Stand up for your stand

[Phish Tank]

I’m contemplating having a local cabinet builder make me a stand for a new tank I want to get next Fall (ditching the 55 for a 60 breeder). I’m lucky in that I don’t have to wedge too much stuff under the tank, I don’t have an external filter or sump.

What do you love about your tank stand? What do you wish you did differently? I won’t be getting a matching canopy made, just the stand.

Also I’m noticeably lacking in carpentry knowledge. What type of wood materials… cabinet grade plywood, or solid wood?

Any other specific points with regard to the construction techniques other than the specific weight it needs to support?

 

[HarryL]

I really like having extra table top space on the side to have as a working space, to put tools and what not on top when doing tank maintenance.

 

[Pepere]

I recently built my Third cabinet..

All three have been built using tongue and groove #2 pine beadboard and is plenty strong and solid wood.

The first one was built with a shelf underneath and a small cabinet below.


The thought was frequently accessed supplies could go on the shelf and longer storage below. I never envisioned getting a canister filter.

I wish I had not made that shelf and simply had a large cabinet underneath.

My second stand was a 2 tier to hold two tanks.


I find I dont enjoy that lower tank so much. Servicing it is very unpleasant. Part of me thinks about taking out the tank and putting it in the cellar and making a door for the cabinet.

My third stand is for a 75 not yet put in service. Large enclosed cabinet below with2 doors.


For organizing I simply went with stackable plastic bins. I like the magnet bars on the doors to store aquascaping tools on it.


The right hand side will house the canister filter and have a horizontal reactor mounted to back wall..

I have a series of power strips mounted on a side of the cabinet out of view. It allows me to shut off the canister filter and heaters off before I stick my hands in the tank.


And recently I decided I want a canopy to go on top of this tank and made one to coordinate with the stand.

 

[OmidNiav]

having a local cabinet builder make me a stand

that probably is not cheap, right? Considering how we all like upgrading the size of our tanks from time to time, have you considered going to a bigger tank and having a custom stand made for that. Probably stand const would remain the same.

 

[Pepere]

Stand up for your stand

I’m contemplating having a local cabinet builder make me a stand for a new tank I want to get next Fall

that probably is not cheap, right?

I have been rather surprised at even the cost for the Canopy I am building for my 75 gallon. The cost of supplies alone was significantly higher than the cost of the tank itself. Home Depot was not having a half off sale on wood…. The foolish band molding was 3.14 a linear foot, and I bought 32 linear feet.. 1x12 8 foot boards of premium clear pine was 46.00 a board and I bought 2. Around $50.00 and change for a sheet of plywood, though I used little more than a quarter of the sheet for this project and will have leftovers for other projects…. Glue, screws, hinges, sandpaper, wood preconditioner, woodfiller, stain, chip brushes, latex gloves, polycrylic… epoxy…. I probably have around 3-350 in it without counting my labor…. Rule of thumb used to be that labor often accounts for twice materials cost… I didnt really count my time and just snuck in an hour here and 2 hours there in and amongst the days…

The stand was actually a little cheaper than the canopy. On the stand I used all #2 knotty pine which is less than half the cost of clear premium pine and only 8 feet of molding.

I have been surprised at times at how long a staining session can last, especially with softwoods as I pretreat the wood with wood conditioner that prevents splotch stain absorption…. If I remember correctly the stand took around three hours to stain…. A cabinet shop would likely have to bill out at least $50.00 an hr if not $75.00….

 

[Pepere]

This video is of an awfully impressive home built custom stand from a very skilled woodworker. I ran across it while researching for ideas on building my canopy. I am impressed and can appreciate the build, and I could rise to the challenge of the precision of the build, but it would look incredibly out of place in my living space. I think my beadboard cabinetry is a much better fit for me…

Frame and raised panel construction made of 1 inch thick white oak. Arched raised panel doors, fluted columns with Corbels. Custom 3 part painting, base, highlights, glaze. Matching canopy with counterbalanced lift to raise and lower it for tank access, matching hutches on either side….

To commission a build like that would likely run several grand.





All in all, I think there are 4-5 videos detailing the build. These two cover an overview and details on the canopy lift and painting…

The solid oak canopy weighed in on about a hundred pounds. Which really makes such a lift necessary. My canopy in contrast likely weighs in less than 30 pounds.

 

[Art]

As with everything in this hobby, you need to balance your enjoyment with the cost because, otherwise, it rarely makes financial sense. If you want a DIY project that you will be proud of and you can make it exactly what you want, then does the cost matter that much? Certainly should be within reason but it's for your personal satisfaction and enjoyment.

