kevyg
Active Member
Hey everyone!
I hopped on here a few weeks ago asking some quick questions to help me get started into the reefing world. Well, I am now at the point where I have done enough to merit a build thread! I am doing a LOT of DIY here because, well, why not? When it comes to equipment I will be a good 70%/30% Name brand to DIY ratio with all of the stuff going into the build.
Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone for the help I have already received even as a new member on here with very few posts. The advice was invaluable in helping me pull the trigger on some products.
HERE IT IS!!
I will start off showing and explaining my tank stand build:
After taking measurements and deciding on dimensions for the tank stand, I took to the wood shop.
I decided to use 2x3's for this build because they are lighter, have amazing strength, and frankly are a pleasure to work with. (they are also cheaper
).
I started off by building a square frame and cutting 4 lengths of 2x3's for the upright supports:
After that, I joined the top of the structure, tying it all together.
At this point, when thinking structurally, all of the weight of the tank will currently be on the screws holding the tank together, so we need to reinforce that framework around the outside so the weight is transferred evenly onto the floor. So I cut 8 2x3's to length to fit and put them in like so:
Once that was done I took all of the measurements required and cut 1/4" finish plywood to the dimensions needed to "skin" the framework. I also cut a piece of 3/8" plywood for the top of the stand as well as a piece for the bottom of the stand. The plywood was attached with a brad nail air gun for small finish nail holes. I then cut molding for the bottom of the stand and installed it. I also installed a drawer slide into the tank stand:
I then used ebony stain on the outside shell of the fish tank stand. I had paint laying around from a kids toy box I built last year for Christmas, so I used that on the inside of the stand.
Once painted, I realized I forgot the molding on the sides and tops, so here are those pieces installed (Molding is sold by the foot @ Home Depot for a minimal price, but as you can see, makes a dramatic difference when constructing furniture.
At this point I look over into my incredibly messy garage and find my cat dog patiently watching me.
I then started building up the door. I got lengths of birch from home depot for this part, the quality of getting a chunk instead of veneered plywood is unmatched. I used my Kreg Pocket Hole Jig to slap the cuts together to make a solid door.
I forgot to take pictures of this part, but I used my router to cut out a groove on the inside edge of the door so I can insert a piece of plexiglass into it. My plan with this is to get a good graphic engraved onto the back side of the blacked out plexiglass. I painted the back of the plexiglass black with Rustoleum Professional Black.
***(by the way, to anybody who lives in Northern CA, Alex at Sonoma Laser Engraving was great to work with and did an amazing job, he comes highly recommended by me to get anything you want engraved)***
Once the engraving was finished It was time to install the glass, LED light strips and a shadow box around it so the light doesn't leak. I also tested to see if the light refracted better facing the fish, or reflecting onto the fish, I found the light diffuses much more evenly when reflected to the graphic instead of shining directly onto it. (if you don't follow, you will see with the following pics)
I set the plexiglass into the door frame using glazing points. You simply lay them on the glass, use your free hand to hold the glass down, then use a flathead screwdriver or putty knife to just push them into the inside of the frame.
After set into the frame, I laid out the LED tape strips.
I started in on the shadow box construction. This was a very simple thing to construct. Sadly, I got wrapped up in the project and only got a few pics. BUT, this was made with scraps of the 1/4" plywood left over from the build. I took a 2x3 and cut the core out of it so I was left with the pieces used to attach the shadow box to the door frame. The brad nail gun was used to put this all together.
I stained all of the pieces separately then put them all together. Once together I sprayed the box with Rustoleum Clear spray paint (I didn't want to bust out the varnish....) (sorry for the fuzzy photo)
I then painted the inside of the box flat white to evenly reflect light onto the graphic.
***Technical Note: Light will reflect more evenly and strongly when reflected off of a flat finish surface as opposed to a semi-gloss, gloss, or high gloss. When you use the higher gloss finishes it tends to create hot spots where the light is at a higher concentration than other spots.***
I then used my Dremel to carve grooves into the wood so the LED power cord can make its way out of the shadowbox. After that, I laid it down and attached it with screws so I can access the LED's in the future if there are any issues.
I mounted the door the the tank stand and ran the wiring to hide it as best as possible. I also mounted the LED light switch into the inside of the tank.
AAAAAAANNNNNDDDDDD FINALLY!!!!! the stand is done!:
I am currently in the middle of the build, but I have my fish room that I am developing right now. I have built a stand that is capable of holding multiple tanks and eventually a frag tank.
I will post about that whole build later down the road when it is complete. I have an issue posting half completed projects. But it will be good, so stay tuned!
Again, thank you to everybody for the massive support and helping me cultivate a budding passion for reefing. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions on DIY builds, I am very knowledgeable and more than happy to help if I know the answer.
