Post photos of your DIY stands! I need inspiration.

[AydenLincoln]

If you made your stand please post photos I’d love to see them!

 

[Fish Fan]

I thought you had a guy that was building you one?

Are you asking for help building the stand, which I'd be thrilled to help with? Or are you looking for design help, for which I'm useless and asking for help myself?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I thought you had a guy that was building you one?

Are you asking for help building the stand, which I'd be thrilled to help with? Or are you looking for design help, for which I'm useless and asking for help myself?

He is building it but he’s building the base frame so the 2x4 strength of it! In other words just the frame. I still have to add doors, paint it, and add plywood on the sides/bottom! Make it look pretty while a 2x4 frame is technically a stand it’s not pretty lol.

 

[RockRash]

I'm not done yet but here's my progress so far.

I built it using 2.5x1.5" steel and will be covering it wood. Here's a picture of it painted and the bottom wood stained and in place.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I'm not done yet but here's my progress so far.

I built it using 2.5x1.5" steel and will be covering it wood. Here's a picture of it painted and the bottom wood stained and in place.

That’s a cool stand. Where does one get the steel material and how much did that cost? I imagine pricey? Just wondering.

 

[RockRash]

That’s a cool stand. Where does one get the steel material and how much did that cost? I imagine pricey? Just wondering.

There are metal yards around the the steel beams were $110 the plywood to cover it was $235 I bought marine grade so it was a bit more expensive and the paint, wood stain and top coat was around $120 so $465 so far not counting the welding wire, shielding gas and grinder wheels but I already had all that.

 

[Fish Fan]

He is building it but he’s building the base frame so the 2x4 strength of it! In other words just the frame. I still have to add doors, paint it, and add plywood on the sides/bottom! Make it look pretty while a 2x4 frame is technically a stand it’s not pretty lol.

Gotcha!

He's building you a 2x4 framed stand a la our own @RocketEngineer 's classic design:

DIY Stands Template and Calculator - Reef Central Online Community

DIY Stands Template and Calculator Do It Yourself

www.reefcentral.com

What you now need is to SKIN this frame.

You can use plywood and paint it. You can also use panel boards (straight from the 1970's) that are already finished, so you don't have to paint them, which is nice. Something like this, but there's many others:

EUCATILE 32 sq. ft. 3/16 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Beadboard White True Bead Panel 975-759 - The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

Or,

Woodgrain Millwork 3.5 mm x 48 in. x 96 in. Authentic Pallet MDF Panel AUTHPALLET - The Home Depot

Authentic pallet decorative wall panels offers a beautiful, simulated woodgrain pattern that is as elegant as real wood. Whether you are redecorating, remodeling or designing a new home, decorative wall

www.homedepot.com

Or,

Eucatex 5/16" x 48" x 96" Natural Oak Decorative Slat Wall Panel 0409-7007 - The Home Depot

The 9/32 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Eucatex Natural Oak Slat Wall Decorative Panel captures the popular slat wall design while providing amazing value and ease of installation. Bring the character and warmth

www.homedepot.com

There's a lot of options to skin you stand

I would suggest starting with a "skin" after you get your 2x4 stand structure. Then, you can think about doors and trim.

And, in my opinion, with some careful planning, you can get your tank up and running and ready for Hewbie even as you're still working on parts of your stand, like the doors and trim.

Last, you don't have to do door with hinges. I've done door panels in the past, and considering them on my next build, held to the stand by magnets (or Velcro). This way, if I need to work on the sump, I can just pull off the whole panel, and not be bothered by hinged doors. Just a thought.

I like woodworking, though I'm not an expert, and don't claim to be, but if I can help you, please post and let me know, I'd be glad to try

Best of luck of course!

 

[DIYreefer]

How big is the tank that's going on the stand? Unless it's quite large, you could honestly just use plywood (3/4") and forego the 2x4s completely. Fwiw, my 125 gallon tank sits on a plywood stand that I built about 4 years ago. I'm already laying down for the night but I'll snap a picture tomorrow if you want.

