plywood stand for 180

[Ares]

I have a new Planet Aquarium 180 gallon 72x24x24 with center overflow/return. Will be plumbing it to the basement so don't need or want the space under the tank to be open for a sump. Instead, I am dividing it into 3 sections each with a shelf and making it all out of 3/4" plywood and went with 36" tall putting the top of the tank at 5' making for a nice view height. The middle will be a short shelf to leave room for pipes behind it. I'm also going to add a double barn door instead of cabinet door. The back is a solid piece of plywood for added strength and the 1/3 and 2/3 dividers on the inside are full sized pieces front to back, top to bottom. The front is "capped" with 4" and 3" wide plywood and a full sheet of plywood on top.

Everything is glued and screwed together. Amazing how strong good wood glue is. I still need to add trim and paint/stain/seal it. The top I'm painting black and the rest will be a dark stain.

This thing is stout.

Wanted to share since this isn't your average stand and is providing a different function. Also attaching a picture of the vanity I saw at HD that gave me the idea for the double barn doors. Planning to trim it with solid pieces of 1x2 wood and do the doors similarly. This is my first build that wasn't 2x4s and I have to say I'm really enjoying this build

Thoughts?

 

[Dsnakes]

That will look very nice

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm liking it.....very nice looking stand. Not sure how you'll be able to use the barn doors for all three openings. Following to see how this turns out.

And FYI, that stand will easily hold the tank. If you've look at commercial stands, you end up scratching your head wondering how this flimsy stand will hold your 180.

Again, very nice.

 

[dbl]

I love it and it looks great. And look...not a 2x4 or 2x6 in sight!!! Congrats.

 

[Ares]

Thanks!

I'm liking it.....very nice looking stand. Not sure how you'll be able to use the barn doors for all three openings. Following to see how this turns out.

And FYI, that stand will easily hold the tank. If you've look at commercial stands, you end up scratching your head wondering how this flimsy stand will hold your 180.

Again, very nice.

We'll setup the doors like the picture and leave the middle open. Black or dark grey PVC I think will be hidden enough. Or we'll go with 1 door in the middle and leave the 2 sides open.

LOL yea I just need to take a quick glance at the stand for my 100 gallon and scratch my head wondering how it hasn't collapsed. 1x pine, 6' span with only 1 center support and the horizontal run is a 1x3 laid flat... yikes...

 

[don_chuwish]

Love it. Lucky to have the noisy mechanicals in the basement!

 

[Muttley000]

Stand looks great and sturdy! Looking forward to the finished product!

 

[Indymann99]

Plywood stands are the BOMB... a properly constructed one is WAY WAY stronger than a 2x4 stand.
Looks good.

 

[Ares]

A few pics. Changed my mind a few times about trim and made 4 trips to the hardware store. Decided to go with 1x2s and used some iron on veneer to cover the few plywood edges that were still exposed. I have the holes marked to cut out in the top and the bottom for drains and returns then paint and stain.

What do most people use to fill the pocket holes or do you just leave them? I picked up a box of stain grade plugs but they don’t seem to fit real well.

 

[don_chuwish]

Looks good! I'd probably just leave the pocket holes. Once you get doors on and stuff in there they won't stand out much.

 

[Muttley000]

The problem with the wood pocket hole fillers is that you need to be able to us a sander or small plane to get them flush. I would try to cover them with something myself, possibly you could just put a 1/4 thick strip a couple inches wide over them and it will just look like trim??

 

[Waters]

Plywood stands are the BOMB... a properly constructed one is WAY WAY stronger than a 2x4 stand.
Looks good.

I don't know about that but plywood stands if done correctly are definitely capable of doing the job This stand looks amazing by the way!

 

[dantimdad]

@Indymann99 I have had this conversation numberous times on R2R and with my neighbor who is a materials engineer. Yes, Plywood given the same dimensions and proper adhesives is 1.5 to 3x as strong as solid fir/pine and more importantly is way more stable. You must use what the industry terms "void free" plywood (less than 1.5% voids total)

So, if you take 9 layer plywood at 32 sq. ft. per layer = 288 sq. ft. you can have up to 4.32 sq. ft. of voids. Which is a ridiculous amount. Even B-C grade plywood doesn't have that many voids.

And, yes, plywood stands are the bomb.

Also, great job on the stand @Ares!

I like the idea someone had about covering the pocket holes with trim. Try individual strips of lattice.

I really despise pocket hole plugs because you have to be able to get to them with a sander to finish them, but, they are a necessary evil sometimes.

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

That's not only skookum but it looks great. Congrats.

 

[Ares]

Black top and first coat of stain. Sure highlights every spot of glue that didn’t get cleaned up!

 

[sergebmw2]

Do you have step by step build ? Or plans ? Looks amazing want to do it for my 120

Btw looks amazing !!!

 

[Ares]

Do you have step by step build ? Or plans ? Looks amazing want to do it for my 120

Btw looks amazing !!!

Thanks!

Nope no plans just made it up and adapted as I went. Knew I wanted 3 sections with shelves with the center overflow going through to the basement. Made my base then just worked my way up with the perimeter the size of the tank and improvised as I went.

 

[sergebmw2]

one good looking tank stand. ill try and use your idea if you don't mind. picking up the tank this weekend and getting to work on the stand.

 

[dantimdad]

Gotta love the dreaded "ghost glue".

Looks really good!

 

[Ares]

Last picture until I get the canopy done. Used self leveling epoxy on the top. Have a few paper thin gaps but that’s it. As close as I think you can make it. The tank is a beast and tore up a couple fingers getting it in place.

You can see the 2 return and 2 drain pipes in the middle, Black pvc everything else in the basement. Had my builder put an extra floor vent hole in the floor here, perfect size for the pipes and should we sell the house or for some reason the tank gets moved then we just put the vent cover on and it’s all good.

We are undecided on the barn doors now so it’ll stay like this for the time being.

Canopy and then aquascaping. Hope to have water in it by Thanksgiving.