Tools
- Table Saw (optional for wood cutting)
- Circular Saw (optional for wood cutting)
- Router (for tank platform bevel)
- Nail Gun
- Ogee Bit
- T-Square
- Pencil
- Tape Measure
- Sand Paper
- Safety Goggles
Materials
3⁄4 in Plywood cut to sizes:
TOP:
- 22 1⁄4in wide x12 in. deep x 4 in. high
Cut horizontally into two 6 inch wide pieces and hinge together
CABINET:
- 21 1⁄2 in wide x29 3⁄4 in highx 11 1/8 in deep
TANK PLATFORM:
- 22 1⁄2 in wide x13 in deep
- BASE PLATFORM
- 211⁄2inwidex3⁄4
- BASE TRIM
- 1x2x113⁄4in
- Latex Paint (light gray and dark gray)
- Paintbrush
- Grain Squeegee (for faux wood grain effect)
- Fish Tank (10 Gallon)
- Adhesive Tile Sheets
- Luan (to attach tile sheets and position behind fish tank)
- LED Strip Lights to line inside lid
- Hobnails (for leather strip decoration)
- Leather Strips (for decoration)
- Hasp (for decoration on lid)
- Hinges (to open top for tank access)
- Corner embellishments (for decoration)
Steps
1. Measure all your pieces and cut to size (or have lumber yard cut wood for you)
2. I’m using basic 3⁄4 inch Birch plywood.
3. It’s a good idea to cut large sheets on the ground because a big sheet can slip off table
4. Build the bottom cabinet – it’s an open, 3-sided box
5. Add 1x2 pieces around 3 sides of the bottom to trim it
6. The tank platform, is slightly larger to create a nice tray effect; I’ve beveled it
7. I use a Roman Ogee router bit to create this nicely molded effect on the edge
8. Then I start the Fish tank top
9. I add hinges so you can lift the top to feed the fish
10. I paint everything starting with a lighter gray using a dry brush technique
11. Then I go over it with a darker gray – painting a thicker layer
12. While still wet, I use this cool tool “Grain Squeegee” and pull and rock across the surface of the wet paint to create a faux wood grain effect.
13. I put this faux tile sheet on a thin piece of “Luan” and nailed it to the back so you can’t see through the fish tank. It gives it an intimate rocky look.
14. I taped the LED strip on the inside of the lid to light the tank from above
15. I adhered a sheet of faux tile to a thin piece of Luan and nailed it to the back of the tank lid so you can’t see through the tank and it looks like rocks or stones
16. NOTE: Once you’ve finished, put your tank in position and fill with water. Don’t move a fish tank full of water or it can crack.
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