Post pics of your DIY stands

[Hoppy]

That is a very nice look! I think this thread has given us at least double the number of stand design options than I knew existed before. It is a great addition to the "catalog".

[Haagenize]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

Off subject, but I wonder if any of those Hampton Bay desk lamps has ever been sold to be used for anything but an aquarium.

Nice looking cabinet, too!

actually my friend uses a hampton desk lamp for homework, but its way too white for me, i look at it for a second then i have to look away

[curly01]

Here are some pics of the stand that I'm in the process of building at the moment. If I would have though I would have taken pics of the entire project, but I was too excited to start on it that I forgot all about it.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by curly01

Here are some pics of the stand that I'm in the process of building at the moment. If I would have though I would have taken pics of the entire project, but I was too excited to start on it that I forgot all about it.

That is a very interesting design. Do you have a pic of the tank on the stand yet? Why did you put the big "chamfers" on the front corners - to match the tank, or just for the appearance? And, I assume the back is recessed so the stand extends to the wall while the tank doesn't?

[CAM6467]

Originally Posted by curly01

Here are some pics of the stand that I'm in the process of building at the moment. If I would have though I would have taken pics of the entire project, but I was too excited to start on it that I forgot all about it.

Very nice piece of construction. I am impressed with your craftsmanship. I just made one of my own the other day so I can't help but notice the little details. I like those raised panel doors and all the sharp lines. It looks like you planned this project out very well. If you don't mind answering a few questions, what type of wood(s) did you use? Do you have any pictures of your joinery? What are the dimensions of the stand? Did you use a router table to make your trim pieces?

Regards,

Charlie Mims

[curly01]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

That is a very interesting design. Do you have a pic of the tank on the stand yet? Why did you put the big "chamfers" on the front corners - to match the tank, or just for the appearance? And, I assume the back is recessed so the stand extends to the wall while the tank doesn't?

Thanks Hoppy, no i don't have a picture of it with the stand on it yet, tank is on another stand at the moment full of water. the reason for the "chamfers" on the corners is so it matches some of the other furniture in the living room. and yes the back is recessed so I can help hide some of the plumbing as it comes up the back

[curly01]

Originally Posted by CAM6467

Very nice piece of construction. I am impressed with your craftsmanship. I just made one of my own the other day so I can't help but notice the little details. I like those raised panel doors and all the sharp lines. It looks like you planned this project out very well. If you don't mind answering a few questions, what type of wood(s) did you use? Do you have any pictures of your joinery? What are the dimensions of the stand? Did you use a router table to make your trim pieces?

Regards,

Charlie Mims

Thanks also Charlie. I did plan this one out quite a bit. I had it sketched out on paper with no idea if it would work or not though. I figured I might as well try and see what would happen. The stand is 4 feet 6 inches wide, 2 feet 6 inches deep and 3 feet tall. I wanted it taller then the stand it is on now which is only 2 and a half feet tall. I would like to take credit for the doors, but i can't I found them at a local cabinet maker, he had made them a while back and they were the wrong size, so I got them both for 50 dollars and they were already finished. I just used 2x4's for the main frame construction and glued and screwed them together, sorry no pictures. I wanted to make sure the 2x4's were straight so i just ran them down the table saw taking an 1/8" off each side. it also helped to make sure they were all the same width so I wouldn't have any uneveness. I then added another 2x4 and a 1x4 to the front and the sides to get them out so there is a "ledge" on it. For the front corners I ran the 2x4's down a table saw at a 45 degree angle to get them to make the corners. I then covered it with 1/4 oak plywood. The top trim piece i bought at a local hardware store. The bottom trim is made out of 1x4 oak and cut it down to 2 3/4 inches, i have a router that i used to put the design in the top of it(i wish i had a router table). I still have to mount the doors. I am wanting to install some shelves behind the right hand door. I think I am going to paint the bottom of the stand also even though it will never be seen. It looks bad where I spilled a full quart of stain on it Feel free to ask any more questions, I don't mind answering.

[Hoppy]

I'm looking forward to seeing this with the tank on it. How will you do the lights? A matching hood?

[plantbrain]

I made a quicky for my 38 Gal:



More an ADA style.

I'm going to buy a 60p ADA tank with metal ADA in/out flows(13mm) and Rena XP1 filter for my Zebra plecos. So I'll need to make another ADA stand style.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by god91234

first ....

HA HA HA ...


are those copper light bars? great idea really like the look of it. i am going to have to try to copy that.

You can spray paint the pipe or use the electrical conduit pipe(1/2, 3/4 and 1" sizes for any sized suspended lighting), copper does not match with much

The ADA style stands are nice.
A few folks in the SFBAAPS have done them very nicely.

I might decide to go that route with the laminate.

Sven's stand is very nice, I like that one.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by rbarn

Gravity feed from internal overflow
down to bottom side of wet/dry - flows up thru mechanical filter
spills over into drip tray and goes bio-bale media.

Below bio-bale in the sump area, there is an inlet and outlet to the Fluval
Before water returns from Fluval back to sump area it goes thru UV light

2nd pipe coming down next to return pump is new water feed from
aging tank.

It's all gravity fed from the overflow. Return pump stops and whole
system will stop, no chance of runaway siphons.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...-overflow.html

The design: the biggest is the high loss of CO2 since the wet/dry section is exposed to the air. If it had a sealable lid, then you'd greatly improve the CO2 situation. You might come up with a good solution there.
eg: Some sealing insulation tape and a glass lid with a latch etc.

Good prefilter design, no overflow, clean that sponge weekly or every 2 weeks and it should really keep things clean. If you added a needle wheel, say a Rio 1000 with a snipped impeller that fed into the suction side of the return pump, then you'd get really good CO2.

I've never liked fluvals
Rena, Ehiem etc.

Your system has a lot of good aspects for automated water changing. I'd try and hard plumb those into the system if you own the home etc.

Then turn a valve to drain(water go to the landscaping), turn another to refill,(from aging tank or tap).

Makes the the water change easy.
Nice skills putting it together.
A lot of thought went into it.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[CL]

Originally Posted by gentledental4u

I love this stand... did you just paint it black or did you add any primer,etc.?

I just spray painted it
Excellent stands, everyone!

[curly01]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

I'm looking forward to seeing this with the tank on it. How will you do the lights? A matching hood?

i'm wanting to do a matching hood, will have to see if i can or not though, i'm trying to picture building it in my head and i'm having trouble, right now i have a coral life light fixture that i will use until i get the hood built

[Sven]

Sven's stand is very nice, I like that one.

Thanks for the compliment Tom, I´ll be recieveng the glass for the tank shortly and I´ll start building the frame for the lights soon, I took your advice and got 19mm glass.
The light fixture will just be a simple box with t5´s, no too much lighting since the tank will be filled with lowlight plants, anubias etc. I´ll paint the light fixture with the same white lacquer as the stand, no oak trimmings though. I´ll post pics when it´s done.

I´m also very fond of the ADA style stands like yours Tom. I´ve seen a couple of those DIY ada´s on this board and they alway look great with smaller tanks. At first I wanted to make my stand in that style, but I wasn´t sure it would look good in that size. But I built on that general idea with my stand and added the oak trimming to connect the stand to the oak flooring.

Hope you all continue to post your stands, always fun to see different ideas and projects.

[belladee]

Here is my stand...


still need to stain the doors... I dont think is is ever going to happen