14 Ways on How to Build Aquarium Fish Tank Stand

Fish Tank Stand

Fish Tank Stand: Having an aquarium stand can really raise your fish tank to a whole new level, in terms of both height and aesthetic. Pre-made stands bought from the store can be very expensive. Luckily, if you want to try to save a little money, you can actually make your own aquarium stand at home. All you need are some 2x4s, a drill, screws, wood glue, wood sheeting, and the willingness to put a little work into it! Then, you’ll have a homemade aquarium stand at a fraction of the cost of one from the store.

Get expert advice on becoming a successful business owner with BusinessHAB Business category! Our step-by-step articles can help you navigate the ins and outs of the business world, from forming a public limited company (PLC) to measuring company growth of an existing company. Learn how to avoid unionization of a company, identify industry trends, implement efficiency strategies, and more! You can request publication of your article for publication by sending it to us via our Email below.  Get the 20 Best Strategized Fuel Tanker Business Plan

Building the Aquarium Stand Frame

1. Determine the dimensions of your stand based on your aquarium’s size. Your stand can comfortably be built up to 3 feet (0.91 m) high, while the length and width of the frame should be equal to the size of your aquarium with ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) added to each side.

• For example, if your aquarium measures 10 inches (25 cm) by 20 inches (51 cm), then the sides of your stand should be 10.5 inches (27 cm) and 20.5 inches (52 cm).
• Remember that your aquarium will also be holding several gallons of water which will add on weight. Make sure your stand will be sturdy enough to support the filled tank.
  

  Fish Tank Stand

2. Cut your pieces of wood to match the dimensions of your stand. Use a circular saw to cut 2 2x4s to the desired length, 4 2x4s to the desired width, and 8 2x4s to the desired height.

• For example, for an aquarium stand that you want to be 3 feet (0.91 m) tall, 3 feet (0.91 m) long, and 1.5 feet (0.46 m) wide, you’ll need to cut 2 2x4s to be 36.5 inches (93 cm), 4 2x4s to be 18.5 inches (47 cm), and 8 2x4s to be 36 inches (91 cm).

3. Attach the 4 smaller 2x4s to 1 side of a length-cut 2×4. Place 2 of the smaller 2x4s along the top and bottom of the thin side of the longer 2×4 and place the 2 other smaller pieces in the middle. Then, use a power drill to attach the smaller 2x4s to the larger piece using 2.5 in (6.4 cm) construction screws.

• Make sure the 4 smaller 2x4s (which will serve as cross braces for the frame) are set at equal distances apart from each other.
• You may also want to use wood adhesive to ensure that the 2x4s are securely attached to each other.
  

  Fish Tank Stand

4. Lay the other length-cut 2×4 along the frame and attach it to the smaller pieces. Use your power drill to attach this 2×4 to the part of the frame you’ve already built with 2.5 in (6.4 cm) construction screws. Make sure all of the 2x4s are securely fastened to each other before proceeding.

5. Attach a height-cut 2×4 at every corner and cross brace location on your frame. You should install all 8 of your height-cut 2x4s, using a power drill and construction screws to drill the 2x4s together. You can also use finishing nails or wood glue to help secure these 2x4s to the frame.

• Install these vertical posts so that their long sides run parallel to the cross braces on your frame.
  

  Fish Tank Stand

6. Cut and install a piece of plywood to the bottom of the frame. Trace the exact shape and measurement of your frame onto a large piece of plywood and use a jigsaw to cut out this shape. Then, use wood glue to fasten this bottom piece to the tops of your vertical posts. Once this glue has dried, flip the frame over so that the plywood is on the bottom.

• You may also opt to use finishing nails to complete the installation.
• Allow the wood glue to dry for at least 2 hours before moving forward. If you have the extra time, though, you may want to wait 24 hours just to make sure it’s completely bonded.

Covering the Frame with Sheeting

7. Cut 4 pieces of wood sheeting to match each side of your stand. Measure the front and both sides of your aquarium stand, then use a pencil to trace 3 rectangles matching these measurements onto a piece of wood sheeting. Then, cut out these shapes with your jigsaw. Make sure to cut spaces in the front piece of wood sheeting for any doors you plan to install in your stand.

• You don’t need to attach sheeting to the back of the stand unless it will be visible or you plan to store a lot of items in the stand that might fall out of the exposed back.

Staining and Completing the Aquarium Stand

10. Sand all areas of your stand so far to smooth them out. This is very important not only for making your finished stand smoother and less jagged in appearance, but will also make the finish look nicer. Use a fine grit sandpaper (around 220) to get the best result.

• Avoid using a coarse or medium grit sandpaper to sand your stand, as these may actually do some damage to your wood.