T Slot Aquarium Stand

Every aquarium needs a stand and sometimes it's difficult or expensive to find a stand that suits you. Sometimes you find something you like, but you aren't sure it will support the weight of your tank Well, thanks to RocketEngineer over at Reef Central, there is an easy template for making your own stand that will stand the test of time.

T Slot Aquarium Stand Kits

You can make your stand as tall or short as you want. It can be as intricate as your desire, or as basic as your needs. I built my stands with utility and simplicity in mind. Here, I will walk you through how I build stands that will hold up to a standard 90 gallon aquarium.

Primo Reef T-Slotted Aluminum Stands Make for Some Good Lookin’ Hardware By Guest Writer on June 26, 2014 Aquarium Equipment Aquariums stands are every bit as crucial to the overall process as the aquariums themselves. They provide a place to out the tank as well as store all of the other gear necessary to keep the tank functioning properly. FrameXpert Frame Designer can be used for designing and building heavy duty yet inexpensive fish stands/aquarium stands. A popular misconception is that regular furniture can be used to support aquariums. Unfortunately, this is not the case as the weight of a gallon of water is equal to 8.34lbs.

The first thing we need to do is define the size of the tank you want to support. We're going to work with a standard rectangular 75 gallon aquarium. The inside dimensions of a 75g 48″ x 18″ x 21″ (WxDxH), but the actual outside dimensions of the aquarium are a little bit larger. For this reason, we will define our Width (W), Depth (D) and Height (H) as 49″x 18.5″ x 21″.

Oct 2, 2015 - Custom Aluminum T-Slot Aquarium stand. The thickness profile is 45x45mm (1.75'x1.75'). This method is MUCH more stronger then wood and less corrosion resista.

The key to glass aquariums is to have even, flat support on all of the edges, usually where the trim is on the tank. With acrylic aquariums, full flat support is needed across the entire surface area of the bottom face of the tank. This is because acrylic will bow under the weight of the water if it is not supported across the entire area.

I have included the Sketchup plans at the bottom of this page. These plans will work for an aquarium with the same footprint as a 75g aquarium without any additional plywood. If you want to put a plywood top face on the stand, you will need to take into account the thickness of the plywood when you are determining the height of the stand. We will be using 2×4 pieces of wood. The actual dimensions of 2×4 boards are usually 3.5″ x 1.5″ with a thickness of .75″.

I only use four colors for my stands and I also use additional cross-bracing. The board lengths that I need for this project are:

• 4x Red = W = 49″ for the top and bottom rails
• 8x Blue = D – 3 = 18.5 – 3 = 15.5″ for the ends and cross-braces
• 8x Purple = H – 7. Since I want the top of my tank to sit at 51″ before a canopy or light, I must use (51 – 21) – 7 = 23″
• 4x Green = H – 2 = (51 – 21) – 2 = 28″

I will also need 3″ deck screws and wood glue. The glue is what gives the structure long-term connection, the screws are to hold the wood in place while the glue dries. With this particular stand design, the weight of the tank transfers directly down the supporting legs and onto the base so that there is no sheering tension on any joints. I also pre-drill and counter-sink all of my screw holes and go back later to fill them with wood filler.

First, we construct the two boxes which are the top and bottom faces.

Next, we attach the green screw strips to the bottom base. These strips are used to screw the purple supports into so that you don't need to fuss with pocket holes. These do not need to be glued and can be removed after the structure is complete, but I just leave mine on. These should sit about 1/2″ off of the ground.

Now, we can attach the supporting legs that will sit flush to the two boxes. I use two legs in each corner for stability. All that is left with the skeleton is to secure the top box to the tops of the legs the same way the legs attached to the bottom box.

That's it! This will support your aquarium with no problems. I like to finish it off with 1/2″ plywood top and 1/4″ plywood facing for the front and sides. I leave the back open for running filter lines and electrical, pop a style in the center of the front and throw on some doors.

Stain and waterproof it, and it's all done.

This stand can be done for less than $50, but if you take your time and make it something to be proud of, you will need to invest a little bit more in plywood and stain, but it will be of higher quality and still less expensive than a store-bought stand! As promised, here are the Sketchup plans.

As a pro-tip, I recommend mounting your surge protector to the upper cross-braces. This will keep your electrical from getting tangled and it will also create a natural drip-loop for you. As a bonus, I always use some masking tape and mark my cords!

Aquarium lovers around the world are adopting aluminum as their material of choice when constructing their aquatic biomes. Our anodized aluminum aquarium stands are corrosion resistant and will outperform similar steel and wood frames over the test of time. The strength and versatility of our various sized profiles are perfect for creating a unique structure for your aquarium stand, regardless of size or weight. All of our designs go through a structural analysis process to make sure that they will stay standing for years to come. If you need any assistance with your design, please reach out to us.

ALL INQUIRIES MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

• Full Name, Phone Number and Shipping Location
• Glass or Acrylic Tank
• Length x Width x Height and Gallon capacity of your TANK (please include any framing)
• Length x Width x Height and Gallon Capacity of your SUMP (if applicable)
• Desired Length x Width x Height of your STAND
• Leveling feet or No leveling feet

Small Aquarium Stands

• Perfect for aquariums with a gallon capacity between 10g and 120g.
• 4 legged design offers full access to lower sump area.

Medium Aquarium Stands

• Perfect for aquariums with a gallon capacity between 120g and 210g.
• 6 legged design offers increased support to the tank.

Aluminum T Slot Aquarium Stand

Large Aquarium Stands

• Perfect for aquariums with a gallon capacity between 220g and beyond.
• Multi-legged design offers support exactly where the structure needs it.

Aquarium Stand Q & A's

• Does this aquarium stand come with a Table Top?

  No, but we can include one with the material of your choice. Please supply a size (if it differs from the stand size), Thickness and material preference.

• Are there more size options that isn’t shown here?

  Yes! We receive daily inquiries for custom sized stands. Please reach out to us at sales@framingtech.com for a quote on your custom design.

• Does this stand come with bracing for a lower shelf?

  No, the price does not include bracing for a lower shelf, however, we can easily add the bracing. Please include an approximate weight that will be applied to the shelf.

• Are there other colors available?

  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide powder coat or anodizing services at this time.

• Do leveling feet come with the standard stand options?

  Yes, our leveling feet are industrial grade and can accept loads of up to 2,000lbs each. If you prefer not to have leveling feet, please let us know and we will alter the design accordingly. There are also various stud lengths and pad diameters available.

• What fasteners do you use to build your aquarium stands?

  Our preferred method of connecting extrusion is our Quick Connectors, as they are very strong, easy to tighten, loosen, and reposition. Other options would include Connection Screws, Connection Plates, Gussets, or Corner Brackets.

• What kind of material are the Quick Connectors made out of?

  Our Quick Connectors have a thick zinc plating which is highly efficient in corrosive environments. These are the preferred connection method for the majority of our designs.

• How will I know if my aquarium stand is strong enough to hold my tank?

  We will run a load analysis to see how the stand behaves under the 'worst case scenario', or maximum weight that will be applied to it. This helps identify design issues and solidifies the capabilities of the design.

• Is shipping included in the price?

  No, but we can provide an estimate based on the packages size, weight and destination.

T-slot Aquarium Stand

'This company was a pleasure to work with.'

We had a tight schedule to keep and in a way it was unrealistic, but Framing tech did everything in there power to help us. The project is completed and the frames we made with this company are incredibly strong durable and will last for decades. I highly recommend using this company if you are looking for aluminum extrusions.

Aquarium Stand Petsmart

David Espinoza