aquarium stand in raw industrial style

[hydrophyte]

thanks again so much. i hope to have some updates and also some pictures from a similar idea. i might start a new thread for that one.

[hydrophyte]

here is a picture demonstrating the other kind of stand that i have been building--simple plywood top tables. this one is for a 20 gallon. it has about 1 1/2" of top sticking out all around the tank, and the legs are aligned with the tank corners.



the next shot shows detail beneath. these legs were scavenged from a cheap fiberboard desk that i found in the trash. i have also built two of these using threaded steel pipe and threaded floor flanges--very easy.



here is the general progression for putting one of these together:

1. determine size, cut two pieces 3/4" sanded plywood wood
2. mark flange positions, mark holes for screws that will join two pieces of plywood
3. glue two pieces plywood together, with more fisnished surfaces on outside, screw together tight
4. allow glue to dry, then remove screws
5. sand all plywood surfaces smooth
6. finish with oil-based polyurathane varnish, using as sanding sealer, then applying several addional clean coats
7. replace screws
8. attach pipe flanges and screw legs in place
9. attach rubber leg bases to pipe bottoms
10. et voilà

[Hoppy]

You do have to be careful not to get a "racking" failure with that type of stand. For small tanks it should work fine, but I wouldn't dare try it with a 55 gallon tank, for example. Have you figured out how strong it is with side forces applied? Also, not all pipe flange fittings are created equal. The last time I used some, and I can't remember exactly what I was making, they were very poor quality, with the screwed in pipe not at a good right angle to the flat face of the flange. I got the flanges from an Ace Hardware.

[hydrophyte]

those are good qualifications to add. i have made these short (~24" tall) to lessen "wobble". i wouldn't put a larger tank on this kind of stand except with substantially thicker pipe.

i probably acquired the same poor-quality flanges that you describe. i had to try different combinations of pre-threaded pipe and flange, and exchange a couple of flanges at the store, but i eventually got the legs to mount square.

the whole thing looks pretty nice all set up.

the only out-of-tank equipment associated with this system was a powerstrip and timer. i hung these on the wall with a tidy, finished piece of plywood.

[bartak]

You just gave me an interesting idea for a stand. If I build it I'll post pic's

[hydrophyte]

i finally got to replacing the old twin-tube strip lights that i had over my crypts riparium (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...-crypts-9.html) with the Jump Start hydroponics T5.

i hung it up as a pendant.



i think that it goes really well with the stand. this was a remarkably economical lighting option.

here's "raw industrial" for ya'. the pendant hanger is just a simple eye bolt with toggle, washer, S-hook and chain.

[hydrophyte]

here i have a quick blurb on mounting the powers trip under the 65--i finally got around to it.

it was easy. i elected to use this product, 3M Dual Lock, Command Picture Hanging Strips.



i stuck one on each corner of the power strip's back surface.



i was pleased to find this power strip. it is all black, and goes with the aquarium.

here is mounted on the stand vertical support. the sticky-back mates of the Dual Locks strips are stuck right on the finished wood. supposedly, the Command products use a removable adhesive that can be taken off withour marring.



i had started to measure to position the Dual Lock strips on the stand support, but then the much easier option of just sticking them to their mates on the power strip, peeling away the tape covers, then sticking in place occurred to me.

[hydrophyte]

i finally made some time to install the shelf under the 55-gallon crypts riparium (see journal post). i think that it looks nice.



i chose a dark green for this shelf, to compliment the colors of the crypts and Anubias in the tank.



for my 65 South America tank, on the other hand, i painted with a light, bright green--close to the swords, Acorus and other plants in there.

finishing this shelf took a number of coats of primer, paint and varnish, but installation was easy. i used these little shelf brackets.