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46bfinGA
02/24/2007, 12:06 PM
I need some advice on a wood stand for my 500 gallon tank.My tank is 96"x48"x25" im planning on making the stand have a 1' overhang on three sides for access to the tank,since the tank is in wall and the stand will be 48" tall, this overhang will give me a place to stand on to reach the front.Making the stand 10' long x 6'wide x 4' tall.Im hoping to use a couple 2x8's 0r 2x10's as beams tied into 4x6 or 6x6 posts so i will have an open area for sumps under the tank.Will a those work or will i need a support in the middle of the stand.
Heres some pics of where the stand is to be built.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04525.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04524.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04526.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04531.jpg

Heres a drawing i made to show you what i would like to have as a stand so it is open underneath.Im hoping that this will be strong enough to hold this tank.Im planning on doubling up the 2x10 beams on the front and back.And using 6x6 in all four corners,even though two sides of this stand will be attached to the walls.Could i get away with less?

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04533.jpg

cmulawka
02/24/2007, 12:43 PM
I have a 540 wood stand there is little room under neath but i wouldnt trust anything else 8lbs x 540 plus tank weight.

46bfinGA
02/24/2007, 02:30 PM
I was hoping someone with a structural engineering background ,or someone who has a stand similar to this would chime in.Im sure i could over do it to the extreme and be perfectly safe,but i would much rather have an open area underneath in the fish room if possible.Ill buy some more lvl beams if i have to.They are relatively cheap.Is there any good sites that i can go to,to find out what is required for this much weight?

46bfinGA
02/24/2007, 02:52 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9323906#post9323906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmulawka
I have a 540 wood stand there is little room under neath but i wouldnt trust anything else 8lbs x 540 plus tank weight.

Thanks,Ive seen your stand in your thread and i would really like to stay away from having the supports in the center.Atleast on the backside where i will need access.

uztaryn
02/24/2007, 09:23 PM
first off is it glass or acrylic. That will make a huge difference. Secondly I had a professional stand builder build my stand for my 500g and I have basically a floor joyce setup going the short way across the bottom.

blfuller123
02/24/2007, 09:58 PM
Its about time you got that thing started. Looking good!

46bfinGA
02/25/2007, 11:43 AM
Hey Brett thanks. Im getting close,should have some water flowing in a few months i hope.It took a bit of construction to get to this point.

Heres my walls how they looked when i moved in.....

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04519.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04523.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04520.jpg

And now.....

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04527.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04528.jpg

46bfinGA
02/25/2007, 11:44 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9327151#post9327151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uztaryn
first off is it glass or acrylic. That will make a huge difference. Secondly I had a professional stand builder build my stand for my 500g and I have basically a floor joyce setup going the short way across the bottom.

The tank is acrylic.Have any pics of your stand?

46bfinGA
02/26/2007, 05:44 AM
TTT

KenT
02/26/2007, 10:38 AM
I built one for my 535. I used all 4X4s, and skinned the outside with plywood. I also used plywood across the top. It was sold as a rock.

46bfinGA
02/26/2007, 01:05 PM
I have a sheet of 1" plywood im using on top.I dont want to skin the stand at all because i want access on all three sides in my fishroom.Im guessing that if i buy a couple more lvl beams like i used for my openings that it should be sufficient for what im trying to do.

46bfinGA
02/27/2007, 08:42 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9327151#post9327151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uztaryn
first off is it glass or acrylic. That will make a huge difference. Secondly I had a professional stand builder build my stand for my 500g and I have basically a floor joyce setup going the short way across the bottom.

