Hey everyone! I'm in the middle of building an aquarium stand for my 60-gallon tank, and I encountered a little hiccup. I used 2x4s from Home Depot (I know, I know, not the best place for lumber), and now I've noticed that the top edge of the 2x4 isn't flat. There are some deviations at the edge, which means when I attach the plywood top, it doesn't sit evenly. Due to this, parts of the black trim of the tank are making contact with the stand while others aren't, creating a slight gap. I'm worried that this could lead to my tank cracking, and the idea of 60 gallons of water spilling everywhere makes me anxious!
I was thinking about getting a handheld electric planer to flatten the edge, but as a beginner, I'm a bit hesitant. Alternatively, I could buy a 2x10 or 2x12 and rip it down with a circular saw and guide; it only needs to be 48.5" long, so I think that could work better than what I currently have. If only I had $600 to spend on a tabletop planer, but that's not happening right now. Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
If you're going for a simple solution with limited tools, I'd recommend using a hand rasp. You can easily shape your 2x4 to level it out without much hassle. I bought one from Amazon, and it works wonders—it has two sides for different wood removal needs. Or, you could also just get a block plane from Home Depot; it's super manageable and gives you a lot of control for this kind of project!
Consider using an aquarium leveling mat; it helps to even things out once your tank is filled. Just a heads up though, for rimmed tanks with a black trim, they usually advise against using one since it can cause pressure issues underneath the glass panel. Still, just keep that in mind!
Have you considered sticking some sandpaper to a flat surface, like a piece of MDF or a countertop? You could use that to sand down the high spots on your 2x4 to level it out. Alternatively, shims between the 2x4 and the plywood could help fill any gaps too!