Aquarium Cabinet

Looking for some input on a wood cabinet for a 50 gallon pentagon-shaped aquarium. Most if not all of the cabinets I have come across online, which are very few, do not have the weight capacity I need (at least 500 lbs). Therefore, I believe my best option would either be to find a cabinet I like and modify it by beefing up the structure or having something custom made. There don't appear to be many custom furniture fabricators in my area (northern Virginia), but there are a couple I found online that sound feasible. Another idea is if I can't find a corner cabinet I like, is to perhaps use a regular cabinet and replace the top with a custom triangular top, which I could make myself. Except that would leave the sides open and make it look more like a table, which I don't want. Rough dimensions I am looking at are 36"x36"x51" ('a', 'b', and 'c' or a right triangle, respectively), by 30" tall with two full height doors. A built-in would also be an option and would give me a custom look. That would probably be the cheapest way to go. I want it to look professional though. Maybe I'll fabricate everything but the doors and find a nice pair of pre-fabricated doors to put on it.

 

If it was me, I'd build it myself. Probably start with a 2x frame then dress it up with plywood along with doors on the front.

 

I think you will have to build it yourself. Standard cabinets are not 36" deep.

If you want to have it made don't look for furniture makers. Search for cabinet makers which are very common. For them it would be a simple matter to build it to whatever size and shape you want.

 

The cabinet would be about 25" deep. It's triangular shaped. The 36" dimensions are the length of the sides of the triangle. I found a place nearby that does custom built-ins. I'll give them a ring and see what their cost is to do something like this. I want it to look nice because it will be the focal point in my living room.

Dimensions and style I like (white shaker door with no hardware):

 

About 15 years ago when the kids were small we set up a 65 gallon tank but hated all the available options for cabinets and stands.

So, I purchase a low desk height cabinet and simply reinforced the sides and center vertical sections with 3/4 plywood so that they ran from floor to top.

Glued and screwed into the existing boards.

That thing was a tank, no issues holding 500# of water and was very simple and cheap to make and when the doors were closed it looked just like all the other cabinets.

 

I considered doing the same, but being a corner cabinet, it would be a little tricky to pull off I think. I don't want it to look like a hack job, as it is in my living room. I have a router, table saw, miter saw, and finish nailer, but I wouldn't say I'm that proficient at finish details. The reinforcing, no problem.

Two estimates thus far. One for $2,800 (no flippin way) and $1,400, but I'd have to pick up, install, and paint myself (no biggie). Waiting on a third estimate. I could get a custom cabinet made for $1,400 and take it with me when I move.

 

I found a local guy that charges for materials at cost, and $80/hr for labor. Seems reasonable. These are the dimensions I settled on. I have front and side drawings as well, but they look odd because of the 45 degree angle, so I won't post those. Similar to the attached image, but full height doors with glass panes in the middle (no cubby), and a single door with glass pane on the right (no drawers), white-washed oak. Picture of my living room where it will be installed also shown.