Thanks!
I hopped on here a few weeks ago asking some quick questions to help me get started into the reefing world. Well, I am now at the point where I have done enough to merit a build thread! I am doing a LOT of DIY here because, well, why not? When it comes to equipment I will be a good 70%/30% Name brand to DIY ratio with all of the stuff going into the build.
Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone for the help I have already received even as a new member on here with very few posts. The advice was invaluable in helping me pull the trigger on some products.
HERE IT IS!!
I will start off showing and explaining my tank stand build:
After taking measurements and deciding on dimensions for the tank stand, I took to the wood shop.
I decided to use 2x3's for this build because they are lighter, have amazing strength, and frankly are a pleasure to work with. (they are also cheaper
).I started off by building a square frame and cutting 4 lengths of 2x3's for the upright supports:
After that, I joined the top of the structure, tying it all together.
At this point, when thinking structurally, all of the weight of the tank will currently be on the screws holding the tank together, so we need to reinforce that framework around the outside so the weight is transferred evenly onto the floor. So I cut 8 2x3's to length to fit and put them in like so:
Once that was done I took all of the measurements required and cut 1/4" finish plywood to the dimensions needed to "skin" the framework. I also cut a piece of 3/8" plywood for the top of the stand as well as a piece for the bottom of the stand. The plywood was attached with a brad nail air gun for small finish nail holes. I then cut molding for the bottom of the stand and installed it. I also installed a drawer slide into the tank stand:
I then used ebony stain on the outside shell of the fish tank stand. I had paint laying around from a kids toy box I built last year for Christmas, so I used that on the inside of the stand.
Once painted, I realized I forgot the molding on the sides and tops, so here are those pieces installed (Molding is sold by the foot @ Home Depot for a minimal price, but as you can see, makes a dramatic difference when constructing furniture.
At this point I look over into my incredibly messy garage and find my cat dog patiently watching me.
I then started building up the door. I got lengths of birch from home depot for this part, the quality of getting a chunk instead of veneered plywood is unmatched. I used my Kreg Pocket Hole Jig to slap the cuts together to make a solid door.
I forgot to take pictures of this part, but I used my router to cut out a groove on the inside edge of the door so I can insert a piece of plexiglass into it. My plan with this is to get a good graphic engraved onto the back side of the blacked out plexiglass. I painted the back of the plexiglass black with Rustoleum Professional Black.
***(by the way, to anybody who lives in Northern CA, Alex at Sonoma Laser Engraving was great to work with and did an amazing job, he comes highly recommended by me to get anything you want engraved)***
Once the engraving was finished It was time to install the glass, LED light strips and a shadow box around it so the light doesn't leak. I also tested to see if the light refracted better facing the fish, or reflecting onto the fish, I found the light diffuses much more evenly when reflected to the graphic instead of shining directly onto it. (if you don't follow, you will see with the following pics)
I set the plexiglass into the door frame using glazing points. You simply lay them on the glass, use your free hand to hold the glass down, then use a flathead screwdriver or putty knife to just push them into the inside of the frame.
After set into the frame, I laid out the LED tape strips.
I started in on the shadow box construction. This was a very simple thing to construct. Sadly, I got wrapped up in the project and only got a few pics. BUT, this was made with scraps of the 1/4" plywood left over from the build. I took a 2x3 and cut the core out of it so I was left with the pieces used to attach the shadow box to the door frame. The brad nail gun was used to put this all together.
I stained all of the pieces separately then put them all together. Once together I sprayed the box with Rustoleum Clear spray paint (I didn't want to bust out the varnish....) (sorry for the fuzzy photo)
I then painted the inside of the box flat white to evenly reflect light onto the graphic.
***Technical Note: Light will reflect more evenly and strongly when reflected off of a flat finish surface as opposed to a semi-gloss, gloss, or high gloss. When you use the higher gloss finishes it tends to create hot spots where the light is at a higher concentration than other spots.***
I then used my Dremel to carve grooves into the wood so the LED power cord can make its way out of the shadowbox. After that, I laid it down and attached it with screws so I can access the LED's in the future if there are any issues.
I mounted the door the the tank stand and ran the wiring to hide it as best as possible. I also mounted the LED light switch into the inside of the tank.
AAAAAAANNNNNDDDDDD FINALLY!!!!! the stand is done!:
I am currently in the middle of the build, but I have my fish room that I am developing right now. I have built a stand that is capable of holding multiple tanks and eventually a frag tank.
I will post about that whole build later down the road when it is complete. I have an issue posting half completed projects
. But it will be good, so stay tuned!Again, thank you to everybody for the massive support and helping me cultivate a budding passion for reefing. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions on DIY builds, I am very knowledgeable and more than happy to help if I know the answer.
Thanks!
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