need to build a 75 gallon stand please help

frezel · 01/28/2006, 03:46 PM

has anyone seen good links to building aquarium stands, around here they are 450 bucks for a half descent stand and fiqured i can build one cheaper.i also checked the DIY section but that stand is not my cup of tea. So if you have personally built or knwo some good links please help.thanks

hookdonreefs · 01/28/2006, 03:52 PM

I just bought an all glass 75 with overflow and pine stand for $436

mpomfret · 01/28/2006, 04:52 PM

If you are concerned at all about your tank's warranty, make sure you read it before doing DIY. I have an Oceanic tank (75g). Oceanic's warranty is void unless you have their tank on one of their stands.

Most of the stands I've seen at LFS are ugly and all of them look too flimsy for the job. There is (or was) a thread on DIY wit pics of stands; have you found that one. Maybe one of those pics will suit you. Or you could look around on the photo gallery.

Do you have a rough idea what you want or are you still looking for inspiration ?

unsane · 01/28/2006, 05:50 PM

2 x 4's or 2 x 6' s and start your imagination. Its really not that hard. Build a box. make t eh legs "T" shaped for added strength and use glue with your screws. Glue adds far greater strength.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 01/28/2006, 05:52 PM

GARF.org

frezel · 01/28/2006, 06:25 PM

yeah i seen the garf site i think im gonna try to make one myself like i said the store bought ones are so cheapy, thing is i want a drilled tank but no money for one i have a new 75 sitting in garage so its like i have to use what i got and for 250 bucks the cheapesst stand here in philly is so ghetttooooo. So keep an eye out for real nice DIY stands if you see them

unsane · 01/28/2006, 08:38 PM

Dude for 50 - 75 bucks you could build a nice stand. It may not be walnut or mahogany , but you could build an eyepleasing stand for cheap. And one you wont lose sleep over at night wondering if its gonna come crashing down.

Spuds725 · 01/28/2006, 08:52 PM

I built my own for my 135 gallon tank-- I wanted 2 large doors and a tall stand (tank rim is above my eyes)-- materials were cheap... my time was expensive-- I used 1/2 lap joints which took a while to make (but I wanted it very strong)-- I framed it and painted it and got the tank on it and filled.... I've been skinning it since using 1/4 laminate board-- they sell stainable hardwood laminates pretty cheap-- I painted mine black-- added doors etc...

Its still not done... but getting there-- I'm building some shelves/cabinet and an above tank fuge stand on the right side and still need to build a new canopy to match the stand.

Here is my project picture log.... helps if you have a miter and a table saw... I also beefed up the floor where my tank was to go..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pizzif.../ph//my_photos

I used both nails and 3" deck screws for the joints-- get good ones-- cheap ones strip easily when you try to drive them.

unsane · 01/28/2006, 08:55 PM

Nice Job. *****Note the use of glue****

Spuds725 · 01/28/2006, 08:59 PM

THanks... I had a carpenter/reefer in England coaching me via another messageboard on how to build it (I bounced some designs off him)... he talked me into the 1/2 lap joints and also suggested the glue-- I kind of overkilled it I think-- but better too strong then not quite strong enough.

GARFVolunteer · 01/30/2006, 11:02 AM

Frezel,

Here is a calculator that I made for building stands up to 125 gallons: http://www.idahoreefs.org/Tank/BuildStand.asp

FYI store bought stands may look flimsy but they are in fact very strong and more than adequate. When you consider the shear strength of wood, nails, and glue it makes perfect sense.

BTW I was given a 60 gallon tank this weekend that is full of mushrooms so I will have plenty of mushrooms for you...

Thanks,

Scott

01/28/2006, 03:46 PM	#1
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 580	need to build a 75 gallon stand please help has anyone seen good links to building aquarium stands, around here they are 450 bucks for a half descent stand and fiqured i can build one cheaper.i also checked the DIY section but that stand is not my cup of tea. So if you have personally built or knwo some good links please help.thanks

01/28/2006, 05:52 PM	#5
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	GARF.org __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

01/28/2006, 08:52 PM	#8
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	I built my own for my 135 gallon tank-- I wanted 2 large doors and a tall stand (tank rim is above my eyes)-- materials were cheap... my time was expensive-- I used 1/2 lap joints which took a while to make (but I wanted it very strong)-- I framed it and painted it and got the tank on it and filled.... I've been skinning it since using 1/4 laminate board-- they sell stainable hardwood laminates pretty cheap-- I painted mine black-- added doors etc... Its still not done... but getting there-- I'm building some shelves/cabinet and an above tank fuge stand on the right side and still need to build a new canopy to match the stand. Here is my project picture log.... helps if you have a miter and a table saw... I also beefed up the floor where my tank was to go.. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pizzif.../ph//my_photos I used both nails and 3" deck screws for the joints-- get good ones-- cheap ones strip easily when you try to drive them. __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

01/28/2006, 08:59 PM	#10
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	THanks... I had a carpenter/reefer in England coaching me via another messageboard on how to build it (I bounced some designs off him)... he talked me into the 1/2 lap joints and also suggested the glue-- I kind of overkilled it I think-- but better too strong then not quite strong enough. __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

01/30/2006, 11:02 AM	#11
GARFVolunteer Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,108	Frezel, Here is a calculator that I made for building stands up to 125 gallons: http://www.idahoreefs.org/Tank/BuildStand.asp FYI store bought stands may look flimsy but they are in fact very strong and more than adequate. When you consider the shear strength of wood, nails, and glue it makes perfect sense. BTW I was given a 60 gallon tank this weekend that is full of mushrooms so I will have plenty of mushrooms for you... Thanks, Scott __________________ Proud Member Idaho Marine Aquarium Society A fair and biased reef hobbyist. "If I were going to set up a tank, and I am going to make some people mad here, I would use VHOs" Dana Riddle 3/2/2007 Current Tank Info: Brand new 150 gallon tall Reef trying Bonsai method, 60 gallon soft coral tank (not GARF style).

01/28/2006, 03:52 PM	#2
hookdonreefs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 97	I just bought an all glass 75 with overflow and pine stand for $436

01/28/2006, 04:52 PM	#3
mpomfret Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 94	If you are concerned at all about your tank's warranty, make sure you read it before doing DIY. I have an Oceanic tank (75g). Oceanic's warranty is void unless you have their tank on one of their stands. Most of the stands I've seen at LFS are ugly and all of them look too flimsy for the job. There is (or was) a thread on DIY wit pics of stands; have you found that one. Maybe one of those pics will suit you. Or you could look around on the photo gallery. Do you have a rough idea what you want or are you still looking for inspiration ?

01/28/2006, 05:50 PM	#4
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	2 x 4's or 2 x 6' s and start your imagination. Its really not that hard. Build a box. make t eh legs "T" shaped for added strength and use glue with your screws. Glue adds far greater strength.

01/28/2006, 06:25 PM	#6
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 580	yeah i seen the garf site i think im gonna try to make one myself like i said the store bought ones are so cheapy, thing is i want a drilled tank but no money for one i have a new 75 sitting in garage so its like i have to use what i got and for 250 bucks the cheapesst stand here in philly is so ghetttooooo. So keep an eye out for real nice DIY stands if you see them

01/28/2006, 08:38 PM	#7
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	Dude for 50 - 75 bucks you could build a nice stand. It may not be walnut or mahogany , but you could build an eyepleasing stand for cheap. And one you wont lose sleep over at night wondering if its gonna come crashing down.

01/28/2006, 08:55 PM	#9
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	Nice Job. ***Note the use of glue**