My 125g Stand Build

[Daimyo68]

Been awhile since I posted here, and thought i would put up some images of my stand that I recently built from Raw Wood to Completed. I would put them all up but i can't seem to do more than 8 a day , so I will post more tomorrow.

Original post
Hello all.
I've been prowling around these forums for some time now, and figured it was high time I signed up.

I have owned an Oceanic 125g Reef Ready tank for about 6 years now, and haven't set it up yet, (got a really good deal on it since the molding was scratched; bought it, took it home and covered it) and I have finally gained the courage/knowledge to get this tank together.

I feel I have (the knowledge) now, after following these forums and others, reading books, visiting local pet shops and making friends there, to get this started!

Hopefully at some point I will have as much valuable information/ real life experience to share with others as I have found here from all you.

I'm in the beggining stages of building another stand for this tank. I had built one (Hastily) before I moved here to Florida 5 years ago, but did not consider many things, like sump size, plumbing, filter/skimmer height and so on and have come to the conclusion that I was foolish with my interior dimensions.

Stand build up starts next week! Stand dimensions are a hair larger being that the framing on the tank brings it outside dimensions to 72.5" x 18.5"
I'll be building it using 2x4's, Finshed plywood and then coving the assembly with a Glossy Black Laminate Formica.

/fingersCrossed...here i go

/D
Raw Wood

After being planed. You can see the door frames in the back left before the went to the router.

2x4 notched Skeleton Framing using pocket holes for the screws

Skeleton Frame completed and square. if you look close, you can see that i also addes "Pocket Holes" to the frame in several other locations. This is where the screws go to hold the outer "Facia" to the skeleton.

I'll post more pics tomorrow

 

[InfernoST]

Nice Job so far, looking forward to the completed unit.

 

[Etunes]

Are you gonna make any side supports? I like to do it for stabbility.

 

[Caige]

looking good!

 

[Daimyo68]

I did not add any other "bracing" to the stand. The way that I built this stand is kind of like, "Skeleton and Skin". The "skin/facia" gives the "skeleton" its structural reinforcement.

I'm at work at the moment, but will post more images tonight. By using pocket holes on each upright, any side to side pressure (which there shouldn't be anyways since the stand is leveled on the floor) would be absorbed by both the skeleton and skin. I'm a bit of a "freak" when I build and level my stands/tanks, and have been told by friends I go to far.

Anyways, I will try to post the rest of the images tonight so you can see what I'm talking about.

Is there a way to post more then 8 images at a time? Maybe in reply?

/D

 

[mfdrookie516]

just make two posts, or 3 or 4... we'd love to see lots of pictures

 

[Etunes]

just make two posts, or 3 or 4... we'd love to see lots of pictures

How many pictures an he post of wood nailed/screwed together.

 

[mfdrookie516]

alot... ever really looked at wood? its really neat to look at the grain and different textures it has. and there are alot of different types of nails and screws too... even glue jk... what i was getting at was a kind of step by step type thing, like above... each picture is different

 

[Daimyo68]

Doors

Doors Going Together

 

[Daimyo68]

Skin/Facia Panels Completed

Test Fitting around Frame

Completed Skin/Facia

The Frame/Skeleton and Skin/Facia Completed

 

[Daimyo68]

Skin and Skeleton Combined and secured

Doors and Shelf Installed

Top/Lid Drilled (Total of 4 Holes) for Supply and Returns to the Sump

The Completed Stand after Stain, and tank set on top

 

[Daimyo68]

Almost forgot, Spaceballs! These fit the the routed door frames and when the door is assembled it's a snug fit, so na rattles when the doors are closed.

 

[Daimyo68]

So there's my stand. It came out pretty nice IMO. It will be moved to the living room once I'm done with the hardwood flooring.

I put a total of 6 doors on this stand, and will also be installing a "roller" type tray on the left side for the sump. It won't get used much, but if I need to remove the sump for any reason in the future, it will slide right out the left side.

The door on the right side of the stand, will give me access to all my electrical circuits. I'm going to install a back panel on that side to attach outlets that will run to a main junction on the back of the panel.

I've already got 2 dedicated circuits in the wall where the stand will be placed, and being that I installed the "Electrical panel" in the stand, all I have to do is plug it in and I will have full power to the stand. I've also wired my generator into these circuits incase of a power failure (I live in Florida and you never know when a hurricane/bad storm is gonna come through).

So next on my list (Couple months down the line after the floor is done) is building the Sump. I've taken the plans from MelvsReef.com for his Model F sump. This should be an interesting as I have never done an Acrylic Sump before.

 

[Daimyo68]

alot... ever really looked at wood? its really neat to look at the grain and different textures it has. and there are alot of different types of nails and screws too... even glue jk... what i was getting at was a kind of step by step type thing, like above... each picture is different

Yeah the grain of the wood really jumps out after hitting it using Formby's Finishing Oil.

 

[supradupafast]

Wow... Really Nice work.. Stand looks awesome!
A+++

 

[jcmelski]

Beautiful stand!!!!! I wish I had the tools and space to do something like that.

 

[InfernoST]

Awesome job. So when can you do mine?

 

[meegosh]

Very nice looking stand! Great work! I love the DIY look vs store bought, IMO. Keep us updated as things progress. Any plans on a canopy?

 

[mfdrookie516]

very nice. looks like a professional cabinet builder built that

 

[Etunes]

Wow, really nice. What is this gonna be? A SW or FW?