Help with Stand Design

[aquarookie]

Yeah, I am not a structural engineer but I have some experience with wood stands, and that looks just fine to me . Especially if there is a one inch plywood on there. Also, the ends of the tank will reach both ends of the stand, right?

 

[ronj]

Also, the ends of the tank will reach both ends of the stand, right?

yep!! the ends and the front will be supported, but the back will just be relying mainly on the 1" plywood...

few dozen more 2x4's & you should be plenty fine

ROFL!!!!:lol::lol: i know!! i got carried away!! i decided it was better to be safe than sorry.. that thing is solid!!!! i knew someone would say something.. i figured it would be Don :lol:....

I found that support under the horizontal 2x4 added more support than having them screwed to the sides

i didn't have a way to screw it together that way... that was actually what i wanted to do

 

[csdoyle]

I'd be willing to install a hot tub on top of all that!

Looks solid for sure,

Chris

 

[DonW]

now here is my question.. i had to build the frame extra wide so that my sump could slide in and out of the frame from either side.... now when i put the tank on the stand, it won't be sitting on the support beam running across the back of the stand...i plan to put a 1" piece of plywood on top of the frame.. will this be enough support???

If I read this right your going to use 1" ply to top the stand. If this is the case then it will be just fine for the tank not to sit right on the brace.

Don

 

[ronj]

you're reading it right Don... i will be using 1" plywood.. i bought 3/4" today, but i decided not to use it on the top..do you think it looks pretty sturdy??

 

[Krish]

Looks great so far Ron!!! I agree with Don as well...You'll be fine not sitting directly on top of the brace once you use the proper thickness wood for the top

 

[ronj]

it will look better with a tank sitting on it!!! i should be getting it next weekend......(90gRR) i decided to go with a smaller one this time since we have the baby coming and we're moving in 4 months it's going to be nice getting to use a real skimmer again instead of my hang-ons

 

[Krish]

LOL!!! Sounds good!!! Keep the pics coming

 

[DonW]

you're reading it right Don... i will be using 1" plywood.. i bought 3/4" today, but i decided not to use it on the top..do you think it looks pretty sturdy??

Looks fine I would skin the back for lateral support.

Don

 

[ronj]

are you talking about adding panels on the back to balance the weight??

 

[DonW]

are you talking about adding panels on the back to balance the weight??

Yes a sheet of 1/4 plywood is plenty.

Don

 

[ronj]

cool.. i'll add some tomorrow.. i have some 3/4" left over from the bottom panel i added for the sump.. i had a few pieces on the ends, but they look really cheap... i am going to buy some oak or birch for doors and side paneling

 

[DonW]

If you dont mind a suggestion. I think you could make it look nice by skinning it with oak ply and buy some nice premade doors online. They are pretty cheap now days and will cost less than you would pay for the materials alone.

Don

 

[Minus The Ich]

That stand looks pretty stout. I would not worry too much about the back of your tank not sitting on the back support. The plywood should be able to easily carry that load. How wide is your tank and how wide is your stand?

Skinning the back would deffinately help with the lateral support. The big concern is if there were an earthquake of any size your stand might fold over on itself. Alot of times the way that you make the front can help prevent this and you don't need any extra support on the back. I don't know exactly how you are putting together the rest of the stand but I would recommend at least putting a cross brace in the back. It still gives you space to get all of your cords in there and provides some extra support.

Dennis

 

[ronj]

that's a good idea Don.. i will look into it tomorrow when i go to Home Depot.. that's probably exactly what i will do... i can make the doors really easily...i grew up around construction..they sell smaller 2'x4' pieces of oak and other wood at HD.. i can cut the door out and trim them out in a few minutes

 

[trido]

Screws, screws, screws. Did you use any nails at all on your stand? The reason I ask is because screws dont have much shear strength. The will break given enough lateral (sideways) force. A nice 12D or 16D nail will bend long before breaking. I always recommend using nails along with screws when I see people building a tank stand. Screws, because its easier and most homeowners dont have five flavors of nail guns, and nails so its actually strong. The screws are only good at keeping wood from coming apart, or backing out so to speak. For example. When Im tearing out some old shelving in someones house and its built with screws I can usually whack the 2x4s with my hammer and the screws will break if I can get enough lateral force on them. When the same shelving is built with framing nails I have to wrestle with the shelving with my hammer and three foot crow bar for five minutes per board.....

Oh and BTW, You could likely stack three tanks on top of that baby when its done.

 

[ronj]

i used a few 2" trim screws to tack it together when i was setting it up... i didn't have a framing gun on hand.. i may go back and shoot a few in there.. i have a lot of wood puttying to do!!! i am a very paranoid person..i don't want to come home to a disaster. i want that stand to hold a car.LOL

 

[csdoyle]

DonW,

Would you mind sharing a source for pre made doors on line?

I still need to put doors on my stand for my 155 gallon and I am considering the options...

My stand...

Cheers,

Chris