Mr.Tan
07/12/2013, 08:41 AM
Although I dont post on the forums much since I dont have a reef tank anymore,i do still hide in the background and look/read alot.. i am still in the aquarium hobby but keeping freshwater planted tanks. (i'll be back to saltwater sometime in the future :spin2: ).
Here is a project I wanted to share with you all, since when I do come back to keeping a reef tank it will probably be the stand I use.
Its the first time I have built something like this, and gone far into depth and taken my time.
I started with 8~ 2"x4"x8' pieces of wood and 2 ~ 1/2"4'x4' birch pieces as a skin.
did the basic frame:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsdd0a0b75.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsdd0a0b75.jpg.html)
then did the full supports for weight and keep it sturdy:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpseaf05e9d.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpseaf05e9d.jpg.html)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps6dc1effb.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps6dc1effb.jpg.html)
put a piece of 3/4" MDF on top to make it level and full support for tank to sit on:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps33102eeb.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps33102eeb.jpg.html)
started to skin it, allowing the panels to go up enough to cover the lower black trim on the tank for not only asthetics but also keep the tank "solid" and in place. I also put the trim on that I purchased to make it look nicer, and cut the door opening:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps6d2f968b.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps6d2f968b.jpg.html)
door installed along with side trim for edges:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps10ee901f.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps10ee901f.jpg.html)
then i worked on shelving and installing lights inside the stand (one bottom light isn't on in this pic, it has since been fixed):
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsffcc78fc.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsffcc78fc.jpg.html)
did a coat of stain, which I am happy with and probably wont do another:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsa28cd5e6.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsa28cd5e6.jpg.html)
layed some shelving paper over in a marbled pattern to make it look cleaner:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsc7a1ada0.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsc7a1ada0.jpg.html)
pretty much where I am at so far. I painted the stand black inside to look better against the dark stain and the "marble" shelves. I also ordered a magnetic NC switch to turn the lights on when door is open and off when closed. WAiting for it to fully dry before I lay a coat of clear on to make it shine real nice.
Here is a project I wanted to share with you all, since when I do come back to keeping a reef tank it will probably be the stand I use.
Its the first time I have built something like this, and gone far into depth and taken my time.
I started with 8~ 2"x4"x8' pieces of wood and 2 ~ 1/2"4'x4' birch pieces as a skin.
did the basic frame:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsdd0a0b75.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsdd0a0b75.jpg.html)
then did the full supports for weight and keep it sturdy:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpseaf05e9d.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpseaf05e9d.jpg.html)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps6dc1effb.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps6dc1effb.jpg.html)
put a piece of 3/4" MDF on top to make it level and full support for tank to sit on:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps33102eeb.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps33102eeb.jpg.html)
started to skin it, allowing the panels to go up enough to cover the lower black trim on the tank for not only asthetics but also keep the tank "solid" and in place. I also put the trim on that I purchased to make it look nicer, and cut the door opening:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps6d2f968b.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps6d2f968b.jpg.html)
door installed along with side trim for edges:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zps10ee901f.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zps10ee901f.jpg.html)
then i worked on shelving and installing lights inside the stand (one bottom light isn't on in this pic, it has since been fixed):
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsffcc78fc.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsffcc78fc.jpg.html)
did a coat of stain, which I am happy with and probably wont do another:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsa28cd5e6.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsa28cd5e6.jpg.html)
layed some shelving paper over in a marbled pattern to make it look cleaner:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/vdubn5/null_zpsc7a1ada0.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/vdubn5/media/null_zpsc7a1ada0.jpg.html)
pretty much where I am at so far. I painted the stand black inside to look better against the dark stain and the "marble" shelves. I also ordered a magnetic NC switch to turn the lights on when door is open and off when closed. WAiting for it to fully dry before I lay a coat of clear on to make it shine real nice.