I, thankfully, am on a minimalist kick. Also, I'm not particularly (ready "definitely not") handy. So, for me was to save up and purchase a stock tank with its stand. I went with a Waterbox combo and haven't regretted it.

If I ever want to change, I sell the tank along with the matching stand and purchase what I want. Much easier.

That said, I certainly didn't get the personal satisfaction of building something myself.

 

[Pepere]

I, thankfully, am on a minimalist kick. Also, I'm not particularly (ready "definitely not") handy. So, for me was to save up and purchase a stock tank with its stand. I went with a Waterbox combo and haven't regretted it.

Of course Waterbox is not the budget option that Petco half off tanks are….

Helps to offset the cost of my custom cabinet and canopy…

I grew up in a house my Grandfather and his brother built. I had woodworking and diy modeled in front of me from my earliest remebrance. My grandfather was a self taught wood worker. I read lots of books too.

I take my woodworking and trade skills largely for granted and definitly discount the value of them… until I see what it would cost me to hire it out…

My son grew up working in the garage with me building wooden boats and is now a project manager / site supervisor fora large construction firm. He tells me what the budget would be for projects Ido in my buildings and I just shake my head at it….

 

[Koan]

on a minimalist kick

Same all but my largest tank are hosted on Craigslist antique tables, sideboards and consoles, top protected with a piece of plexiglass





I want my furniture to look like.. furniture

For quarantine and Nano tanks a flat-pack "kitchen island cart" can be just the ticket. Some are available as a closed cabinet as well I liked the looks of this one better, half price on sale + no particle board and comes with a stainless steel top. Just set it up without the wheels, no muss no fuss




Wooden slat storage crates also frequently go 2 for 1 at Michaels

 

[Phish Tank]

Considering how we all like upgrading the size of our tanks from time to time, have you considered going to a bigger tank and having a custom stand made

Good point. I’m thinking I could get a stand that would fit a 60 breeder, 75, or 90, and could handle the higher weight of a 90.

I also like @Pepere point about regretting his built in shelf, I never know if my stand storage needs will change

 

[Phish Tank]

Of course Waterbox is not the budget option that Petco half off tanks are….

True, so true. I’ll probably be petco, both for price and because I actually like a rimmed tank, I keep my tank covered, and like to hide the water line.

building wooden boats

Building wooden boats in Maine, very nice. I have a good friend that worked at the Brooklin boat yard for years.

 

[Pepere]

One of my builds.

 

[SingAlongWithTsing]

my stand is 36" tall. kinda regret it with the tank being 24" tall. I'm only 5' 6" so I need my ladder or a step stool every time I do maintenance lol.
2x4 frame milled down to get straight edges and wrapped with 3/4" Sande (think it's vaca wood) plywood.

If I was more confident in my woodworking skills and had a domino jointer I would of went just plywood but doubled up and laminated. That would of given me about 6" more internal width wise and about 3" more internal depth wise.

I feel more confindent about leveling a stand with a 2x4 frame than a whole plywood stand though cuz holy hell is my floor uneven.

that probably is not cheap, right? Considering how we all like upgrading the size of our tanks from time to time, have you considered going to a bigger tank and having a custom stand made for that. Probably stand const would remain the same.

Depends on how many sheets of ply you're gonna use. On my 180 gallon I used 5 sheets for the stand (74.5" x 26.5" x 36" H) and canopy (74.5" x 26.5" x 9" H) I believe. Think the 3/4" plywood I got at the time was $60 ea before tax. Then add in edge banding and cabinet hardware and screws.

 

[Phish Tank]

my stand is 36" tall. kinda regret it with the tank being 24" tall. I'm only 5' 6" so I need my ladder or a step stool every time I do maintenance lol.

Excellent point. Tank and stand height are both definitely on my mind. I’m leaning towards a 60 breeder because maintenance will be easier with a shorter tank. For stand height I’m also thinking about the viewing height. If my stand is an inch or two lower, I think it will give me a better view sitting in front of the tank.

 

[Pepere]

and beware of creep…

I designed my stand at 30 inches tall based on height of Aqueon 75 gallon tank. When I got my tank home it had a broken frame and was replaced with an Imagitarium tank which is a little shorter length and width and higher to compensate.

Then I added a canopy which raises tank access higher, though I can easily remove canopy, except then I also remove the lights…

Of course ugf plates and substrate brings the bottom back up to me some…