vancat

What is your method of ensuring it is level, other than being as exact as possible with your measuring and cutting?

Diana K

Brackets similar to this are available in more decorative styles.
One source is the Simpson 'Architectural' line, which is flat black in color.

hydrophyte

everything squares up pretty good with attachment of the framing connectors. the floor in here is pretty flat, but i did have to put a little 1/8" felt pad under one leg to achieve level. however, i had to adjust the stand a little bit because i found that the tank was not sitting quite level. the long 2X4's that i used for the top horizontals along the width of the stand were about 1/8" thicker than the shorter pieces. so, the aquarium was sitting just on that front horizontal support and on its corners in the back. my solution was to remove the bottom front piece and plane it down to the same size as the short pieces. i was able to leave everything else set up while i stole that bottom 2X4.



after planing and refinishing that board, i removed the tank from the stand and then switched the adjusted 2X4 for the over-sized one on top. i put that one on the bottom, where its level will be less critical.

the stand is about 2 1/2" deeper (front-to-back) than the 55 gallon tank. i had to make it deeper to leave a little bit of space between the pairs of steel connectors at the top corners. thus, the back of the aquarium was just floating without support. i decided to add a brace with a short piece of pine 2X6.



i'm not counting on this supporting a whole lot of weight: i just want to spread it around a little bit more and have something under that long span of the back of the aquarium. i used a little steel bracket beneath to hold the brace in place.

KCFITZ78

What are the framing connectors called that you used? Model #?

hydrophyte

i don't have the model #'s real handy, but they are Strongtie brand. i acquired them at Home Depot.

hydrophyte

Last night I installed the shelf under the 55-gallon crypts riparium .



I selected a dark green paint for this shelf, to compliment the colors of the crypts and Anubias in the tank.



Finishing this shelf took a number of coats of primer, paint and varnish, but installation was easy. I used these little steel shelf brackets.



I will be glad when I can hook up that Filstar. I presently just have an airstone in there, so there is some mulm on the floor.

armedbiggiet

did you finished the wood befoe you put them together?

CraigThor

I believe he did. I think it was in his post over at plantedtank where he mentioned it though.

Craig

Apaa

Do you think those blind screws would work like they use in cabinet making? These could be used for the inner supports and cross braces also.

northtexasfossilguy

I think the brackets might look nice if they were blackened using Gun Blue... that would be sweet!!! Come on, you know you want to... lol