How to Build a 10 Gallon Fish Tank Stand

Regardless if you are using your 10 gallon fish tank as a saltwater or freshwater environment, you will need a place to set it up. Commercial stands are available in both metal and wood constructions to hold your tank; however, commercial fish stands can be expensive and often are not very sturdy. Luckily, you can build your own fish tank stand at home for little money and the construction will be sound.

Things You'll Need

  • Wood
  • Wood screws
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Drill
  • Metal L bracket
  • Hammer
  • Nails
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Instructions

  1. Stand

    • 1

      Cut all your wood. You will need 16 pieces total. Four should be 2 inches by 2 inches by 21, 1/4 inches. Four should be 2 inches by 2 inches by 7, 1/2 inches. Four should be 2 inches by 2 inches by 26 inches.

    • 2

      Use 4-inch wood screws and carpenter's glue to build the base of your stand. To do this, use the 21, 1/4 inch pieces of wood and two of the 7, 1/2 inch pieces to create the base. Make a rectangle out of the four pieces. Place carpenter's glue at the corners where the wood pieces meet. Use a drill and wood screws to attach the pieces together at the corner.

    • 3

      Repeat Step 2 to create the top of the stand.

    • 4

      Use the 26-inch wood pieces as the legs of the stand. Place one leg on one of the corners of the base with some carpenter's glue between the two pieces of wood. Place a metal L bracket on the inside of the leg where it meets the base. Use a drill and the wood screws to secure the brackets to the wood. You will use two brackets for each leg. Repeat this process until all four legs are attached to the base.

    • 5

      Attach the assembled top of the stand to the four legs that are attached to the base. Use the same assembly process you used in Step 4.

    Shell

    • 6

      Cut all your wood. You will need 5 pieces total. Two should be 21, 1/4 inches by 30 inches by 3/4 inches. These will be the front and back panels. Two should be 11, 1/2 inches by 30 inches by 3/4 inches. These will be the sides. One should be 11, 1/2 inches by 21, 1/4 inches by 1, 1/2 inches. This will be the top.

    • 7

      Attach the side pieces to the sides of the completed stand. Place carpenter's glue between the sides and the legs of the stand. Use 2 inch nails and a hammer to attach it, hammering through the side piece into the legs of the stand.

    • 8

      Repeat the process in Step 2 for the front and back pieces.

    • 9

      Place the top panel on top of the base. Place carpenter's glue between the top and the base. Use a hammer and nails to attach the top to the base.