Aquarium Stands

[TONY]

I currently have a 30 gal. tank mounted on a metal stand. I've change the whole decor in my living room and I was thinking about making a wooden stand for my tank to go with the whole look. I'm not sure on how to go about starting this project. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone can point me in the right direction and maybe some pointers. Thanks.

 

[semper fi]

if you go to the older posts by clicking and changing the date at the bottom of the subjects you can see the wooden stand that my husband made fo my 180. can try to get the plans printed here.


oops sorry i am one of the rudest mods ! welcome to the forum!
maggie

 

[TONY]

If its too much trouble getting the plans up maybe you can email me the plans and some pics to [email protected]. Maybe it can jog my creative side of the brain. Thanks for the reply.



Tony

 

[gadazobe]

I nearly bought a 6 foot tank, the only thing that stopped me was the base, or rather lack of one. If only I knew how to make one, or I had a hubby that was more DIY orientated. Unfortunately, neither of those two options are possible

 

[semper fi]

honestly the stand that he made is quite simple. after watching him i made a smaller version of it for a friend. really simple. basically a box with a platform on it.

let me see if i can go down and get some pics of it to post in the tank section.

maggie

 

[Great Lakes]

Most TV stands and microwave carts will support a 30gal tank. Cheap too.

 

[TONY]

I never really considered a cart of some sort. I will have to look into that. Thanks GL

 

[Gibbo]

I used a combination of 4x2's and 2x1's to make my stand, screwed it all together and added strengthening plates to any corners I could. It is as solid a stand as you could ever get. You can then build a cabinet around it!

 

[sgtbirch]

Wow I would be scared to place a 180g tank in my living room just seems like alot of wieght on the floor especially since my house was built with the floor joices 24" instead of 16". Has anyone ever heard of anybody having a problem. Floor sloping etc. Lets see 180 gallons water = 1400lbs?

 

[Great Lakes]

Not as bad as you would think Sarge. I had my 90 gallon set up in a mobile home a couple years ago. The 180 is twice as big, but the weight is spead out over twice the area.

Weight per sq inch is the concern.

Typical 180 gallon tank covers 1728 sq inches of floor space, and weighs 1800 pounds. This is 1.04 lbs/sq in.

A typical man applies a pressure of around 2 lbs/sq in.

We are talking about almost a ton on the floor though. It is best if you can acces the floor underneath and a little bracing and a jackpost would allow you to sleep at night. Also place it near an outside wall. The floor is strongest there.

 

[sgtbirch]

Great lakes excellent piont I should have really calculted the pounds / in It just sounds like a lot of weight.

I have just built my first tank stand and it looks pretty good. Its pretty simple looking. but nice. And extremely sturdy. Probably an overkill. Could handle like 5 tanks. If I wanted. But then that might be a little problem for the floor.
Cost less than 50 dollars and 3.5 hours to build. I cant believe what a rip off in the store they are.

Now I just need to learn how to build a tank!!

 

[elgecko]

I made a stand for my 40 gallon breeder tank. I use 2X3 for framing and oak veneer plywood. You can see it here. http/www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/Woodworking.html

 

[sgtbirch]

Wow! what a beautiful stand. Do you remember the material costs. Also the grain looks maple is it oak or maple? Shure beets mine. Although it looks like you have a few more tools. obvious by the other works and the door work. Simply awesome stand though better than any at the LFS

 

[elgecko]

If I recall correctly, it cost between $75 - $100 to make. The frame was 2X3's. Then the outer skin was 1/4" veneer oak plywood. Then the top that the tank sits on was 3/4" veneer oak plywood, which was used for the very top also. The spindals were pruchased, I do not have a lathe. All the doors are is the 1/4" verneer plywood with some molding as the frame. Molding is what I used to go around the very top and to go around the 3/4" plywood the tank sits on, and the very bottom of the stand. Actually I'm not sure now if it was oak verneer or maple. It would have been which ever one was cheaper.

 

[sgtbirch]

Mine is much simpler but not as nice. I also wanted a strong base so I made mine out of 2x4 then covered in 3/4 laminated pine( was cheaper than 3/4 oak or maple (same price for either here). But I think it was overkill witch I realised after the 2x4's were together. But I already purchased them so I went with it. Again very nice!!