non-schlocky aquarium stand

[Canoe]

Hello everyone! I've been prowling these boards for a week now, getting ready to set up my 20g. Lots of useful advice here!

I'm looking for a decent stand for my 20H aquarium. I've been to several pet stores and all of the stands I've seen are schlocky veneer/particleboard. I will be putting the tank in my living room and don't want a piece of El Crappo furniture in there. Any suggestions on where to find a quality stand?

 

[Watcher74]

For my 29 gallon(same footprint as a 20L) I went searching through thrift stores for furniture. I found a perfect, heavy wood one, with two doors on the front that swing out, and a heavy shelf in the middle.

$50!

I cut a round square hold in the shelf for my cannister filter, cut two holes toward the top/back for the input and output, and cut another hole in the middle/bottom/back for power cords.

I attached a power strip underneath the shelf, and ran all of the appliance power cords through the bottom hole and up to the power strip.

It's perfect!

Or, you can buy one of those metal stands at Walmart. I have one for the 10 gallon tanks. Looks good. But no place to put all the accessories.

 

[Mako]

If you don't mind paying a bit more for a superior product, look in the phone listings for a good cabinet shop. Most smaller shops like mine are glad to build such things, and they can do it out of any type of wood you want. Specify that it's made out of veneered plywood (plenty water resistant enough for an aquarium stand) and hardwood, and that ABSOLUTELY no particleboard or MDF will even get downwind from it. I'd also specify that it be finished with conversion varnish, it's about as chemical and scratch resistant as you get without paying an insane amount.

If you want a lighted canopy, take your lights to them and they can figure out how to build a suitable canopy to fit them in. If you were in the SC area I'd submit you a bid.

 

[Canoe]

Thanks for the advice! I think I am going to take a quick spin through the local thrift stores (Great find! I didn't know I could use a sturdy table -- thought it had to be an official "tank stand"), and then contact a cabinetmaker if there's nothing suitable.

Just out of curiousity, Mako, about how long would it take to have a simple stand (~24"L x 12"W x 30"H) with a closed cabinet underneath made up? Weeks? Months? I know it's dependent on how busy a particular shop is -- just looking for a ballpark). I'm in NJ -- otherwise I'd be soliciting your bid!