StarFish Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Ok so over the last 2 days I have scored 6, YES 6 very large fishtanks. All without stands or anything. I want to know whats the cheapest and easiest way to make stands for them that will take the weight. Like blocks and wood? Im not too handy so wont be making my own cabinets in a hurry, but something that is durable and cheap to set up, because I dont mind putting material over the ugly part and making do. Largest tank must be getting on for 300 - 350+ litres. Any suggestions, photos, tips and examples would be most welcome. THANKS!!!! Star^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 i have seen somewhere on this forum(may have been one of caryls posts) block and board with a curtain attached to the board to hide the stand looked good also cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Cinder blocks and board. Not very elegant but it is cheapest. You can cover the blocks with material if you want. The 3 striped sandwich under the tank is; bottom board - support white strip - polystyrene top strip - Pinex heat pad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 I had a similar one for an old tank of mine, you can get cinder blocks with flat ends, they look a bit cleaner. I bolted my blocks together but 'no more nails' would work, just makes it all a bit more earth quake proof. I used 20mm MDF shelves from bunnings for the shelves, stained then varnished to seal them but any oil based paint would be ok. Just watch that the stands end up being VERY heavy, you pretty much need to build them in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Thanks Caryl I think that is most probably what we will do. Where do you get heating pads from and how much do they cost? I might post a new topic about heating and filtration of many tanks with one swoop is that makes sense. We have 6 tanks that we would like to run etc and if we can do this altogether somehow that would be awesome. star^ <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 It is a home built heat pad. You can't buy them that size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 I wonder if an electric blanket on setting 1 would do the same trick.... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 I wonder if an electric blanket on setting 1 would do the same trick.... lol You would need a thermostat, just by standard heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 No you can't use an electric blanket but the one on mine does use the wire used in electric blankets. It also has a heatshrink wrapped cord and a thermostat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 LOL thanks I do realise that I guess it will be a heated room, or many heaters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Caryl, do you use heaters as well or just the heat pad? Why the heat pad? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Just the heat pad. Use it cos we could. No heaters in the tank so looks better aesthetically. Heat rises so pad is more efficient and heats whole base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Caryl, So if I'm understanding correctly you made this? Does the bottom of the tank sit directly on it? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Yes and yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Argus in Christchurch made mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 x2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 They did the electrical bits on ours too :-? We didn't have the equipment for the heatshrinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Well just an update, we bought 6 hollow concrete blocks today (have only used 4 though) and recycled some slats from an old bed and some flat wood board and measured it all up appropriately and now are currently filling the tank up. so yay! It doesnt look fantastic but it was hella cheap at $2.41 per block! and recycling is even better! It is a 216litre tank Will up the pics when we have finished. Have decided to move the cichlids in when its ready and turn the old cichlid tank into a gourami/tetra tank... we shall see though, might sell it yet. Star^<>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Ah well here it is! the budget stand - thanks everyone for your tips and advice, here is the finished product. Firstly it was really easy to do, was really cheap (only $2.41 per concrete block) and we recycled some slats from an old slat bed of ours. We only used 4 blocks, didnt feel it needed a middle support as its only a 216litre tank, and could take 2 heavy peoples weight while bouncing in the middle lol. The slats are 2.5cm in thickness, we double layered them so its 5cm thickness, plus a thin flat layer of wood on top to create an even surface. We didnt used polystyrene, we used a blanket, Im confident about it, but will update you if the tank dies on us fingers x'd lol. I think as far as cracking goes my tip on DIY tank stands so far is make sure the tank isnt hanging over any edges so that it is on a flat even surface. (DUH I know that sounds lame, but Ive seen people do it!!! have a tank that hangs over its base edges and end up cracking underneath :-? ) ANYHOO ENOUGH TALK HERE IS THE END RESULT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 looks good ay! nice and simple yet effective. i would recommend poly tho for conserving a lil heat in the tank/taking out minor unevenness. like you say tho it's not a huge tank. oh and what would really finish it off is a drape around the front. i used velcro spots (that i had to glue on as the sticky on them wasn't strong) and put it up to hide the underneath of the tank. just a suggestion, nice job ps another good thing bout heatpads is the heat creates a lil movement in the plants' roots helping them to grow better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 WOW!!! I'm so impressed with these stands. I've pondered long and hard how to make simple, strong and safe stands for tanks - this never came to mind! Now I don't have to worry about finding the right table for the tank every time I move house! :bounce: =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarFish Posted October 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Its still touch and go we will see how it goes. The only thing I would change now is maybe make it a little more permanant by attaching the wood to the blocks etc, however the weight is enough for it to be pinned down to the blocks. And add a middle support so my mind is completely at ease, however Ive seen much bigger tanks with no middle support so Im sure ours will be fine. And yes I will def use poly next time! however Im still pretty confident about it. Yeh the blanket isnt doing it for me and I will change it at some point with something a little nicer. Star^<>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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