How to Make a Fish Tank Rack

Fish tanks need a good place to sit so swimming fish can improve the view. Making a fish tank rack sets the tank apart from the room. Curious fish can look out over the room's spaces and take notice of onlookers.

Things You'll Need

• Eleven 6 foot long 2 inch by 4 inch boards (cedar, oak or pine)
• 1 sheet 4 by 8 foot paneling board, 1/4 inch thick
• 1 sheet 3 by 5 foot base board, 1/2 inch thick
• Two 6 foot long 1 by 4 inch boards
• Two 6 foot long 1 by 2 inch boards
• Three 7 foot long 2 by 8 inch boards
• 2 cabinet doors
• 4 brass hinges
• Saw
• Drill
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• Ruler
• 2 clamps
• Sandpaper
• Brushes
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Build the frame with 2 by 4 inch boards. Choose the frame size and height that fits your fish tank. For the front and back, build two rectangles from two long boards for the top and bottom and three vertical boards. Connect the base and top of the two rectangles, with three cross beams and two cross beams. Nail in the base floor on the bottom cross beams with a board cut from the 3 by 5 foot board.

   Using 2 by 4 inch boards, nail in three vertical posts inside the front, at the corners and center, and three inside the back; turn the two center posts so the 4 inch width stands perpendicular to the frame rectangles. Complete the frame with one cross brace in the center top, nailed to the two center posts.

2. Cover the frame with 1/4 inch paneling. Use the tape measure to measure the faces for the rack on the front and sides. Cover the three faces, leaving the opening formed by the front two by fours for the cabinet doors. Nail on the panels with finishing nails.

3. Trim the rack. Nail 4 inch trim around the top front and sides, two inches above the rack top and two inches on the rack front. Place 2 inch trim around the bottom, front and sides.

4. Add the cabinet doors and hinges to the front. Screw two hinges on each door and mount on the rack front.

5. Place four to five 2 by 8 inch rack boards on top. Cut out four to five boards that span the top area from rack front to rack back. Place the boards across the top.

6. Stain and finish the furniture.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you begin, measure your fish tank and space for the rack. With these numbers, you can decide the rack dimensions.

• Before you cut, design all the board and panel dimensions and detail them on paper.

References

• Aquarium Stand at AQUARIUM Life