn on the lights under the tank to light up the sump area. I built the stand long before I bought the tank and found that the dimensions fit a 90 gallon tall and it perfectly fit in the location I chose in my house

77<

 

[kian.aeineh]

Salty stage: Have you ever built a DIY aquarium stand?

We spend a lot of time thinking about our tanks, looking at our tanks, and focusing on what it is happening in our tanks and appropriately so. However, sometimes we overlook that stand that literally and physically supports all the magic in the tank. Whether you have a premade stand or a DIY stand, whether your stand is made of aluminum, wood, or some other material, it is safe to say that all stands are not created equal. If you did decide to build a DIY aquarium stand, why did you choose to go that direction? Was your motivation cost, the challenge, the need for custom size/features, or something else? If you have built a DIY tank please share your experience and any tips/designs that you think may be helpful to the community. If you haven’t built a DIY stand, have you thought about it? Feel free to share your thoughts about why you have chosen not to or what is holding you back. Whether it is wood, steel, aluminum, or other material, let’s talk about DIY stands in the discussion thread!

Photo by @Brian Goldstein

Yes . According to my job and the things I know and the ability I have, wooden bases. I made a metal and once a ceramic base for my tank. My job is a construction contractor. I also know carpentry, welding and construction work

 

[glennf]

Yes i build all stands and tanks myself

This is my build:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-panorama-reef.651926/#post-6548646