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Building ADA

111K views 66 replies 43 participants last post by  bkkebi 
#1 · (Edited)
Well some months ago I picked up an ADA 120H. Sadly, it sat on the floor in my office for almost 5 months before I got around to putting it together. When it finally came time to put it together, I needed to find a stand that would both fit the metric size of ADA as well as not take away from the sleek look of the tank. Really, the only solution that would accomplish both of those would be to get an ADA stand. Well, they are really pricey!!! ...not to mention shipping. So the next option was to build one. This is a brief account of the 40 hours it took me to build my ADA style stand over the last two weeks. I hope you enjoy.

I decided to cover the stand in formica. Here are the sheets of formica after I picked them up. ....rocking hard with the marshall cab!!!



The early stages of the build. Notice no front piece or hole in the dividing support.



Wood work is complete....next is putty, sand, and formica.



Puttied and the interior is stained.



This was the first piece of formica i ever glued and trimmed, so it was quite an accomplishment for me. I hope that you feel the same excitement just looking at the pic:D



Next was the back.



The front was slick....i cut out the trim from one solid piece. No seems!!



Ready for the last piece!!



Formica is complete on the body.



Drilling the holes for the wire/tubing portals. This was challenging.



The stand is complete!!!!



Lets add the tank!!!







Final Product!!



Final shot of the seams....for Erik (Troy McClure)



Hope you had as much fun looking as i did building!!

Oh, and my last tip...

Freshly routed Formica is very very sharp!!! My hands are completely messed up from the last two weeks.

jB
 
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#4 ·
how much it cost you?what are the materials you use? im debating if im gonna buy the ADA metal stand or just build a wooden stand ada look a like? its for my 90cm ADA tank
 
#6 ·
Thanks for sharing my excitement everyone:) I am really pumped with the way it turned out. Only towards the end did i really get sick of it. It was the doors....they were the most challenging and frustrating.

It cost me just over 300 in materials. There were some other costs in there for tools and things like that, but if you have them, there is no worries:)

Materials:

-Formica
-3 pieces of 3/4 higher grade plywood
-4 eurostyle hinges
-Contact cement
-Putty
-Screws
-Wood glue
-Stain

Tools

-Cheap table saw
-Decent circular saw
-Router
-Laminate Router Bit
-Really crappy cordless drill

jB
 
#9 ·
How close is the tank size compared to the top of the stand. It seems to me the thicker formica would force you to have a larger piece sticking out from the stand.

I tried to make an ADA stand myself but I painted it because I never thought of using formica. After having small pieces of the paint flake off because it sticks to my tubing I wish I had considered it.

Very well done. The plastic grommets are a nice touch and a great idea.

BTW: Are you going to be hanging your lights from the ceiling or attaching a light stand to the stand?
 
#15 ·
Troy McClure - no prob, i hope it helped you picture what was going on:)

slickwillislim - The formica is only about an 1/8 of an inch thick...if that. I would say there is about 1/4" inch of a lip on all side of the tank after the formica was added. Its not a perfect fit, but i really wasnt going for 100% flush. I dont have the tools to do that. I literally have about 250 bucks worth of tools to work with, and for you tool people, you know that is terrible!!! HAHAHA The grommets were thought of after i started the stand. I was sitting at my desk and just looked at one on my desk, and got googling....and their they were:) Im not sure what i am going to do with the lights yet. I have two solar I's to hang over the thing. I am leaning towards building something into the stand or around the stand to hang them. I doubt i will do the ceiling thing.

Paul - I dont think i will build many more. Really, it did take me a lot of time to make. Im sure with some nice tools, i could cut that time in half, and then it might be worth it to make more of them. HAHA

Bert - I am setting it up at the next meeting....june 16th. I better get working on the lights:)

Thanh and john - Its funny how we can resist setting up these tanks right away:)

Thanks guys

jB
 
#27 ·
Thanks Hooha

TRD.. I just used standard conduit clips for the side. I belive they come in a couple different versions, but all work about the same. You just screw the clip in the surface of whatever you want the conduit on....in this case, the side of the stand.

HAHAHA - Thanks guys, i will tell her she is now famous!! :)

I set this tank up at the last meeting. The thread is here.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...ssociation/40904-dvaga-meeting-6-16-07-a.html

jB
 
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