help with stand
- Thread starter diablo
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aquariumdebacle
electrolyte addict
First of all you Have to make the tanks out of glass! the triggers will scratch acrylic to the point of opaqueness. I would recomend wood. I love the look and feel of would. Use solid wood, pressboard works but does not have the longevity that true solid would has. A nice Teak or Black Walnut would set off the lighting nicely. Hopefully this will be visible from both sides. YOu will need to acommodate the triggers with many caves and choose your species well. Many are suited to a single specimen tank of that size. Definitely stay away from the metals. You can yous epoxy paints to seal them but it is a stinky hassel and will never look as good as wood.
Kensn
Well-known member
By the looks of it, I think it is going to be hard to support the middle of the top tank, 125s are pretty big tanks.
Krish
RF STAFF
Just a thought...Nothing will probably beat the strength of a metal frame. Maybe you can have a metal frame welded, seal it up with some with something so that it wouldn't rust if water got to it, and then finish over it with wood. So basically, you won't really see any metal, it would just look like an ordinary wooden stand, but the foundation would be a metal structure. Just a thought...
Ohgee
Well-known member
Would have to look into the actual specs but 3" I beam we use at the mill to build supports that hold much more weight than what 2 125gal tanks would weigh. Also the actual construction allows for limited need for support. I built a stand out of 1" thick wall square tube with only 1 extra leg in the middle to span 6'. It doesn't even know the 125 is there. 
The I beam material is rated to hold even much more and would allow a huge open space uner the tanks to hold refuge or anything else you might want to hide. Only down fall would be the cost. Last I checked, about 3weeks ago, it was around $3.00 a foot
You would need around 70' just to build the support for the tanks not to include the storage off the sides of the tanks.
If you want I can send photos of the stand I built for the single 125 that would give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
Duane
Just an afterthought I had the stand powered coated was construction was completed for $50 and it looks great !!!!
The I beam material is rated to hold even much more and would allow a huge open space uner the tanks to hold refuge or anything else you might want to hide. Only down fall would be the cost. Last I checked, about 3weeks ago, it was around $3.00 a foot
You would need around 70' just to build the support for the tanks not to include the storage off the sides of the tanks.
If you want I can send photos of the stand I built for the single 125 that would give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
Duane
Just an afterthought I had the stand powered coated was construction was completed for $50 and it looks great !!!!
Detri
Well-known member
Well if you have the time and, you don't mind paying a few bucks extra. You could have the frame of the stand made out of 1"x2" square metal tubing. Paint it. (I would pay the extra 200 bucks to have it powder coated) It will last for ever and you can enclose it with wood panels. It will look just like a an all wood cabinet, just stronger. I love that Idea though.
swissgaurd
Well-known member
i would build it out of 2 inch square tubing
definately have it powder coated.then cover up the metal with wood.
an idea for the doors is to put bifold doors that way you dont have these enourmous doors.
vic
definately have it powder coated.then cover up the metal with wood.
an idea for the doors is to put bifold doors that way you dont have these enourmous doors.
vic
I defianitly think that you need an I beam to support the upper tank. However you could frame the rest of the stand with wood, even a powder coated metal frame is cool. wood 4x4's on end will more than support the upper frame work but they will not support the span of a 125. So to save money you could frame the vertical supports out of wood and the horizontal out of metal. Kinda like a wood ladder with metal steps. The whole idea is really cool though.
Well the 125's are here now Set up will wait for a bit till I get this figured out.. hmmm what about like a home depot type shelf's frame stuff... I think that would work best cause I could make the stand then frame the cabinets out of wood on the side. Gives same look but what do you think about the metal home depot style frame would it hold the weight and what about being top heavy. Make a cross beam or two would that add strength?
Set up will wait for a bit till I get this figured out.. hmmm what about like a home depot type shelf's frame stuff... I think that would work best cause I could make the stand then frame the cabinets out of wood on the side. Gives same look but what do you think about the metal home depot style frame would it hold the weight and what about being top heavy. Make a cross beam or two would that add strength?Detri
Well-known member
If you are talking about the display shelves, then yes. But you would still need to refinish the metal to withstand the corrossion from the saltwater. Those shelves can be bought in various sizes, but, you may have to customize them a little to fit what you want.
Remember, there is a difference between strength and stiffness. Lots of options would be strong enough - what you wnat is something that will be stiff enough so that it will not sag between supports. Glass is a fairly stiff material, and sagging between supports easily translates into shear stresses at the corner joints between the sides of the tank.
With that in mind, I would worry a bit about a home-depot display shelf unless I was sure there would be no noticable sag in the shelf when the tank was fully loaded.
With that in mind, I would worry a bit about a home-depot display shelf unless I was sure there would be no noticable sag in the shelf when the tank was fully loaded.
Detri
Well-known member
Well Home Depot shelving, the mezanine <sp?> is alot stronger than 1x1 or 1x2 tubing. That metal is bent into a "C" shape (half an "I" Beam) and it's about an 1/8" think or more.
