Custom Stand/Hood

[d3sc3n7]

Does anyone know of a good place (online works) to get a custom stand/hood for a tank? I would think if I bought a light kit and took it to lowes or home depot they could take it apart, and put it in the new hood? maybe? IDK...just grabbing for ideas

Edit: I can do the DIY thing, I'm just a thinking here

 

[Punkrulz]

Hey Descent,

I wish I had some suggestions for you... hell I wish I had some for myself. I still can't get over that the most expensive part in most aquariums is the stand. I wish I was capable of doing the DIY stand thing, because that would entitle me to go spend $150 on a 55g tank, and build the stand myself, saving way more money than anticipated...

bah.

 

[d3sc3n7]

Yeah, again, I could do the DIY...but I'd feel better with a stand built by someone who really knows what they are doing

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I built a stand knowing nothing. I acctually trust it more then those prebuilt jobs from the LFS. Very sturdy and easy to build. Got the wood and built it in a weekend, still need to put the plywood and such on to make it more eye pleasing but the frame itself is strong as an ox.

Personally i'd say stick to the DIY.

 

[Lone Wolff]

I'll 2nd the DIY option on the stand. I built one myself as well. I didn't take a woods class in school, nor do I have any high $$ tools. A circular saw is about all you need, and that's just to save some time and effort. If you have a friend with a mitre saw, even better.

I went the mega cheap route and built a 2x4 frame and placed it on top of stacked cinder blocks. Painted them all, put on a coat of polyurethane, used some concrete adhesive on the blocks, and she's done. Total cost $14: $4 for lumber, $6 for the cinder blocks, $4 for the concrete adhesive. (Paint, varnish, & woodscrews, were all leftovers from other projects).

Here's what I would do if I were to build another one.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/Double_55_diy_pt1.php
I would alter it to add a shelf midway up in addition to the bottom as I don't need to house two tanks. You could build one of those for under $30.

The plywood is the expensive part for sure. If you can get away with skipping it and living with something that isn't quite as fancy, you can save a bunch. It easily doubles or triples your cost.

As far as the hood goes....I don't have plants, so watts per gallon mean nothing to me. Just got basic cover +light.

 

[brian1973]

thats awesome lonewolf...love the litter boxes tucked neatly away that way the cats have some entertainment while they are doing there business

 

[Lone Wolff]

Not sure how awesome it is, but it was extremely cheap and simple. Leaving room for the litter boxes was just an option as they used to be in the corner, but that pushed the tank a lot further out into the room. This gives us more options for the rest of the room .

My youngest cat (in my avatar) likes to perch on top of the 29 on the left side of the pic and stare at the convicts.

Our pets really have a rough life. /sarcasm.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Nice stand, and fish!

 

[supra1997]

I have built the stands for all of my tanks. Really easy, and affordable. They are so simple, the beginner DIY can do it. Just measure your tank, then design the stand around it. You can even make the frame out of good old 2x4's and then cover them with a nice piece of plywood, (Birch, Oak, etc.)
Go to a local fish store and measure the height, and look at the support pieces they have. I made one for my 125 gallon and it worked out well and looked amazing. I paid about $50.00 for all of it, and I used premium wood.

If someone needs more help, I can provide all I know. Just ask..

This may help with the dimensions if you haven't bought the tank yet.(Click Here) But please make sure you measure the actual tank before you build. Measure twice, cut once....

I may be able to dig up some old pics of mine. I will look tonight.

 

[d3sc3n7]

See, now yall got me thinking of a DIY stand! I'm thinking of doing it to where the top of the stand would actually raise up to the top of the plastic banding. Making the tank sit down inside a little bit. Then it should be pretty easy to add shelving on the inside for heaters/filters, whatnot. HMM!!! The hood may give me troubles...but if I get the lights I'm looking at...I wont really be using a hood.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Could also do something like jumpfreak did with his 40gal reef tank and just added trim at the end, it raised up to black plastic level too i do believe.

 

[supra1997]

The part where the tank sits down is really simple. Just add a piece of trim to the outside of the stand where the tank will sit that is a 1/2" or so bigger. That way there will be a nice lip. Good luck and let me know if you need any plans or help with your build.

 

[joy613]

I'll 2nd the DIY option on the stand. I built one myself as well. I didn't take a woods class in school, nor do I have any high $$ tools. A circular saw is about all you need, and that's just to save some time and effort. If you have a friend with a mitre saw, even better.

I went the mega cheap route and built a 2x4 frame and placed it on top of stacked cinder blocks. Painted them all, put on a coat of polyurethane, used some concrete adhesive on the blocks, and she's done. Total cost $14: $4 for lumber, $6 for the cinder blocks, $4 for the concrete adhesive. (Paint, varnish, & woodscrews, were all leftovers from other projects).

Here's what I would do if I were to build another one.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/Double_55_diy_pt1.php
I would alter it to add a shelf midway up in addition to the bottom as I don't need to house two tanks. You could build one of those for under $30.

The plywood is the expensive part for sure. If you can get away with skipping it and living with something that isn't quite as fancy, you can save a bunch. It easily doubles or triples your cost.

As far as the hood goes....I don't have plants, so watts per gallon mean nothing to me. Just got basic cover +light.

I really like this idea for an aquarium setup on cheap side. I am planning on an doing an aquarium as cheap as possible to see just how cheap I can make it. So far this is the best looking one I know I can do by myself. Did you use brush on paint or spray paint?

 

[Lone Wolff]

I just brushed it. I had a half gallon of flat paint leftover from another project. It was cheap Lucite paint that was only $4.99 a gallon a year ago. The blocks got one coat, and the lumber got two coats. I don't think it even took a quart of paint. The polyurethane gives it just a hint of shine, but much more protection than a gloss paint, and not quite as shiny.

If you have a canister filter, or an air pump, you'll want to add some type of shelf, or have a place for it very nearby. That's the one draw back of the design. It doesn't give you much for storage options. But for me, I didn't care as I just have a powerhead and a HOB filter.