Quit my job a few weeks ago, so I started building my own after the whole buying a stand and canopy with termites last week. Not to bad for couple of hours a day for a week (yes, started it last monday).
Little bit on the structure: I went overboard just a smidge which is apparent by the framing that I will show in the pics. Footprint for the aquarium is 48x24 and the stand is 33 3/4 inches tall. I used 96 feet of white pine 2x4's, ~140 9 guage 2 1/2 inch screws. 2 box frames for the ground and aquarium, 2 inner 2x4's at 33 inches tall, and inbetween the boxes are two 26" 2x4's. Decking for the aquarium to sit on is 3/4" ply and the same for the bottom deck for the filter to sit on. After that, wrapped it in sanded 1/2" ply, select sanded 1x4 pine for trim.
Canopy was quite a bit easier as it only has to hold the weight of itself. Total is 14" tall, but only rises 12" above the aquarium to hide the rims on the aquarium itself. Same sanded 1/2" sanded ply, 1x2 box frame, no vertical support. Just 1x2 for attaching the ply to make a box. The flip for it is going to use a 48" piano hinge to hide the gap for light escaping and is 6 inches deep into the aquarium.
All the trim was attached using woodglue and 18 guage finish nails. Tapped in to wood putty over for a clean smooth look. Basically because I don't have or like clamps. Nor did I use a square or a level until after I was done. Yes, I know, I like to challenge myself and did have to reassemble a couple of peices before trim and ply.
Now it's time for staining and clear coating. And pictures!
The overboard framing, and yes those are the aquarium doors on the bottom there. I'm not putting any hardware on until it's stained and glossed.
Front of the stand and doors again.
Showing the cut for where the piano hinge will go giving me access to the tank.
Framing inside of canopy
Front of the canopy/tank/top of the stand.
Little bit on the structure: I went overboard just a smidge which is apparent by the framing that I will show in the pics. Footprint for the aquarium is 48x24 and the stand is 33 3/4 inches tall. I used 96 feet of white pine 2x4's, ~140 9 guage 2 1/2 inch screws. 2 box frames for the ground and aquarium, 2 inner 2x4's at 33 inches tall, and inbetween the boxes are two 26" 2x4's. Decking for the aquarium to sit on is 3/4" ply and the same for the bottom deck for the filter to sit on. After that, wrapped it in sanded 1/2" ply, select sanded 1x4 pine for trim.
Canopy was quite a bit easier as it only has to hold the weight of itself. Total is 14" tall, but only rises 12" above the aquarium to hide the rims on the aquarium itself. Same sanded 1/2" sanded ply, 1x2 box frame, no vertical support. Just 1x2 for attaching the ply to make a box. The flip for it is going to use a 48" piano hinge to hide the gap for light escaping and is 6 inches deep into the aquarium.
All the trim was attached using woodglue and 18 guage finish nails. Tapped in to wood putty over for a clean smooth look. Basically because I don't have or like clamps. Nor did I use a square or a level until after I was done. Yes, I know, I like to challenge myself and did have to reassemble a couple of peices before trim and ply.
Now it's time for staining and clear coating. And pictures!
The overboard framing, and yes those are the aquarium doors on the bottom there. I'm not putting any hardware on until it's stained and glossed.
Front of the stand and doors again.
Showing the cut for where the piano hinge will go giving me access to the tank.
Framing inside of canopy
Front of the canopy/tank/top of the stand.