A DIY Guide to Making Aluminum Extrusion Aquarium Stands

For most fish owners, there are just two things they want in an aquarium stand.

Durability, and a refined, stylish appearance.

Many aquarium stands will cost new owners hundreds of dollars just to match their home’s interior design.

But here’s a secret. What if you could make a perfectly durable stand that looks great in your living room for just a small fraction of this cost – less than a hundred dollars?

Aluminum extrusion kits offer a perfect solution to this problem. In this article, you’ll learn how to build a fantastic and simple aquarium stand using aluminum connectors in an afternoon.

What is Aluminum Extrusion?

Manufacturers use a special “die” that shapes a piece of aluminum into a particular shape, known as its profile. Hot aluminum metal is squeezed through the die to form a long piece of metal with a unique internal shape that allows it to easily connect with other pieces of aluminum.

While this may sound rather complicated, it is a simple process that has been used for quite a long time. And it has special advantages; aluminum extrusion turns out to be lighter, stronger, and less expensive than its solid parent material.

There are many shapes available, which makes an ideal material for building with only a few basic tools. Most importantly, aluminum extrusion is strong enough to durably hold a heavy container such as a DIY aquarium for years to come.

Building Aquarium Stands From Aluminum Extrusion

Where to start? Every aquarium is different in terms of size, so you will have to first determine the exact dimensions of your tank.

This way you can match the aluminum extrusion material to the exact size you need. Trimble’s Sketchup is an excellent aid for planning and sizing your equipment.

With a general design in place, your tank’s stand can be built a thousand different ways, and you should enjoy the fun of selecting the exact pieces of extrusion needed to build out your structure. You’ll also have plenty of choice with regard to the necessary connectors and nuts and bolts for fastening. 

A Simple DIY Plan

Here’s the overall idea. If your tank is rectangular, begin with a rectangular shape on the floor. Then continue with an analogous second layer that precisely matches the first. This second layer will ultimately be elevated off the ground and become the frame for directly supporting your tank.

Depending on the size of your tank, you will need 1-3 cross brackets to help support the weight of the tank. These cross brackets should be aligned perpendicular to the longer sides of each rectangle, connecting the two longer sides.

Finally, connect the two rectangles vertically using four or more connecting extrusion pieces to give the structure its height.

For durability, add additional pieces of extrusion along the length of the rectangles to give further structure. These supports are critical for heavier or larger tanks.

There are many different types of joints you can use to connect the pieces of aluminum extrusion. For the corners of your two rectangles, use corner connectors. T-shaped connectors are perfect for the support pieces placed along the lengths of the rectangles.

Depending on the connectors you use, you will need to fasten them with the appropriate nuts and bolts.

Aluminum Extrusion Materials at Framing Tech

At the end of the day, the possibilities for designing aquarium stands are endless. We have just shared one basic model you can use as a starting point for building your tank.

At Framing Tech, we carry all the basic starter materials you will need to get your project off the ground.

If you have any questions at all about your specific build using aluminum extrusion, contact us here and we will gladly help you determine the aquarium stand parts you’ll need.