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DIY How to Build an Aquarium Stand

In the hobby of aquarium and fish keeping, there are many must-haves. Aside from the obvious aquarium tank, water, filtration and other essentials to create your centerpiece, you must also decide where to put the tank. Fully loaded aquariums can be very heavy, depending on their size, and it is essential to have a proper base to support the weight. An aquarium stand can also make the entire project look great. Stands can be purchased at hobbyist stores or they can be made to your style at a much lower cost.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
2x4 wood planks
Pencil
Circular saw
Wood glue
2-1/2 inch wood screws
Power drill
Philips head drill bit
1/8 inch drill bit
1/2 inch plywood
Sandpaper
Paint

Instructions

Building the Frame
- 1
  
  Materials are the bones of a beautiful stand.
  
  Determine how big you need your stand to be using the tape measure, based on the length and width of your aquarium tank. Add one inch to each measurement, so the stand is slightly larger than the tank itself. Next, decide how high you would like the stand to be. With these three measurements (length, width, height) you can determine how much wood you will need. Double this amount to be sure you have enough and to cover support and cross braces.
- 2
  Mark the lengths of 2x4 wood to the proper measurements for width and length, using the tape measure and pencil. Cut each length using the saw. Build two rectangles, which will be the bottom and top of the stand. Next, place a cross brace every two feet within the top and bottom rectangles. (The number of cross braces is determined by the length of the stand you are building.) Secure the two rectangles with wood glue and wood screws, using the power drill and the Phillips head bit. You can pre-drill the holes using the 1/8 inch drill bit to avoid wood splitting.
- 3
  Place vertical posts for weight support at the four corners and at the cross brace(s) on the bottom rectangles. Measure and cut the plywood to use as the base; be sure to account for all of the vertical post locations when doing this. Lower this plywood over the vertical posts and onto the bottom of the stand and secure with screws.
- 4
  Secure the other rectangle (the top of the stand) to the vertical posts, joining the two rectangles. It is easier to do this by turning the bottom upside down and into the rectangle to be secured. Once done, turn the stand back over with the bottom on the ground.
- 5
  Measure and cut a piece of plywood and fasten to the top of the stand. This will be the "table" where your tank will sit. Measure and cut two pieces of plywood and fasten to the two sides of the stand and one for the front. If you like you can make a cutout in this piece for an opening to the area under the tank for storage.
- 6
  
  Painting your stand makes a great impression.
  
  The stand construction is now complete. Smooth off all wood burrs using the sandpaper and then paint the stand to the color of your choice. You can also dress up the stand should you choose to do so by using wood trim and/or by putting hinged doors over the front plywood cutout.

Animals & Science