DIY IKEA aquarium stand

neurosis · Jan 22, 2018

I built my last stand for my 90 gal and now I'm upgrading to a 180 gal. my wife really likes this new high gloss contemporary cabinet look. So even though I love the look of wood grain I figure I'd try to build a stand she would like too. It will be for a planet aquarium tank and they make a great looking stand, for $1000. I'm pretty sure I can build one cheaper than that. But I have no idea how to obtain that high gloss shine. My air sprayer isn't that good and investing in one kinda take the savings out of it.
So I'm thinking about heading to IKEA to buy some slab doors or cover panels that might work. I would build the guts out of 2x4s and then lay some 1/4" plywood, maybe flat black so the lines between the slabs and upper trim piece would really stand out. Then I would just glue on the sides and upper trim piece. and attach the doors. Seems fairly straight forward, except my nearest IKEA is 3 hours away so I would hate to be short anything. Or if I screw up a cut I'm in trouble.
So has anyone here ever done anything like this? Would I really be saving any money? Typically I would enjoy this kind of project but I just remodeled our kitchen so I'm a bit spent. Also looking at their doors and cover panels, turns out they're not that cheap. I'd spend close to $800 on just IKEA supplies. Any other ideas?

hijinks7 · Jan 22, 2018

I'd just do that in plywood, rent a sprayer and use high gloss paint with a gloss finish on top of that. If you take your time and sand lightly between finish coats it will give you that modern gloss look you want.

Paint sprayers aren't that much money.

Mandelstam · Jan 23, 2018

Or leave the panels to a paintshop to get it done professionally without the hazzle. I know a lot of people who have done that with their old kitchen cabinet doors instead of buying new ones.

neurosis · Jan 23, 2018

Good call Mandelstam. I talked to the LFS, they’re willing to give me a 20% discount so I’m looking at $800 for a new stand which is very tempting. I could build it cheaper and stronger though

Stephen Maggard · Jan 23, 2018

Having a planet aquarium and stand I can say that they are very well built, and sturdy. They double the plywood on the braces to add strength. And on mine that piece of trim at the bottom of the aqaurium actually locks the tank to the stand. The only thing I have heard bad about them is they sometimes forget to cut out for the overflow though.

neurosis · Jan 23, 2018

Stephen Maggard said:
Having a planet aquarium and stand I can say that they are very well built, and sturdy. They double the plywood on the braces to add strength. And on mine that piece of trim at the bottom of the aqaurium actually locks the tank to the stand. The only thing I have heard bad about them is they sometimes forget to cut out for the overflow though.

Thanks! I have a ghost overflow so I assume the plumbing will all be behind the tank and stand?