[Grover]

Hi.

I would very much like to get a 72 gal bowfront aquarium, but am put off by the price of the stand. Does anyone have any experience DIY? Or perhaps have plans? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Grover

groverno1 at yahoo dot com

[Meric]

I used this website as a guide to build my stand. Depending on the size of your tank the program may tell you to use 4 X 4's, just ignore that. I used 2 X 4's on my 125 and it is stronger than any store bought stand.

http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php


I improvised in several areas to my liking. After you build the Base using the guide, you can add any external features you want.

[Grover]

I appreciate the link, but those are for non-bowfront tanks. Maybe I should rephrase....If I have plywood underneath the tank (i.e., trace the tank and cut it out) will that distribute the weight enough if I put it on the basic "rectangular tank" stand or do I specifically need to have a support under the bowfront?

Thanks.

Grover

groverno1 at yahoo dot com

Originally Posted by Meric

I used this website as a guide to build my stand. Depending on the size of your tank the program may tell you to use 4 X 4's, just ignore that. I used 2 X 4's on my 125 and it is stronger than any store bought stand.

http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php


I improvised in several areas to my liking. After you build the Base using the guide, you can add any external features you want.

[Meric]

Try this link:

http://www.kaotica.com/frag/diy/stand/

After looking at the dimensions click on next in the upper right corner for step by step instructions.

Looks like he made it 48 X 18 X 22" High. Basically he made a square frame the size of the bowfront then topped it with a peice of MDF board cut to the shape of his bowfront.

I would use parts from both links to make the stand exactly the way you want it. Hope this other link helps.

[robvia]

It all depends on the look you want. I would build my base so that the front of the bow would be flush with the stand. This would give me a small ledge to set things on if I needed to. Plus it would look less top heavy. If you built the stand smaller so the bow hung off the front of the base, I think it would look unstable. It wouldn't actually be unstable, but I wouldn't like the look. The other option is to split the difference. Have the front of the stand cover half the bow.

The bigger the base the more storage space you have under it also.

Where should I send the check for $0.02?

Rob

[Poseidon]

I don't think it wouyld be all that hard to build a stand that is also bowed in the front. If you have the right tools. I would build the frame to follow the curvature of the tank. You can use Plywood up front and if it is 1/4 or less it should be able to bend to follow the curve. If not you can always kerf cut (I don't know if that is the right term, but what I mean is cut lots of vertical "slots" almost to the veneer and by removing material it will allow the wood to bend easier.) The hardest part would be the doors in front, I don't know how you could keep them curved.

I know Scott (reefland) has a ton of cabinet building experience, maybe shoot him a PM.

[robvia]

I've seen Norm use that trick on "The New Yankee Workshop." Not an easy thing to do of you don't have the right equipment. Definitely not for the novice wordworker. It would look cool when you got it done though. The doors would be very hard. Send the suggestion to Norm and see if you can get it on the show. That would be an episode every here would watch.
Rob