Cabinet And Hood For Massive Tank

[VickiandKev]

My OH has let the cat out of the bag and told me he might buy me an 8 x 3 x 3 tank for my birthday in Feb to replace my 6 x 18" x 2 but it would just be a bare tank and then we'll have to kit it out.

Obviously the water volume in this tank is going to be absolutely massive - but we don't really want this straight on the floor as it'll be the living room centerpiece - what's the best way of building a stand and hood (and possibly trim) to smarten the tank up and make it all pretty?

We're in rented accommodation on carpet - so not sure whether several brick uprights (spanning front to back of the tank would really work or even look very nice. Also the floor isn't level so we could really do with adjusting the stand to make the waterline level - I'm sick of looking at a slanted waterline on my 6ft lol!

We're not *that* handy with wood so not sure whether I would trust us to make something but if it was really very simple and hard to get wrong then I think we could do it.

Alternatively - is there anyone in the North London/Herts area who could do this for us to earn some cash?

 

[thedc5]

Stand wise why not just go with the blocks and sheet of wood and then build a surround for it?
8' x 4' is a standard size sheet so you could have 1 sheet across the front (cut down the height as required) then just put 2 sides on and slide it in front of the blocks, any cuts can be done in the wood yard when you buy it and then you know they will be good clean straight cuts, once thats done you can just get some fancy trims/beading to stick on the front to look like fake doors etc, these days you can get all sorts of veneers so it would look very nice and very simple to do.

Hood wise there are tons of guides on the net for hoods but again if the cuts are all done in the wood yard the hardest bit is done for you, it could be as simple as a surround but for the top with a small beading inside to hold it on the tank and a lid.

 

[littleimp]

Stand wise why not just go with the blocks and sheet of wood and then build a surround for it?
8' x 4' is a standard size sheet so you could have 1 sheet across the front (cut down the height as required) then just put 2 sides on and slide it in front of the blocks, any cuts can be done in the wood yard when you buy it and then you know they will be good clean straight cuts, once thats done you can just get some fancy trims/beading to stick on the front to look like fake doors etc, these days you can get all sorts of veneers so it would look very nice and very simple to do.

Hood wise there are tons of guides on the net for hoods but again if the cuts are all done in the wood yard the hardest bit is done for you, it could be as simple as a surround but for the top with a small beading inside to hold it on the tank and a lid.

First you need to check the floor can handle the weight!! That's several ton's of water.

You could get a metal frame made up for £150/£200 mark and then just buy kitchen cupboard doors or melamine for the sides.

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