210g stand, from the ground up

sherita · Jan 20, 2014

I have a 210g oceanic tank that I wanted to put in my bedroom. BUT, since my bedroom is heavy on woodgrain and color, the stand couldn't be one of the usual particle board/laminate stands (tacky!). What I really wanted was aromatic red cedar.......for the color and the grain. As far as I am concerned, it's one of the most attractive woods available. So, with that in mind, here we go.

First up, the internal frame for the stand. I'm not at all a fan of stands that use no dimensional lumber. I have a sneaking suspicion that the lack of lumber in commercially made stands may account for the number of big tank leaks we have been seeing. I wanted mine strong enough to park a truck on, or a ton of water, sand, rocks and corals.

Then, I started with the skin. Aromatic red cedar boards, 1x4x96. I'm doing all the joinery and fitting by hand. I've got a 6' router table built into my shop bench, the rest is just time and patience. Here is the beginning:

Here is one end completely skinned, but not yet sanded.

And, sanded.

more to come..............

sherita · Jan 20, 2014

Got the skin on the front, still needs to be sanded in this picture.

Here it is, sanded and trimmed out. The top trim is just sitting on the stand for now. It will be permanently installed once the tank is on the stand.

Tradewinds · Jan 20, 2014

Looking good Sherita

sherita · Jan 20, 2014

I haven't done the doors yet, I'm waiting on more lumber to come in. But, in the mean time I've got the first coat of poly on the stand. Ignore the splotchy, it's not dry yet.

Sorry for the weird angle here. The finish was wet so I didn't want to move it.

The inside of the stand will be painted with two coats of white exterior semigloss. This will protect the wood and reflect light in the stand, making it easier see what I'm doing when I need to work under there. The doors will be magnetic, so they can be completely removed when I need to service the sump. Once the next shipment of lumber comes in, I will need to build the doors, top tank trim, and canopy. I will update this thread when I have more news and pictures.

runningreefer · Jan 22, 2014

as a fellow woodworker i commend the use of cedar but hope that your are using a proper respirator while working on all that cedar. great looking stand should be amazing once finished.