Id like to see a pic of your stand.Have any???

blfuller123
02/27/2007, 06:54 PM
thought about using steel instead of LVL? you dont have to worry about warping

uztaryn
02/27/2007, 09:42 PM
Pics of my stand

ok they may be big and out of focus but here you go.

http://www.ccdebtleads.com/pics/DSCF9761.JPG
http://www.ccdebtleads.com/pics/DSCF9762.JPG
http://www.ccdebtleads.com/pics/DSCF9763.JPG
http://www.ccdebtleads.com/pics/DSCF9764.JPG
http://www.ccdebtleads.com/pics/DSCF9765.JPG

Hope this helps some

46bfinGA
02/28/2007, 12:56 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9352274#post9352274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blfuller123
thought about using steel instead of LVL? you dont have to worry about warping

im not sure a lvl beam would warp would it? im going to seal them with a good exterior primer and paint.Steel would rust would it not? I dont want to pay to have the steel powdercoated or anything,i just figured that wood would be cheaper.If im wrong please let me know,then i will look into it.

46bfinGA
02/28/2007, 01:00 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9353829#post9353829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uztaryn
Pics of my stand

ok they may be big and out of focus but here you go.


Hope this helps some



Thanks,that helps,if your stand can hold 500 gallons then i know what i am going to do should hold a damn freightliner.Are those lvl beams 1 3/4" thick? Are they 12" or 16" centers along the span?

uztaryn
02/28/2007, 02:34 PM
they are 12" on center and they are 2x 1inch pieces of plywood laminated together.

That's what I meant by it doesn't take as much as you would think. That stand was built by a professional stand builder who also builds large acrylic tanks.

Bebo77
02/28/2007, 02:41 PM
steel... stronger and gives you more room...

blfuller123
02/28/2007, 05:25 PM
steel wont rust if you paint it, you could even go as far as having it powder coated and then you wouldnt chip it either.

46bfinGA
02/28/2007, 05:54 PM
Ill look into the steel beam,and see what the price difference will be..After seeing Uztaryn's stand i may just do what i was originally planning,and just add a single support in the center of the 2x10's.

46bfinGA
03/09/2007, 11:10 PM
Well i went with 6x6 posts and some 2x10's.I just doubled the 2x10's around the perimiter and used 6-6x6 posts. Four in the corners and two in the center to be safe..Heres some pics of the progress!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04569.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04570.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04572.jpg

46bfinGA
03/09/2007, 11:15 PM
Heres after a few more Corona's and a couple busted knuckles later....All that is left to be finished is the 1' perimiter for access to the tank ,and the bottom framing that will hold the posts together and act as a stand for the sump.This stand is massive and I believe heavier then the tank itself!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04576.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04577.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04578.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04579.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04580.jpg

Close enough for me!
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04585.jpg

asnatlas
03/09/2007, 11:53 PM
LOL, I would say its a little over built :p

Good work...

46bfinGA
03/10/2007, 12:43 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9441154#post9441154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asnatlas
LOL, I would say its a little over built :p

Good work...

I didnt want to skimp just in case i decide to go larger one day! I made the opening 36" high just for that reason as well.It definately "feels" well built when your standing in my fish room:)

blfuller123
03/10/2007, 06:36 AM
You might need to add a little more to the stand. Just doesnt look look like it will hold much. :)


When you going to set the tank on it?

cward
03/10/2007, 08:22 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9441382#post9441382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 46bfinGA
I didnt want to skimp just in case i decide to go larger one day! I made the opening 36" high just for that reason as well.It definately "feels" well built when your standing in my fish room:)

You definitely don't want to under build the foundation to your reef tank. I've seen plenty of large tanks here on RC with stands that scare me.

46bfinGA
03/10/2007, 11:20 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9441941#post9441941 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blfuller123
You might need to add a little more to the stand. Just doesnt look look like it will hold much. :)


When you going to set the tank on it?


Going on tonight! Still trying to decide if i want to use that piece of ply that you gave me.It looks to be laminated particle board but im not sure? It's extremely heavy,for one person to pickup i know that.Any thoughts? I have some plastic i could use over it I guess,in between the foam and the ply.But then the bottom still would need to be sealed i guess,from the sumps evaporating.

Im planning on sealing the wood with some Thompson's waterseal or something from HD.I like the look of the "naked" wood ,so id like to use a transperant sealer instead of worrying about paint.Any thought on the best way of accomplishing this that is durable? Will the thompson's stuff for decks work ok?

