Here is what I ended up doing for my stand.

Raw materials.




1/2 way there.




The top shelf is 5 feet long and 17 inches wide and 32 inches off the floor. The legs are 4X4's 2 1/2 feet long. Under the actual footprint of the tank I have 2X6's on edge for support.

The bottom shelf is 23 inches wide with the 2 outside boards 4 ft long and the 2 inside boards 40 1/2 inches long. This shelf has 2X2.5 supports around the edge of the bottom. Hubby was concearned about it tipping so instead of the bottom shelf being narower than the top it's wider, more room for the sump and maybe another tank.





Before and after using the wire wheel.


Most valuable tool for this project. :laugh:


I plan on using the wire wheel on all visable surfaces and scorching the wood to bring out the grain, then I will give it a coat of either clear varnish or possibly a mohogany stain. I'll post more pics when it's finished.

Very nicely overbuilt! Everyone here should look at that stand, then take a tape measure with the next time you head to the lfs. Open the doors on their overpriced factory made stands, the ones they say you need or you'll void the warranty on your tank. Measure what they use and laugh.

That stand is easily triple the strength of store bought.

Thank you!
It is one heavy SOB !! :laugh:
We plan on putting some strips of carpet on the bottom for floor protection.

I finished with the wheel and did the schorching.

Before and after.


Check out how the schorching brings out the grain of the wood.











A dozen more deck screws and 2 doz lag bolts in the legs, carpet the bottom and it's ready to go!

Its lookin pretty damn awsome! i cant wait to se it when the tanks on it! jay

I agree with you, I can't wait!

That scorch effect looks real nice. That thing has to weigh 200 pounds. What kind of tank you planning to put on there?





:laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I think the only reason dtroup built the thing was to play with the torch!

Fire...fire.....fire.....

Really though, it looks great!

:o looks awesome..

so who can we give most credit to? The hubby or you D?

:laugh: :lmao: It's for my 55gal, and it probably does weigh 200 pounds.

So what if I did? :laugh: And who let out my secret, I never told anyone on here about my pyromania!

Like almost everything in my life over the last 20 years, it was a joint effort, we both built it, I did all of the finish work.

Thank you everyone for the nice comments, I have always been partial to the look of wood and scorching it brings out the grain beautifully. I love the rugged rustic look!

looking good dorothy, nice job.:tup:

:laugh: :laugh: Hubby just spotted this and said "You could! Did you tell them that I'm gonna use it periodicly for jack stands for the van?" :laugh:

You could, in theory, hold up a full size van with it. I showed my son your pics, & told him I've used a piece of 4x4 post to hold up one wheel of my F-150. Your stand has 4 posts. It should hold the entire weight of my truck.

It made it inside the house and has a tank on it! jay :woo: :woo:

Tomorrow I get to make mud and possibly wash sand.

I'll get pics tomorrow if there is enough sunlight.

mud?

I'm doing a sand over dirt substrata because I want to HEAVILY plant this tank. The easiest way to do the dirt is to make a thick mud that can be "shaped" to slope from the back of the tank to the front, then I will cover it with about 1 1/2 inches of sand to keep the dirt down.

Very interesting, what kinda mud are you gunna use?

will it be something you bought or collected from somewhere?

It's just plain old potting soil without any fertalisers in it, the cheep bagged stuff.

wow i had no idea that you could use that! i might give it a try!

P.S. Could you maybe post some pics of your substrate as you doing it?

sorry i just kinda find it facinating (spelling?) :whistle:

Check out this link.

55 gal

Also if you want more info on this type of set-up check out the link in my sig.

oh woops i missed that bit :laugh:

Thanks anyways.

i can't wait to see this tank in action! :drunk:

2 of the 3 tanks going on the stand.



The third will be the sump.

right on D, looks like you are really moving along on you project.:tup:

looks great! how did you go with fixing that leak?

My mate just bought a second hand 4ft and has the same problem.

After my fight with the tiller and the resulting lower back pain and busted blisters I decided not to haul water yesterday :laugh: I figure on finishing filling it somtime today.
Then I have at least a day to let the water stand and clear for probably a day or two before I start seasoning the tank, Provided my little tank is cycled.