places to find tank parts/stands?

mountain_webste

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May 2, 2007
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I'm in need of a tank upgrade and found a good deal on a 120G tall (4'x2'x2') on my local Craigslist. Unfortunately, it's just the tank, no stand, hood, light etc.

Does anyone know of good on-line vendors where I could order things for less $ then my LFS or chain-bigbox pet retailers? Specifically for stands/hoods/lights. I've considered DIY, but I'm apprehensive about that given the size/weight I'd be dealing with.

Thanks in advance
 
Might be hard finding a stand that size..... but one could be built probably for less than one would cost if you or someone you now are handy with woodworking.
 
one could be built probably for less than one would cost if you or someone you now are handy with woodworking.

I have considered the DIY route; I'd put my skills above inept, but definitley not super handy. I rebuilt my deck with a help of a friend (he had experience), but I guess I'm wary about trying to make something for 1,200lbs+ inside my house. I'm paranoid it'd seem OK at first, but then there'd be that "crash in the night" or come home from work to diaster. Figuring a few hundred $ might be worth the peace of mind.
 
Use the KISS priciple (keep it simple st**id) and you should be alright. A top frame of rather thick plywood like maybe 3/4 inch, simple 1 x 6 legs wrapping each corner with a 2 x 4 inside where it won't be seen but it will support the top shelf as a real leg. A bottom shelf to help keep it rigid and to hold things like the filter and to support the bottom of the 2 x 4 props. Rails around all 4 sides to stiffen the plywood even more than it is by itself. If you want added rigidity or you want to hide the bottom shelf, fill the spaces between the legs with some thin plywood. It will also make it more stable for side to side forces.
I built one using thinner wood than I am specifying to hold a 45 and a 40 breeder. I did not brace it with the thin plywood because I was putting a bottom and a top tank on the same stand and I wanted the bottom to seem open. It turned out OK in my opinion.
The top tank's hood needs to be painted black to match the trim but its too cold outside right now and I don't expose my fish to paint fumes.

Bottom_Tank.jpg Top_Shelf.jpg Full_stand.jpg
 
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