Stand reinforcement

[snobanker]

OK, as some of you know I have had an empty 180 G acrylic tank in my family room for like a year and a half...ok so I'm a slow starter, but my 55 G has kept me happy. Well, anyway believe it or not my wife is really getting on me to get it up and going.

When I bought it I also got a stand that technically is designed for a glass tank. I need to add a plywood top to it for support and I was going to brace the center. Can anyone think of anything else I need to do to reinforce it? I mean it is a stand designed for a 180 G tank so I assume a center support added to prevent bottom sag would be enough. I'm trying to avoid building a stand within a stand if you know what I mean. I have a habit of over engineering everything and I'm sure I don't need to but......anyone?

 

[wrightme43]

Just use 3/4" plywood for the top, and two x fours for the bracing and it should be golden.
My stands are just 3/4" oak plywood, with 3 U shaped 3/4" plywood front braces, A solid 3/4" plywood rear panel fitted inside all four walls, and 2x4 center braces in behind the front brace, up to the center brace across and sitting on top of another down 2x4 brace. I put down 3/4" exterior styro insulation to protect and insulate. I use Kreg pocket hole joinery with gorilla glue in hidden areas and plain yellow wood glue in exposed. The trim work is all just for looks. It serves no structural purpose. 1x3 solid red oak to match the red oak plywood.

 

[wrightme43]

Oh and Hi snobanker. Glad to see you. Hope all is well.

 

[szidls]

Glad to see you Getting the 180 going Stan.
Best of luck, Scott

 

[spongebob lover]

go partner !!! it's about time you start doing something about that tank.

 

[dragoneggs]

Agreed... if the stand is designed for 180 glass then a simple 3/4in plywood with center brace is enough.

 

[Minus The Ick]

The stand should already be designed for the weight of 180gal of water. Adding the playwood and a center brace is good idea to help transfer the weight to the outside frame of the stand. You should not need to add any other additional bracing.

Something else you might want to think about though, is your floor. 180 gallons is going to weigh around 1500lbs. Depending on how your house is framed and where your tank is going you could start to see some deflection in your floor system. Most times this isn't a problem but sometimes it can be.

For larger tanks it is always a good idea to locate the tank near a bearing wall. For a safe bet your exterior walls should all be bearing. There will be some interior bering walls but they will vary depending each house.

If you have any questions about this post back, I'll be happy to help out.

Dennis

 

[davidabrown66]

The stand should already be designed for the weight of 180gal of water. Adding the playwood and a center brace is good idea to help transfer the weight to the outside frame of the stand. You should not need to add any other additional bracing.

Something else you might want to think about though, is your floor. 180 gallons is going to weigh around 1500lbs. Depending on how your house is framed and where your tank is going you could start to see some deflection in your floor system. Most times this isn't a problem but sometimes it can be.

For larger tanks it is always a good idea to locate the tank near a bearing wall. For a safe bet your exterior walls should all be bearing. There will be some interior bering walls but they will vary depending each house.

If you have any questions about this post back, I'll be happy to help out.


Dennis

Good point Dennis, along with that you should place perpendicular to the floor joists to help support the underside as well. I had to double up on my floor joists, because they're only 2x8's and not 2x10's, and I have a 150 gal tall (4x2) which puts more weight per sq ft.

-David

 

[snobanker]

Thanks all.....

I was starting to get all kinds of dumb ideas about how to reinforce the stand and I was getting wayyyy carried away. Good point on the floor, fortunatly its in a good spot that has support pillars right under it. I'm really looking forward to getting this tank going.

 

[spongebob lover]

well the worst case scenerio dood would be ...your tank in the basement and a big hole in the room ...which later you could end up putting a pole so you can go down there way faster

 

[davidabrown66]

Forgot to mention, congratulations on your future new setup. Please post pics!

 

[Maxx]

well the worst case scenerio dood would be ...your tank in the basement and a big hole in the room ...which later you could end up putting a pole so you can go down there way faster

Gabby...
Policemen are not firefighters. We dont have same fetish/fascination with sliding down poles that they do. They also ride around in a big red or yellow truck when they go to the supermarket to buy groceries for their nightly BBQ's.



Nick

 

[Scooterman]

Thanks all.....

I was starting to get all kinds of dumb ideas about how to reinforce the stand and I was getting wayyyy carried away. Good point on the floor, fortunately its in a good spot that has support pillars right under it. I'm really looking forward to getting this tank going.

Make a steel frame, heavy angle & painted well then box it in with wood! If you rely on wood alone stack it solid to the height you desire, otherwise it will sag!
Ok picking but my 125 did sag, I use hydraulic jacks to lift it & double up on the 2x4's, just plan your design well & double it

Actually my stand would of sagged a little more maybe but not nearly as bad as the normal manufactured stands, also I had to remove some bracing while plumbing the thing & was lazy thinking well I still have way more than it needed but I was wrong! Hey make it out of steel! look at Nikki's thread in the showcase forum, she did it right

 

[spongebob lover]

Gabby...
Policemen are not firefighters. We dont have same fetish/fascination with sliding down poles that they do. They also ride around in a big red or yellow truck when they go to the supermarket to buy groceries for their nightly BBQ's.



Nick

LMBO!! :lol: :lol:.
i think everyone not only the firefighter ones go to starbucks.grocery store to get some coffee with the big truck/car and in uniform :lol: ..... at least here, where i used to live everytime i used to pass by the starbucks we'd see at least 5 police cars and the guys sitting outside drinking their coffee :lol: .

We dont have same fetish/fascination with sliding down poles that they do

well you never know if the wife might want one :shock: :lol:

 

[snobanker]

Lol...Maxx is right Gabster, the only pole I have is made of fine hickory that I use to crack up side someones hea......err never mind lol. You may be on to something though. Maybe I'll just cut a hole in the floor and have the top at ground level and turn it into a tidal pool...lol

Scooter, I was actually thinking about that steel frame idea. Basically it would "be the stand" with the wood shell stand around it....hmmmmm my dad does have a wirefeed welder.......