Fish tank stand finally done!!!!! (pics)

[Robert Mayer]

Done and ready for some fish! The tank is a 125-150 gallon tank that will be freshwater for just cichlids. My wife wanted a new tank and stand after we had to sell the last one when we moved.

This one is done with purpleheart supports and iroko on almost everything else. The accents on the doors and side are paduak. The panels on the doors and side are copper veneered plywood. They were patina'd by my wife using tiffany green from artchemicals.com. Lots of trial and error went into it but its looks good.

The entire cabinet was assembled using a dowelmax and has nearly 180 dowels holding the entire assembly together. This was my first project with it. I wasnt skilled enough to make curved doors so i made the front angled forward which isnt noticeable from the front. This really helps support the front of the tank better and keeps the top and bottom from sticking out.

I used blum hinges for the doors because I really needed the ability to adjust them 3 ways. I think my frame was a bit off and made it impossible to use plain hinges. The door pulls are made by myself out of ebony.

Finish was just arm-r-seal only.

Keep in mind the camera is making the purpleheart and the paduak twice as bright as they actually appear. The stand is actually pretty short because we didnt want it to stick very high above the kitchen opening.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-3/1250124/roompic.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-3/1250124/sidepicshop.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-3/1250124/interior.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-3/1250124/overhead.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-3/1250124/sidepicshop.JPG

[Don Bullock]

I Like it!!! That's a fantastic stand for a fish tank. While following the posts while you were making the stand, I wasn't sure how it would look in the end, but it came out great. From the design the the craftsmanship of making it, you did a fantastic job.

[Keith Beck]

Robert,

Very nice job! The finished project looks great. Great use of different woods and a unique design.

Keith

[Phil Thien]

Problem is, no matter how kewl or exotic the fish are, people are gonna say, "wow, look at that stand."

Dude, that is really awesome!

[Henk Marais]

That realy is a stunning stand.

Is it going to house the filtration system?

[Michael Stanley]

Beautiful! Thats a very creative and inspired design.

[Dan Lee]

I like that a lot. Did you have all the design details set from the start or did you work some of them it as you were building?

BTW Wouldn't mind seeing some pics of the entertainment center to the left in the first pic

[Robert Mayer]

That realy is a stunning stand.

Is it going to house the filtration system?

Yep, its going to be a bit tight. Not much is going to be stored in it other than the food and filter. I believe the fluval is the model my wife is going to get. Sits in there with two tubes running to the top of the tank.

[Jim Becker]

That turned out pretty neat, Robert!

[Robert Mayer]

I like that a lot. Did you have all the design details set from the start or did you work some of them it as you were building?

BTW Wouldn't mind seeing some pics of the entertainment center to the left in the first pic

I actually had a basic sketch I made to start with, not detailed drawings. I did my usually approach and cut the main parts first, the legs and stretchers and went from there.

I built the entertainment center as my first big project. I actually have been wanting to redo it better, but my wife likes the way it is. I built the matching shelf out of the same materials to match it.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-2/1246550/Picture10201.jpg

[Jim Kountz]

Wow what a great job, I love it. Problem is now you've started something here! Im told now that "we" should have something like that!! I have a 45 gal bowfront tank now and she wants a larger tank. When she saw your stand it was no longer good enough. *sigh* what can ya do?? Fantastic job though!

Jim

[Mark Rios]

Very nice Robert. At first I wasn't to crazy about the multi-wood thing in the first pic but after seeing the subsequent close up pics I have to say that it is very striking. Very nice!!!

And I REALLY like the copper action that you've got going on there!

[Dan Lee]

Thank Robert I like that TV cab very nice

[Mike Pierson]

nice on both accounts. Like the wood that is on the self above and one of the panels to you doors. Nice looking TV too ;)

[Rich Torino]

Robert,
great looking tank stand.... Very creative. I bet it would hold a whale tank....

[Bill Wyko]

You are one talented individual. Those are beautiful and quite an inspiration as well."A+"

[Mark Valsi]

wow !


I LOVE THAT DESIGN !!

Nice job

[Robert Mayer]

Thanks for the nice comments. The tank is a bit bright right now, but the purpleheart and the paduak should darken a bit since the sun hits it in the mornings.

My wife was showing this thing off at her work and it might just have scored me another job. A guy she works with has been looking for a nice dining table and cant find one he likes. Not surprising after looking at furniture they sell these days.

[Robert Mayer]

Robert,
great looking tank stand.... Very creative. I bet it would hold a whale tank....

I hope so, lol. I estimated the tank to weigh around 800 pounds when full. Just the frame of it has about 100 2" dowels holding it all together.