SO, a few weeks ago i ordered a 5x2x2 tank, which arrived several days ago.
Its the weekend now, so i finally have time to do something with it.
Building a tank stand is the first on the itinerary. (as i was not going to pay the $700 the shop wanted for their cabinets)
after a bit of measuring, i decided how i wanted the stand, drew up some quick plans, and a list of timber to purchase. i decided to get the hardware store to cut all the pieces for me to the measurements i supplied, only cost a couple bucks extra, and each piece was perfect length.
all pieces 2x4 (45mm x 95mm for those of us metric inclined as 2x4 isnt exactly 2x4 here in australia...)
#1. 10 x 520mm
#2. 8 x 800mm
#3. 12 x 710mm
#4. 4 x 1530mm
#5. 1530mm x 610mm x 15mm Plywood
Pieces #5 and #1 going together to make the top and bottom frames, with pieces #1 spread evenly apart along the length of pieces #4.
i used Selleys - Aquadhere to glue the pieces together as well as screwing them with 75mm wood screws, pre-drilling and countersinking each screw.
Completed Frames.
Next, lay one of the frames down flat for the base.
glued and screwed pieces #2 to the corners and to where each of the middle legs of the stand are going to go (on the inside of the frame)
These pieces are not structural, merely for screwing the legs to hold them in place.
take 2 of pieces #3, glue the 45mm edge of one of them, then lay it flat (95mm side down) lay the other piece 45mm edge down on the ground up against the glued edge of the other, clamp, drill, screw them together.
make 4 of these.
they turn out somewhat like this (not the best photo but i hope u get the idea)
the 4 legs we just made, glue and screw them to the #2 pieces in the corners making sure they are hard up against the base. the remaining pieces #3 glue and screw to the last 4 pieces #2.
Grab your other frame you made earlier, it is almost ready to go on top of the legs. get that glue again, and glue the top edges of the legs, and the top sides of pieces #2. slide the top frame onto the legs, Drill and screw it to pieces #2
it should now look somewhat like this
throw one of those pieces of ply on top, and you now have a basic stand.
This is all i have got done today, tomorrow i will be sealing the timber, so any spilt water wont destroy or weaken the timber.
i will then cut out notchs in my last piece of Ply, and slide it into the stand for by floor / bottom shelf which my sump will sit on.
after that i will then be sheeting the outside to turn it into one respectable Cabinet.
If anyone is interested, the tools i used were fairly basic, most can be obtained fairly cheaply at any hardware store.
-Battery Drill
-set of Small drill bits.
-countersink drill bit
-phillips head screwdriver bit
-Large and Small Carpenters Squares
-G-Clamps, cheap clamps will do the trick
-750mm long clamps (can be seen in one of the pics, has orange handles)
i picked these up very cheaply, they werent fantastic but did the trick.
-Tape measure
-marking pencil / pen
Getting all the pieces pre cut saved me from having to cut anything at all, so no saw's were needed.
Using the Squares to make sure everything is square is the trick to building a square, level piece of furniture, and made things a whole lot easier.
i also cheated a little by using my air compressor and air drill which can be seen in some photos, the battery drill kept going flat....
in total this took me about an afternoons work, maybe 4 - 5 hours.
i will check back with more updates over the next few days.
Its the weekend now, so i finally have time to do something with it.
Building a tank stand is the first on the itinerary. (as i was not going to pay the $700 the shop wanted for their cabinets)
after a bit of measuring, i decided how i wanted the stand, drew up some quick plans, and a list of timber to purchase. i decided to get the hardware store to cut all the pieces for me to the measurements i supplied, only cost a couple bucks extra, and each piece was perfect length.
all pieces 2x4 (45mm x 95mm for those of us metric inclined as 2x4 isnt exactly 2x4 here in australia...)
#1. 10 x 520mm
#2. 8 x 800mm
#3. 12 x 710mm
#4. 4 x 1530mm
#5. 1530mm x 610mm x 15mm Plywood
Pieces #5 and #1 going together to make the top and bottom frames, with pieces #1 spread evenly apart along the length of pieces #4.
i used Selleys - Aquadhere to glue the pieces together as well as screwing them with 75mm wood screws, pre-drilling and countersinking each screw.
Completed Frames.
Next, lay one of the frames down flat for the base.
glued and screwed pieces #2 to the corners and to where each of the middle legs of the stand are going to go (on the inside of the frame)
These pieces are not structural, merely for screwing the legs to hold them in place.
take 2 of pieces #3, glue the 45mm edge of one of them, then lay it flat (95mm side down) lay the other piece 45mm edge down on the ground up against the glued edge of the other, clamp, drill, screw them together.
make 4 of these.
they turn out somewhat like this (not the best photo but i hope u get the idea)
the 4 legs we just made, glue and screw them to the #2 pieces in the corners making sure they are hard up against the base. the remaining pieces #3 glue and screw to the last 4 pieces #2.
Grab your other frame you made earlier, it is almost ready to go on top of the legs. get that glue again, and glue the top edges of the legs, and the top sides of pieces #2. slide the top frame onto the legs, Drill and screw it to pieces #2
it should now look somewhat like this
throw one of those pieces of ply on top, and you now have a basic stand.
This is all i have got done today, tomorrow i will be sealing the timber, so any spilt water wont destroy or weaken the timber.
i will then cut out notchs in my last piece of Ply, and slide it into the stand for by floor / bottom shelf which my sump will sit on.
after that i will then be sheeting the outside to turn it into one respectable Cabinet.
If anyone is interested, the tools i used were fairly basic, most can be obtained fairly cheaply at any hardware store.
-Battery Drill
-set of Small drill bits.
-countersink drill bit
-phillips head screwdriver bit
-Large and Small Carpenters Squares
-G-Clamps, cheap clamps will do the trick
-750mm long clamps (can be seen in one of the pics, has orange handles)
i picked these up very cheaply, they werent fantastic but did the trick.
-Tape measure
-marking pencil / pen
Getting all the pieces pre cut saved me from having to cut anything at all, so no saw's were needed.
Using the Squares to make sure everything is square is the trick to building a square, level piece of furniture, and made things a whole lot easier.
i also cheated a little by using my air compressor and air drill which can be seen in some photos, the battery drill kept going flat....
in total this took me about an afternoons work, maybe 4 - 5 hours.
i will check back with more updates over the next few days.
I am not sure about the over flow, the way it is it looks like it could suck down any small fish passing by, but I am not a large tank expert either.
