Aquarium Coffee Table

Build an aquarium coffee table for a fraction of the cost of ready-made models, from supplies found mostly at your local superstore. 10 Gallon and 20 Gallon models are easily possible.

Step 1 Gather Supplies

Parts Needed:
20 Gallon Long Tank
24" Fluorescent Fixture (2)
Black Foam Board
Power Strip
Light Timer
1" Chair End Caps (4 pack) (2)
36" x 14" Wire Shelving Unit
Glass Table Top
100W Heater
20G Internal Filter
Glass Vase Marbles / Beads - 12 oz (10)
2 Prong, 3 Way Power Splitter

10 Gallon Alternate Parts:
23"x14" Shelving unit
10 Gallon Standard Tank
1/2" Chair End Caps
18" Fluorescent Fixtures
50W Heater
10G Filter

Tools Needed:
Mallet
Bolt Cutter
Zip Ties

If you have none of the parts already, I've estimated the costs of the 10 Gallon and 20 Gallon models at $115 and $180 respectively. However, this is where an old glass top coffee table, spare wire shelving or extra aquarium equipment can dramatically reduce the cost. Even if you go out and buy every item you need for the project, note that ready-made coffee table aquariums appear to start at $500 before shipping.

Disclaimer: I'm not an engineer, but the shelving used is rated for more weight than what would be added by a full aquarium of the sizes discussed, so I feel quite safe with the choices made for this project. Do read the packaging on the shelving you buy to ensure your structure will support the approximate 10 lbs / gallon guideline.

Comments

[harry potter rules]

This Aquarium Coffee Table is a very good idea
i definitely have to follow you!!!!!!!!!
how much does this cost altogether
how do you keep the Aquarium attached to the coffee table

BTW, AMAZING INSTRUCTABLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5*

[shinglyelm]

Thank you for the great  idea!  I combined yours and another instructables  fish tank coffee table.  I hope you like my 40 gallon breeder coffee table.  I don't have any fish yet because I am going to move soon but will after.  Even without fish this coffee table looks like a piece of art and draws a lot of attention when people come over.

The aquarium lies on a frame base which avoids both having to support the massive weight and scaring the fish setting things on the table.  I removed the corners where the boards meet on the base to be able to run power under the tank, then back and out up the legs. Also one side is removable so I can get to the electronics later.  The coffee table part is pretty much just a shell over the aquarium/base.  The lights on the base under the glass substrate really makes this thing.  Thank you!

[fcosorio]

Hey man, that table looks great? Do you the plans to share? please advice. thanks.

FO

[shinglyelm]

I have no plans and I didnt think about doing an instructables until I was done. I was pretty much winging it anyways.  A few of my friends said they are seriously considering making one of their own and they asked for my help. If they actually go through with it I would an instructables at that time. I do have a lot of pictures of my tank at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ShinglyElm/FishTankCoffeeTable#
...which you can eyeball spaces and lengths.  Its pretty much measure, cut, glue, nail, sand, stain, and seal.  If you want a specific measurement of something just message me back.  I'll help if I can!

Shingles

[koebwil]

How is that stocking list working, it seems to me that the tiger barbs would kill everything else, I know they have in the tank I keep mine in. very creative work with the lights though If you ever redo this I would highly recommend doing a walstad style tank or even a reef, that way you wouldn't need a filter, just some powerheads. Plus then the plants or corals would be real. Don't get me wrong it is a fantastic coffee table, I just think it could be a better aquarium.

[fcosorio]

Thanks

[fetchtables]

I want to make something just like this, its awesome. Where do you hide the filter?

[shinglyelm]

No hiding :-/ I have an internal filter. I would have loved a canister filter, but it definitely would not have fit in the 2" of space under the aquarium. It also seemed dangerous to pump water out of the aquarium, under a rug, under the couch, and back again. And I thought a HOB filter would get bumped if it even would fit the tight specs around the top of the lid.

[x86Daddy]

Thanks for posting pics!  I love to see these alternate builds... the 40 Gallon Breeder does indeed make for a good coffee table size, and the wood frame gives it a very different style.  Looks quite solid.

[strmrnnr]

I don't know how well the end caps on your post will act in respect to the next comment,

Keep in mind that the tank should be well insulated from the frame as, if it is not, every time you place an object on the table, it will sound like a sonic boom to the fish. Similar to tapping the side of the tank with a finger nail.

[clieu]

This is awesome!!! If anyone ends up looking for something that can hold a little more weight, this chrome wire utility cart holds up to 600lbs and is the right length/width.... though it is probably too tall for a coffee table. As a bonus, the wheels might be useful for moving that thing around. Happy building.

[manabean]

Attatched is an image of my aquarium coffee table. Its a bit simplified where i just bought a 1 tier chrome shelving unit and simple turned it upside down. I added a 10 gallon tank with undergravel filters, blue and clear decorative marbles instead of gravel, plastic round plant ornaments, and a glass on the top.
I still need to buy rubber end stoppers for the ends of the table and the legs are a bit wobbly so I might cement it with epoxy.

The two lovely fish inside are two fantail goldfish which are easy to take care of and beautiful to look at :]

[acidbass]

nice couch

[x86Daddy]

Thanks for sending in your photo and build method; it looks great!  As for the wobbling, it'll happen if there's only one shelf... a second shelf or the epoxy idea should take care of it though.

[acidbass]

awesome now you need to make a sharktank dancefloor jk

[33125577utube]

well u could put an aquarium on the floor and put glass around it or over it...

[bezzin mega mix]

this is really cool and modern i made somthing similar,will be uploading images soon!

[Lithium Rain]

Gorgeous! (What is the pyramid?)

