135G Stand Construction

[BobNY]

I will soon be setting up a Oceanic 135G. One of the things I disliked about my OLD tank was the stand. Poor construction. not tall enough etc.
So I decided this time I will build a stand that is tall enough to fit things under the tank. The tank is 72x18x25. The stand frame is 73x19x36.
I decided to get the 135G RR Oceanic listed in the MR for sale section.
I am picking the tank up on Sunday ( cant wait to see how it sits on the stand).
Anyway I figured I would start a thread....If any of you experienced stand builders have any tips....please feel free to make suggestions.
So today I went to Home Depot and spent WAY to much time trying to find wood that wasn't warped. Luckily there were some at the bottom of the huge pile :irked: .
The frame is the same that so many use from the RC stand calculator thread..
Here it is so far. I will update as I progress.

 

[fallenlordz]

:tank: looks tough and strong

Any idea what color you are going to make it?

 

[BobNY]

The furnature in the room it's going in has lighter colored stain. I need to get some samples to find a match. I am going to skin it stain grade ply and do some sort of trim to make it pretty. The room is simple, so nothing fancy. I have no idea what to do for doors yet. I need to look through other posts here and see what others have done.

 

[bueller]

looks like a good start, WAY overkill on the frame, but if it makes ya sleep better at night ..GIDDY UP!!

Bueller

 

[BobNY]

Thanks Bueller.
Yes, It is definitely built like a tank. It went together real fast up to this point.
After the Plywood skin is on things will probably slow down a bit. I haven't planned beyond
that. Tonight I plan on researching door construction.

 

[Brando457]

Bob I'll see you Sunday stand looks good.

I told you I just built mine and if I had to do it all over again I'd have stained and varnished the wood first before assembling lol.

I'll show you my stand Sunday, for the door cut outs I'd use a small drill and a rooter to cut out doors from it. Home depot has hinges for the doors, but staining and varnishing is such a pita once it's built.




Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[BobNY]

Thanks Brandon.
I cant wait to get the the tank!!
I haven't done any staining in a while, but I used to enjoy it. I grew up with a wood shop in my house, so I was always construction something. My biggest problem is deciding the design of the doors. I am thinking of having the door removable rather than hinged. This way the doors are out of the way when I have to get under there.

See ya Sunday

 

[BobNY]

I've made a small amount of progress in the two weeks. Time has been so limited lately
The plan has changes a little. It will now be holding a 125G instead of a 135g.
The sheeting is done. I just need to add trim and doors, then finish it. I am very undecided about how I am going to do the doors. One minute I like the simplicity of just doing slab style doors, the next minute I want to do raised panel doors. We'll see. Maybe I'll just order some doors from one of the online door makers!
I know for sure that I dont want to hinge the doors. I would like them removable. I have seen some fasteners in the past that I dont know the name of, and cant seem to find anywhere I have looked. Both times I have seen them they were used by cabinet makers. They are plastic I believe. Basically they are a ballish thing that mounts to the door and a socket (holey thing) that mounts to the cabinet. They are very sturdy and hold the door in place very firmly. It takes a pretty good pull to remove them. Anyone have any idea what I am talking about? Name? Where to get?
Thanks for the help.

Here is a picture of where the stand is at presently. I promise to clean that garage as soon as stand construction is finished

 

[tosiek]

You have the mounting room to place European hinges for the doors. And if you want to take the doors off the hinges clip right off.

http://www.rockler.com/c/european-concealed-hinges.cfm

Salice or Blum are the ones you want.

And the ball catch you were looking for is this, in brass. Yes they are about 3.50$ a piece, best money you ever spent for ball catches. The larger ones are 5$ if you do some searching online. The only problem you will have is that you will be accessing the doors ALOT, and pushing and pulling those doors off is going to get to you. Do yourself a favor and use concealed european hinges, or if you can't set and drill for them by yourself get a nice cabinet butt hinge.

Here is the ball catch.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001034/10102/Adjustable-Ball-Catch.aspx

 

[Imbarrie]

I like the concealed hinges also. Think that is a great idea.

I would use the ball catches to keep kids out if you have them.
I have one and Im paranoid about her thinking she is helping daddy by putting her nemo toy in the sump.

 

[BobNY]

I made a bit more progress on the stand today
I still have a coat load of work left to do, but at least it's starting to look like a stand!!

 

[d5332]

Can you post pictures of the stand stained/painted?

 

[bueller]

looks great!

 

[merfish101]

Sure would like to see how this turned out. Any pics?

 

[turbotone]

bump!!! following... stand looks great..

 

[DarrDrums]

Nice!

 

[chefsreef]

nice im thinking of building one for a 125 gallon. i was hopping to see how u did the cut out for the overflows. thank you. your pics are helping a lot.