 

[AydenLincoln]

How big is the tank that's going on the stand? Unless it's quite large, you could honestly just use plywood (3/4") and forego the 2x4s completely. Fwiw, my 125 gallon tank sits on a plywood stand that I built about 4 years ago. I'm already laying down for the night but I'll snap a picture tomorrow if you want.

It’s large it’s a 120 rimmed! 48x24. I want to make a canopy too possibly that open out not up because my ceiling in my basement would be too low. Sounds great!

 

[AydenLincoln]

Gotcha!

He's building you a 2x4 framed stand a la our own @RocketEngineer 's classic design:

DIY Stands Template and Calculator - Reef Central Online Community

DIY Stands Template and Calculator Do It Yourself

www.reefcentral.com

What you now need is to SKIN this frame.

You can use plywood and paint it. You can also use panel boards (straight from the 1970's) that are already finished, so you don't have to paint them, which is nice. Something like this, but there's many others:

EUCATILE 32 sq. ft. 3/16 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Beadboard White True Bead Panel 975-759 - The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

Or,

Woodgrain Millwork 3.5 mm x 48 in. x 96 in. Authentic Pallet MDF Panel AUTHPALLET - The Home Depot

Authentic pallet decorative wall panels offers a beautiful, simulated woodgrain pattern that is as elegant as real wood. Whether you are redecorating, remodeling or designing a new home, decorative wall

www.homedepot.com

Or,

Eucatex 5/16" x 48" x 96" Natural Oak Decorative Slat Wall Panel 0409-7007 - The Home Depot

The 9/32 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Eucatex Natural Oak Slat Wall Decorative Panel captures the popular slat wall design while providing amazing value and ease of installation. Bring the character and warmth

www.homedepot.com

There's a lot of options to skin you stand

I would suggest starting with a "skin" after you get your 2x4 stand structure. Then, you can think about doors and trim.

And, in my opinion, with some careful planning, you can get your tank up and running and ready for Hewbie even as you're still working on parts of your stand, like the doors and trim.

Last, you don't have to do door with hinges. I've done door panels in the past, and considering them on my next build, held to the stand by magnets (or Velcro). This way, if I need to work on the sump, I can just pull off the whole panel, and not be bothered by hinged doors. Just a thought.

I like woodworking, though I'm not an expert, and don't claim to be, but if I can help you, please post and let me know, I'd be glad to try

Best of luck of course!

Yup! That’s what he’s doing.

 

[Fish Fan]

the plywood to cover it was $235 I bought marine grade so it was a bit more expensive.

This idea has been tossed around, and in my very humble opinion, marine grade playwood (which is mega expensive) is literally for boat builders. Boats, that are out on the water crashing through waves, etc. In my totally non-expert opinion, marine grade plywood is overkill for an aquariums stand that - if we are not talking about a much bigger problem - sees just a few splashes of water a week as we do water changes.

Save the marine grade stuff for boat builders, in my opinion.

I will offer that the largest stand I have ever built was for a 180, and that was a 2x4 stand like RE's design. I also have a 75 gallon tank made from all plywood that's been fine for almost 13 years. My 150 that's on order I plan on building out of plywood, and I have every confidence in my (not original) design.

But if you are building for 200+ gallons, I have zero experience there, and I would encourage anyone to listen to the "real" engineers

 

[Fish Fan]

How big is the tank that's going on the stand? Unless it's quite large, you could honestly just use plywood (3/4") and forego the 2x4s completely. Fwiw, my 125 gallon tank sits on a plywood stand that I built about 4 years ago. I'm already laying down for the night but I'll snap a picture tomorrow if you want.

Yes! I can't stand 2x4 stands (no offence, RE!)!

I much prefer plywood, or for smaller stands, typical kitchen cabinet construction is just fine.

