Aquarium stand made from extruded aluminum

3E3ED65D-F720-4AFD-985D-720A72E3569F.jpeg
 
I'm a cabinetmaker and have built stands from wood and aluminum extrusion. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and both can be pricey. In my opinion, the extrusion stand can be more versatile and adapatable. Wood or other decorative "skins" can easily be mounted and changed someday if you prefer a different look. The aluminum has a corrosion resistant anodized coating. There are countless brackets, hinges and accessories, and the stand itself, can be moved in pieces to be moved and reassembled. With that said, it will cost more than a custom wood stand, but you will have more options regarding the final outcome.
 
I built a stand from 2×4's. Used some old pieces from an old stand to cover it (saving me the cost of plywood to finish it off) total cost including screws cost me about $40. If I did it from scratch (meaning not using the old wood and instead buying a sheet of plywood), how much does a sheet of plywood cost $20-30? And then stain. I followed step by step from the "king of diy" videos on youtube, stand came out great and very sturdy.
 
I made one for my 60g frag tank and it wasn’t really that expensive considering. Yeah if u have someone make it for you it will be. But you can find bulk stuff on eBay or aluminum lengths that have marks or scratches on them for cheap. I’ll post pics in a sec of mine.
 
There's some stuff on Craigslist in your city that you might be able to modify to fit your needs.

This is $50; 65"L 25"W 34"H hardwood top
You could panel the sides with the wood
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/fuo/d/rochester-work-bench-50/6793254191.html
01717_2AdNb2QbqwJ_600x450.jpg


I wonder if you could clean this up and put the wood paneling on it. This is only $60.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/d/marine-city-5-steel-work-bench/6789697000.html
In the photos you posted, you have a stack of extra flooring. You might be able to use that.
00V0V_fWP8UYjiH3W_600x450.jpg


All sorts of options. I searched "work bench"
00505_7cVCm0imC2I_600x450.jpg
 
Thanks for those great ideas. I will start looking around and see what I can come up with. Unfortunately the stacked flooring is all put down throughout my house now. Did all the floors in the whole house just after those pics were taken.
 
I’ve been mocking out a fully skinned Al build here based on 8020 25.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinosaur-to-phoenix-a-new-22g-long-mini-build.534114/

None of this exists in real life yet.
I had something similar to this. What I did was take an old truck box cut the bottom and sides out then I sand blasted and painted it. Once done I tack welded it to the legs. And the tread plate gave me good footing for the inevitable wet floor sometimes. Just a thought. Aluminium can look really nice when its blasted or if you have a random orbital sander...
 
I had something similar to this. What I did was take an old truck box cut the bottom and sides out then I sand blasted and painted it. Once done I tack welded it to the legs. And the tread plate gave me good footing for the inevitable wet floor sometimes. Just a thought. Aluminium can look really nice when its blasted or if you have a random orbital sander...

Mine is entirely hidden by wood, but the wood isn't structural.
 
Here is my 80/20 stand

dceba88d769a7148372a0c48a1daf8c9.jpg

3dd362113e832da145a254c93dc13f4d.jpg


The raw aluminum is actually clear coated and the black is an anodized finish so you don’t really need to prime and paint it
How’d you get your panels secure in the stand
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top