Enough Support fish tank stand?

Mariano986 · 01/21/2017, 09:33 PM

Hello Reef lovers,

My question is about this 150g 72Lx18Wx27H fish tank stand. Does this look like enough support. I have done extensive youtube and research about this but not enough I guess. Plus I have 2 5year old boys who I care deeply about and never want any accidents. To me it seems solid. But the second option of more experience reefer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and have a good weekend.
Here are the pics.

4x4 on all corners
2x6 rails
bottom 2x4

Mariano986 · 01/21/2017, 09:35 PM

Forgot to mention I was going use 3/4 plywood for the top.

Annap729 · 01/21/2017, 09:47 PM

Not a fan of 4x4's vs 2-2x4's glued and screwed. I believe they're less structurally sound and any flaws in the single piece of lumber creates a single fail point of s main member. Just my $.02

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Mules1 · 01/21/2017, 09:48 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964

Follow this. Your 4x4 in the pic don't do anything. Follow the template and to wil be fine.

Wood is very strong in compression. Don't rely on screws or bolts. They are just there to hold things in place.

Annap729 · 01/21/2017, 09:48 PM

Biggest issues to me I see are weight of PT lumber. That's one super heavy stand. I'd make sure it's going across multiple joists and not parallel. Or on a concrete floor.

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Mariano986 · 01/21/2017, 10:37 PM

Thanks for the replies. So is it safe to still use the 4x4 for bracing. And your right it's not going to have any support for the weight. My mind was telling me it was. Is it because the fish tanks are made with weight distributed on all four corners mainly? or rather the weight is at the tanks parameter wall glass?
The stand is on a concrete well build slab.
PT Lumber? sorry, I'm little slow.

Thanks

pfan151 · 01/22/2017, 12:18 AM

I'd put a brace in the center on the front and back.

Reefer40b · 01/22/2017, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mules1

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964

Follow this. Your 4x4 in the pic don't do anything. Follow the template and to wil be fine.

Wood is very strong in compression. Don't rely on screws or bolts. They are just there to hold things in place.

Indeed those 4x4 are doing nothing best to just remove them if you can... would sure make that stand lighter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfan151

I'd put a brace in the center on the front and back.

I would Probably do this too.

Annap729 · 01/22/2017, 10:34 AM

PT is pressure treated lumber. Very heavy, unecessary with kilz oil based primer and a coat of high gloss paint

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Orr2003 · 01/22/2017, 11:49 AM

This is how I have always built my stands for larger tanks. This one will be a 60"x36"x30" 280g. If possible I always try to attach the back legs or front legs however you are looking at the stand/tank to a wall next to the stand. I also have a young child and this gives me some peice of mind. If you want to put cross supports across the top they have to be supported from underneath or they are doing nothing, they would just be holding whatever weight the screws could hold which is nothing.

rlhanks · 01/25/2017, 08:36 AM

Don't forget where the center of gravity is. If there isn't going to be a sump under neath than you have all the weight on the top. Make sure that there is good balance and it is level. My five year old boy once tried to climb the wall under the window by the cord for the blinds. He pulled the whole casing down along with the blinds. Would hate to see what would happen if he wanted to get a better look into the top and the tank came down on him.

stelliofleondis · 01/25/2017, 07:44 PM

also add some more cross bracing it will stop the tank from twisting http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964
I used this exact build not 2 weeks ago and it is solid
another way to do it is showcased by the king of diy on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN4Y...U5kgYiWRAGVVkU
here he built 12 stands

Sandy Cheeks · 01/26/2017, 11:32 PM

4x4's take a lot of precious space inside the stand; I'd suggest to remove them, also couple front to back top braces. 3/4 plywood is strong enough.

01/21/2017, 09:48 PM	#4
Mules1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 381	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964 Follow this. Your 4x4 in the pic don't do anything. Follow the template and to wil be fine. Wood is very strong in compression. Don't rely on screws or bolts. They are just there to hold things in place. __________________ External overflow Current Tank Info: 6' 150 gallon dt, 75 gallon sump, 40 gallon display fuge, 20 gallon LaCl3 reactor

01/22/2017, 11:49 AM	#10
Orr2003 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: WV Posts: 862	This is how I have always built my stands for larger tanks. This one will be a 60"x36"x30" 280g. If possible I always try to attach the back legs or front legs however you are looking at the stand/tank to a wall next to the stand. I also have a young child and this gives me some peice of mind. If you want to put cross supports across the top they have to be supported from underneath or they are doing nothing, they would just be holding whatever weight the screws could hold which is nothing. __________________ If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

01/25/2017, 08:36 AM	#11
rlhanks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 22	Don't forget where the center of gravity is. If there isn't going to be a sump under neath than you have all the weight on the top. Make sure that there is good balance and it is level. My five year old boy once tried to climb the wall under the window by the cord for the blinds. He pulled the whole casing down along with the blinds. Would hate to see what would happen if he wanted to get a better look into the top and the tank came down on him. __________________ Bought my first tank with my paper route money back in 1984. 150 gallon SC starphire Metal frame stand made from welded Unistrut and wrapped in Walnut Most equipment are DIY Current Tank Info: 5'x2'x2', BLDC7, maxspect gyre250, T5HO and LED's, Home made welded steel tubular stand wrapped in wood work.

01/21/2017, 09:35 PM	#2
Mariano986 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 17	Forgot to mention I was going use 3/4 plywood for the top.

01/21/2017, 09:47 PM	#3
Annap729 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 76	Not a fan of 4x4's vs 2-2x4's glued and screwed. I believe they're less structurally sound and any flaws in the single piece of lumber creates a single fail point of s main member. Just my $.02 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

01/21/2017, 10:37 PM	#6
Mariano986 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 17	Thanks for the replies. So is it safe to still use the 4x4 for bracing. And your right it's not going to have any support for the weight. My mind was telling me it was. Is it because the fish tanks are made with weight distributed on all four corners mainly? or rather the weight is at the tanks parameter wall glass? The stand is on a concrete well build slab. PT Lumber? sorry, I'm little slow. Thanks

01/22/2017, 12:18 AM	#7
pfan151 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: FL Posts: 1,897	I'd put a brace in the center on the front and back.

01/22/2017, 10:34 AM	#9
Annap729 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 76	PT is pressure treated lumber. Very heavy, unecessary with kilz oil based primer and a coat of high gloss paint Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

01/25/2017, 07:44 PM	#12
stelliofleondis Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 118	also add some more cross bracing it will stop the tank from twisting http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964 I used this exact build not 2 weeks ago and it is solid another way to do it is showcased by the king of diy on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN4Y...U5kgYiWRAGVVkU here he built 12 stands

01/26/2017, 11:32 PM	#13
Sandy Cheeks Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 80	4x4's take a lot of precious space inside the stand; I'd suggest to remove them, also couple front to back top braces. 3/4 plywood is strong enough.