210g stand build

[oakley1984]

so as some of you may know i recently picked up a 210g aquarium... for those that dont,, i got one last saturday!

Without further adieu here is my attempt at documenting the build for the stand, would love to hear what ppl have to say/think... open to ideas as well! The requirements for the stand is that it needs to fit a 20-30" UV filter, a fluval FX5 and an eheim 2262 and support approximately 3000lbs when the tank is full. Over the last 2 days i have constructed the frame for this stand and believe it to be braced thoroughly. The last picture i will include in this thread are my first 4 choices of stains compared to the flooring on which the stand will be placed, input please!


A Picture to vote on & a teaser pic
from left to right; still having some trouble deciding what stain i will use !
Cabernet, Red Oak, American Walnut, Dark Walnut
Flash

No Flash

[oakley1984]

Day 1 progress;
just a basic rectangular frame, 2x4 top and bottom frame with doubled 2x6 post's, the 4 posts on end have a 1.5"x3.5" relief cut in 1 2x6 to allow flush mounting on the sides, the doubled up 2x6 is sandwiched between the 2x4 top and bottom rails to allow for compression.

[oakley1984]

Day 2 progress;
added cross-bracing and 45'd braces today

[oakley1984]

Day 3 progress;
skinned in the front and sides with 5.2mm virola plywood(similar to doorskin, just thicker). added 1/2" mdf to top and bottom of stand(not only serves as tank surface but also as structure (corner capping.) painted inside of stand with mold/mildew resistant paint

[oakley1984]

Day 4 progress;
added my trim pieces today, cut out the front panels out for the doors and added corner trim to hide my work
next days progress will involve Alot of sanding and more painting to finish off the areas where i couldnt reach originally as well as a final coat on the inside for a total of 3 coats.

[oakley1984]

Day 5 progress;
and then... There were doors!! i dont claim to be a master carpenter or anything, i did the best i could with what i had available. The frames of my doors were constructed using recycled oak hardwood flooring, planed down and ripped up in the table saw... not bad for free
all that remains now is sanding everything, paint in a few places and stain!

[Johnnyfishtanks]

wicked ......................

[gklaw]

Very nice work. It should hold a tank - pun intended

If you are spending $25 on stain and $25 of varnish - 3 coats recommended. After all the good work, I would go the extra mile to buy halt sheet of 1/2" oak plywood to wrap the frame and the side and get a half sheet of 3/4" oak plywood for the doors to turn it into a real piece of furniture. Put a coupel of European hidden hingers on the doors as well.

As too colour, my general approach is to make it match perfectly or go for the real contrast -bleached oak or cabernet. I used cabernet for mine on oak plywood.

[gklaw]

You posted quicker than I can type. Awesome finish. The only comment I have is the MDF top. I used to love working with the stuff. Still does for dry places. I built a stand for my SW 10 years ago. Big regret - soon the top need to be replaced. Imagien the trouble of disconnecting the plumbing and moving a Hagen 105 tank - with sand, life rock and fish !

Put as many coat of sealer as you could on the top. Water soak in from the top as well, not just the edges.

[oakley1984]

i pretty much just copied my post from another forum, i ended up buying the cabernet stain, i will be doing 5 coats, i want it DARK. as for the hardware ive chosen brushed nickel self closing hinges and square brushed nickel knobs

as for the plywood, well, its alot late for that, and would of added more to the cost, the virola plywood i used gave a nice effect and has wonderful grain to it, im quite satisfied with the results so far, shall see what 2 days of sanding and stain has to say about that tho!


as for the mdf top, ive been contemplating weather to go get a sheet of arborite to make it a countertop finish, or if ill stick to my original plan of a 1/2 dozen coats of black paint with 2 coats of varnish (the idea is i will be using 1/2" solid core foam inbetween the stand and the tank when its put in house, the solid core foam will be painted black as to eliminate the color line between tank frame and stand