46bfinGA
03/10/2007, 11:25 AM
I used the "Tim the Toolman" approach to this stand.As i was standing in HD,the price difference in going big was minimal,so I figured what the hell. All the joints are liquid nailed together as well so this thing will be here for awhile.LOL

cbui2
03/10/2007, 11:58 AM
great looking setup, like a lumber yard at your house..keep them coming..everything going as plan. i will be tagging along with you on this one, but i had my stand custom built using 2"x2" steel and had it line-x instead of powercoating, my main concern was that i wanted to have work space to do anything i wanted, without that all support, but still like the way you have everything setup..here's pic of my stand

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s259/cbui2/stand2.jpg

46bfinGA
03/10/2007, 04:30 PM
Very nice stand! That sheet of ply i have is Melamine 3/4" is that ok to use for a base?

cbui2
03/10/2007, 08:51 PM
it should be fine, but my setup get 3/4" ply and 3 layers of waterproof paint...as soon as everything is in place there is no way I can removed wood out and redo so I must get it right the first time..very great carpentry skill you have. I will look forward on your build..

46bfinGA
03/10/2007, 09:18 PM
Well i got the tank up on the stand and decided to just use the melamine.Im going to seal it with a few coats of this acrylic based poly that i bought from HD to put on the stand.I also have some plastic that ill put down over it to keep the water away.I have a rolll of rubber mat that im going to use on the perimiter of the stand so it will be slip resistant that will go over the plastic,so im hoping ill be good.

cbui2
03/11/2007, 01:29 AM
that also should be fine, but now days with all the new technology we can get away with so much equipment offer to us, but over 100 ways of doing things. I wish I could redo my stand and would make it about 1' extra surrounding tank so I can stand on this besides the ladder to have room to work on reef besides the ladder.

46bfinGA
03/11/2007, 10:33 AM
Heres some pics of the tank up on the stand finally.Ive had the tank for around 4-5 months now i think.Excuse the mess in the tank,it still has the acrylic shavings and what not,from the construction of the tank.Im planning on vacuuming it all out tonight and start water testing the tank.Id like to see how the stand and the water level, works out before i fill it with ro/di.From my measurements the tank seems to be about 3/8" off level from one end to the other.Im hoping that this will settle out once water is added.I figured the stand may settle a bit in the brackets once 5000 lbs. is set on top of it.


http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04591.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04592.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04597.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04594.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/46bfinga/DSC04595.jpg

cbui2
03/11/2007, 11:04 AM
tank & those external overflow are very nice, wish I did the same thing. Changes could not be made once ordered was placed and cut, and is your tank 96"lx48"wx24"h..also what bike do you owned, two weeks ago I just bought 07 Honda CBR1000RR silver/black.

46bfinGA
03/11/2007, 02:27 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9449356#post9449356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
tank & those external overflow are very nice, wish I did the same thing. Changes could not be made once ordered was placed and cut, and is your tank 96"lx48"wx24"h..also what bike do you owned, two weeks ago I just bought 07 Honda CBR1000RR silver/black.


The tank is 96"x 48"x 25".I agree the external overflows are nice,I'm glad the tank has them.As far as my bikes,i have an 02 xr200 dirtbike,and I sold my cbr 600 f4I about two years ago and bought a 05 HD sportster 1200c. Once this bike is paid off i plan on getting another crotch rocket.I miss my CBR.

blfuller123
03/11/2007, 03:12 PM
Nice looking tank, when you going to get some water in it?

46bfinGA
03/11/2007, 03:48 PM
Some tap water will be in it tomorrow.When ill get ro/di in it is still undecided,id like to get some of the room finished off before i get too far ahead of myself.I still need to get my sink put in,a door,the electric,and some insulation and drywall.Im thinking about surface mounting pvc pipe and using pvc boxes for the electric,so i can easily add things if needed.