My DIY stand build!!

[pdandy]

Decided to start a build thread of my new stand since I now know how the whole thing will be set up. Here is the basic design of the frame.

The "main" tank will be my 6' 135 gallon.

On the bottom left will be a 40 breeder for the sump (which I just picked up for a very good price, thanks dave!!)

The sump will house my DIY filtration tower, sponge filters, and return pump. Much like how it is currently set up in my 75 gallon sump.

I plan on "skinning" the stand with removable panels much like in this video.

[video=youtube;SKzxtd-ch_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKzxtd-ch_Q[/video]

I think I will have the panels be attached using cabinet latches similar to this one.

And for a added surprise dave08 and I are coming up with a very cool idea involving a 10 gallon tank, floating plants, and a couple lights. (more to come on this!!)

 

[littlewangzfan]

Will be following this. Need ideas for my 220 stand.

 

[fishman09]

very cool. good luck with the build

 

[DCS]

Great job. I can't wait to see how those panels look and work.

 

[pdandy]

Made a little bit of progress today. Got the wood all cut for the frame! Assembly this weekend.

 

[Pharaoh]

So far the plans look great. If you don't care for the catches, I would also suggest the Magnet catches found at the hardware store. I've used them multiple times on stands and they work very well.

 

[pdandy]

So far the plans look great. If you don't care for the catches, I would also suggest the Magnet catches found at the hardware store. I've used them multiple times on stands and they work very well.

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into it.

 

[pdandy]

Here's todays progress: First I put together the upper and lower frames. This is the lower one with the space for the 40 breeder sump.

I dry fit the sump to make sure that it fit....and it fits perfectly.

This is the homemade dowel jig I made to join all of the legs to the upper and lower frames.

It actually worked a lot better than I had thought.

This is how the dowels are inserted into each vertical leg (top and bottom).

Then I joined all of the legs to the lower frame.

This is as far as I got tonight. I was 4 dowels short and so I will have to wait to join the top frame. Depending on the weather tomorrow I might not make it back to lowes. I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[plecostic]

Ok man, I'm prepared to proclaim you lord and master, if you show me how to do that jig thingy That's the finest ingenuity I have seen to date.

 

[pdandy]

Ok man, I'm prepared to proclaim you lord and master, if you show me how to do that jig thingy That's the finest ingenuity I have seen to date.

Lol. It was pretty easy. Just cut a small piece of the type of wood that you wanna join. Measure the center from both sides. Use a drill press to get your holes straight, drill each hole 1" in from each side. in the center where the two line intersect use a finish nail that goes all the way through the block. PLace the block where you want the holes and pound the finish nail through to hold it in place. Tape your drill bit to set the depth and drill your holes. pull the jig off and pound the nail back through. move on to the next set. And voila!! All of your holes are the same depth, distance apart, and both side line up!!