[bezzin mega mix]

the pictures from shinglyelm is what i am currently planning on making
so any help i would be very grateful for. sorry about my spelling
cheers.

[x86Daddy]

A motion-controlled, flashing LED, puzzle game from 1989 called Luminations. When I received it as a gift when I was a kid, I thought it looked very cool and determined then that it would decorate my coffee table one day. :-) Every once in a rare while, you can spot one on eBay. It's pretty fun and challenging... I've never beat its fourth level.

[Lithium Rain]

Nice! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for one. :)

[fade400]

where did you buy your wire shelving units ? I was hoping to buy them from a physical store but its looking like less and less of an option due to prices.

Thank you =) 

[bitsy113]

Home Depot carries these. They're usually in the section where you would find wire shelving, like for closets.

[bitsy113]

Home Depot carries these where you would find either shelving(like for closets). Also Sams has them they're usually bigger and a little more expensive.

[x86Daddy]

I'm in the US.  The retail stores that I've seen the best prices at are CostCo, Aldi, and Target.  The first two carry them sometimes, and when they do, it's a good deal.  The latter runs sales on them every month or two for $5-$10 under usual prices, depending on type of unit, etc... but they carry them all the time at decent prices and selection.

A completely different approach: look for restaurant supply stores in your area, they usually stock a lot of wire shelving components, and some carry used equipment, which would be cheaper. 

Best of luck!

[fade400]

Thank you ^_^

 

[manlyfish]

this ideas really good except for 2 things
-its a bad view to see your fish
-you might disturb them be settin stuff on top of it

[x86Daddy]

I find that if I sit back on the couch in front of the aquarium, the view of the fish is quite nice.  While walking around the table in semi-close proximity though, you're right, the fish are not as viewable.

As for disturbing the fish while placing a glass or other object on the table, the top glass does not touch the aquarium... it rests on rubber end caps on the tops of the wire shelving posts, which rest on the floor... the bottom shelf, connected to these posts, does support the aquarium's bottom plastic rim, but by the time the vibration from an impact on the top glass would reach the aquarium, it has been dampened very well.  This is by design.  I've never noticed the fish react when I place something on the table top. 

Always good to be mindful about tapping on the water-facing glass of any aquarium, as that does disturb most species; the sound created transmits directly from the glass to the water and can be painfully loud to those in the water.

[SlyDawg]

Walmart has the 36x14" Shelving units for $20.  I'm located in GA, not sure if stocking is regional, shouldn't be... lol!  Hope you find em there tho.

[drewdoog]

Very nice work To other posters, you dont have to make exactly this project. the best part about instrucables, is to get ideas from other people, then make it your own. The only fish tank id ever want again is a saltwater tank. I dont want the responsibilities of a saltwater tank, so just go from this. replace the fish with bubble rocks and you have yourself a bubble table. replace the water with corn syrup, and you now have a slow motion bubble table. replace the real fish with battery powered fish. Get ahold of some clay, put ribs in it, angle them towards the middle, get a small water pump.. you now have water fall table.

[supersith22]

If you do the corn syrup idea, leave a little hole big enough to get a spoon through in the top cover, that way if your coffee or iced tea isn't quite sweet enough you just have to get a little "aquarium water" from the table. lol A slow motion bubble tank would be a really neat thing to have though.

[Ginger Magnus]

drewdoog, I liked your idea about filling the tank with corn syrup and having a slow motion bubble tank. After doing some research I found out that to make a 10 gallon bubble tank, the corn syrup would weight in excess of 100 lbs, based upon figures I found stating corn syrup weighing in around 10-11 lbs./ gallon. With water weighing approx. 8.3 lbs/gallon the frame needs to hold at least 25% more weight. I just wanted people to keep that in mind. 10-20 gallons of corn syrup would be fun to clean up, especially if dyed! I love the idea of the slow bubbles, maybe with some color changing lights. Now I have to find a

[~Sasquatch~]

First off, NICE instructable!

A couple of suggestions though...

First, an aquarium really needs a LEVEL base! Any imperfections in the shelf will cause a 'rise' or 'hollow' where the tank meets the support, and eventually cause a crack in the (loaded) tank! I'd strongly recommend a piece of styrofoam sheet, thick felt, or foam rubber under the tank to 'absorb' any discrepancies in level-ness. You can probably find clear or translucent padding material to use the tank in the manner the author has done.

Second;

I would strongly suggest against corn syrup - between splashes from the bubbles bursting and sugar "creep" (Like salt does in marine aquariums!) This sounds like an ant/cockroach-attracting mess of biblical proportions! Not to mention the inevitable bacteria bloom! (Think petri dish!)
With a rubber gasket on the aquarium's top rim and the top resting on the rim, (With support from the shelving posts,) Mineral oil should work. A couple of drops per gallon of clove oil should prevent it from turning rancid, and it can be dyed with oil-based universal colourants, or even made into a giant lava lamp using 1/2 oil, 1/2 alcohol with a suitable, (READ SAFE!) heat source!

Just my $0.02...

[AdHd]

Mineral oil will not go rancid. Vegetable oil, yes; mineral oil, no.

[Ginger Magnus]

Sasquatch, good ideas! I gave up on the corn syrup for your exact reasons. I experimented with different ways of using the syrup, but in all events it became to sticky and attractive for me to trust 20 gallons of the sticky goo sitting in my living room. I will have to start trying the mineral oil next.

[evanwehrer]

That sounds awesome

[luizbong]

great job!

[steed1172]

how's this for a 55-gallon..lol?

[container_gardener]

This is SO cool! I also like other members' suggestions to use fake fish/ plants if you don't want to use live ones.

[DrWeird117]

I can't wait to do one of these!