ZebraPleco.com • The complete Hypancistrus zebra resource

Below you'll find the plans and some of the step-by-step process I used to construct my stand for my 55G tank (which is in my bedroom closet). I deliberately made the bottom shelf witha lot of room so I can eventually put 2x 29G tanks or a large custom tank there. These plans can be altered to any dimension. I don't have a background in carpentry, however I do enjoy hands-on work like this. For those who are afraid to try something like this, keep in mind this project is the first thing I've built since building birdhouses with my Grandpa 15 years ago as a kid. I had never used a circular saw until this project. Wood is cheap if you goof a cut and the sense of accomplishment when you're done and the tank is filled and still standing is priceless. You can't succeed or fail unless you try.

This is a thread I wrote on another forum during the summer while I built the stans. I'm cutting and pasting this from another forum where I posted it as it's relatively cheap and easy and can support an elephant.

Here's some pics of the plans I made up on paper, then in MS Paint (note in the finished product there are extra vertical support beam on the inside of each leg between the lower and upper platform; these are missing from the prints):


I've assembled the stand bit by bit over the last week. I got a nice tan finishing most the assembly on my deck today. It's pine 2x6's used for the frames and legs, and 3/4" sanded plywood used for the shelves. For screws I've used #8 3" wood screws mostly, and #8 2" wood screws for parts where the 3" was major overkill and sticking out the other side. I still have lots more screws to put in, but I'll be picking those up in an hour or so. After that, I'll be treating it with cheap deck stain/treatment. I was originally going to treat it, stain it, and seal it, but that will cost way too much in the end for something that's going to be hidden in my closet (over $100 for enough to do one stand, deck stain cost $25 for enough to do 10 stands).

Here's a picture of the upper and lower frame. the lower frame is upside down on the left and already has the plywood shelf attached:


And rightside up...


Here's a shot of it all together from the front:

BTW, here's what I used to stain the stand. Initially I took the advide of the Home Depot person and bought over $100 worth of precoat, varnish, stain, etc.... Then I came to my senses and returned it all and picked up a bucket of deck stain for $20. I have enough left to do 10 more stands and one coat was enough. You can buy it in different colours/shades.

And a rear view:


I was going to have additional horizontal pieces like a U-frame on the inside (try to see original drawings above), but thoise pieces of 2x6 had a nice twist to them. Someone on another forum suggested some pieces as 2x4 as braces betweent the upper and lower frame to absorb the weight rather than it being taken by hardware, so here's a picture of it with the braces:

Here's a picture of the it with the new supports in:


Here's another:


And here's a picture of what it looks like with the first coat of the deck treatment:

I splashed some water on the stand a couple days after doing the first coat of deck treatment and the water just beaded right up for very easy cleanup. I decided any additional coats wern't necesary.

I just moved the stand into my room (May 17, 2006) and put the 55G on it. I'm going to paint the bottom of the 55G black before I fill it; possibly painting the back and sides too....

I think the picture is a little deceiving for the size. A 55G id 48.25" long x 12.75" wide x 21 high.

The tank and new stand have been up and running since the end of May with no issues. The 55g is a future pleco breeding site. It's been used as a growout tank to load the filter since it was setup in May.

On another forum some people asked of the cost of this stand. Due to my own poor choices as to where to buy the wood, this stand cost me about $200. I'll try to break down what it should cost without any shopping goof-ups. I've bold faced if there is one place that was way cheaper for particular materials. Some things are cheaper at Home Depot and some things are cheaper at Windsor Plywood:

$20 for the 2x6's from Home Depot ($2-$3 per 2x6x10') (cost me about $100 from Windsor Plywood, oops, found out at bill time after they cut the wood for me that they were $2-$3 per foot)
$2 for 2x4's for inner supports/braces
$30 for a 4'x8' 3/4" sanded plywood @ Windsor Plywood(plenty left over for a 2-tier rack for 29G/20G long)
$20 worth of screws
$20 for the bucket of deck stain/treatment (enough left to do 10 more stands at least)

I also had to buy a circular saw, a furniture clamp, and a paint brush, but I don't list the cost of those as they can be used for future projects and many people have them already.

EDIT: I may be moving a couple blocks away to a new apartment in a month or three. If I do, I might repaint the stand at that time so it's black.