144 Gallon family room friendly stand (load warning)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
DaveB, for my tank stands, I usually build with 2x4, then skin it with the 1/4" birch or oak plywood (not the luan). Then I use 1x2, 1x3, and 1x4 boards to do the trim. I also use the pre-made corner trim for the rounded corner look, depending on how much work I want to do.

I used the same kind of hinges as maduro did as well. They attach perpendicular to the door when it is closed, and screw into the 2x4 supporting the front panel of plywood. The doors have to be at least 3/4" thick to be able to use those hinges, as they are recessed into the door itself.

I do not own a table saw, so I make all my cuts with a circular saw, using either a 4' level clamped to the wood, or a long 1x or 2x board (that I check for straightness) clamped to the wood to keep the cut straight.
 
Lowes stocks the Red Oak I used for exterior panels. Sheets used to skin were purchased from my local lumber yard.

The total tank height (not counting light box) is almost 5'7" so the stand has to be about 37" tall.

The africans are at all levels of the tank...from top skimmers to bottom sifters. Lots of action now that territories have been established. I've spotted about 5 new fry that must have been released once they settled in.

DaveB;4898677; said:
Some people would make the argument that the 1x material you used for the framing around the edges is strong enough on its own to support the weight of the tank, if you had also stretched it or some plywood across the back. It's certainly more than reliable in the standard pine stands with those vertical barred doors that you see everywhere in fish stores. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what bears the weight of the tank sitting on the rim in the 75g I hope to replace with the 5 footer similar to yours (if I'm lucky enough). Of course, adding that extra height changes the amount of weight it has to distribute.

Where did you buy your oak? I know that around here I can get birch or oak ply and trim pretty easily at either Menards or Home Depot, but I don't know where to get 1x or big chunks, or a wood like cherry or something else. Sometimes I find living in a big city a pain. Certain chains (Lowes for instance) don't come here and there are so many different local stores that I only end up knowing the ones that are closest by. I have no idea where to track down material beyond what is at the HD though, wood-wise. (Like fancier and thicker door moulding, for instance. I can't very well do 1/4" back panel and 3/4" rails/stiles for recessed panel wainscoting if I only have 3/4" deep door moulding. No idea who sells thicker ones though.)

That's a pretty big digression, though. Sorry.

Do you get any action at all in the upper levels of the tank? We keep similar fish, and outside of a few peacocks I wonder if maybe my hope for a tall tank like yours is not so necessary, given the rock-dwelling habits of most of the fish.

How tall is the stand, btw? My sense of perspective is thrown way off for some reason in the photo with your son. Something about him plus the really tall tank plus the high couch arm really messes me up and makes the stand look super short, even though from the in-progress pics I know it isn't.
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