 

[DIYreefer]

It’s large it’s a 120 rimmed! 48x24. I want to make a canopy too possibly that open out not up because my ceiling in my basement would be too low.

Plywood would be adequate. It would just have to be built properly, but that applies to any stand, honestly. I also built my canopy as well. I'll post pictures tomorrow

 

[AydenLincoln]

This idea has been tossed around, and in my very humble opinion, marine grade playwood (which is mega expensive) is literally for boat builders. Boats, that are out on the water crashing through waves, etc. In my totally non-expert opinion, marine grade plywood is overkill for an aquariums stand that - if we are not talking about a much bigger problem - sees just a few splashes of water a week as we do water changes.

Save the marine grade stuff for boat builders, in my opinion.

I will offer that the largest stand I have ever built was for a 180, and that was a 2x4 stand like RE's design. I also have a 75 gallon tank made from all plywood that's been fine for almost 13 years. My 150 that's on order I plan on building out of plywood, and I have every confidence in my (not original) design.

But if you are building for 200+ gallons, I have zero experience there, and I would encourage anyone to listen to the "real" engineers

I actually understand why one would want to use it. The underneath of sumps get so much mold and moisture and paint peels or wood cracks. Now a solid sealant and good quality paint should protect that but not always.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Plywood would be adequate. It would just have to be built properly, but that applies to any stand, honestly. I also built my canopy as well. I'll post pictures tomorrow

Honestly plywood is probably going to end up being the doors and the sides. Maybe even the top but I hole would have to be cut for the overflow. I am not against plywood my other high quality custom stand is plywood. Now my stupid decision to use 10 cans of white spray paint on it is a tacky job and took 10x longer than it needed but that was a few years ago. And the person who is making it using 2x4s and only charging me like less than $100. He built all of the stuff in his shop and it’s nice looking and the one even holds a 500 gallon acrylic tank. So once finishing touches are made it’ll look so pretty.

 

[DIYreefer]

Yes! I can't stand 2x4 stands (no offence, RE!)!

I much prefer plywood, or for smaller stands, typical kitchen cabinet construction is just fine.

Same. They're unnecessarily bulky and in the majority of cases, grossly overbuilt. However, I will concede that grossly overbuilt is probably a good thing for someone with little/no woodworking experience, or basic understanding of weight distribution and how to properly brace a stand.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Same. They're unnecessarily bulky and in the majority of cases, grossly overbuilt. However, I will concede that grossly overbuilt is probably a good thing for someone with little/no woodworking experience, or basic understanding of weight distribution and how to properly brace a stand.

I just think it has to hold thousands and thousands of lbs of water longterm so better overbuilt and built using strong wood than under built using plywood. Although a lot of people seem to use pressed wood too and by that I mean mass manufactured tank stands which somehow works but it got rusty and the sump area definitely got really beat up but it worked fantastic for over a year and a half.

 

[Fish Fan]

Plywood would be adequate. It would just have to be built properly, but that applies to any stand, honestly. I also built my canopy as well. I'll post pictures tomorrow

Absolutely any stand has to be built properly. But let's all take a walk through a big box pet store selling big box brand tanks, and let's look at the particle board stands, with skeptical designs, and cheap fasteners like what you get with Ikea furniture in a box. And yet those stands do hold up, I've have some for many, many years, though I prefer to build my own stands.

In fact, no one believes me when I say this, but take a look at the warranty on a typical Aqueon or Marineland tank. The will not honor their warranty on the tank itself if you do not use their absolutely flimsy stands.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Here's mine, it's upside down.

Here's where I discuss it in my thread.

Post in thread 'My rendition of 300' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-rendition-of-300.550019/post-5661495

 

[DIYreefer]

Plywood isn't "under built." In fact, I believe it may have a higher strength rating (i forget what the technical term here is) than solid wood (2x4s) due to the alternating grain structure in plywood. My stand has been holding my 125 for 4 years and I have no reason to believe that it wouldn't hold it for another 20+ years, easily.