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08/22/2017, 09:16 AM | #2201 | |
-Aidan's Daddy.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Vallejo, CA
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Quote:
Plenty of space in the front, lots of extra support in the back. Last edited by mcbaes72; 08/23/2017 at 09:58 AM. Reason: Fixed picture. |
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08/22/2017, 09:43 AM | #2202 |
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08/22/2017, 04:00 PM | #2203 | |
-Aidan's Daddy.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Vallejo, CA
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Quote:
Other than scanning through all the pages in this thread, try this website to get a few ideas on steel stand designs. Steel support frames |
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11/08/2017, 06:07 PM | #2204 | |
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Location: Staten Island, NY
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Interesting design; kind of exactly what I was looking for. Why did you design it out of 3 different sections bolted together? How strong has it been since put to use? Are these bolts holding everything in a rigid fashion; ex. no frame twist etc. Do you have leveling feet for each section? Please answer, I need to have a stand that is roughly 72x34x40h in the basement but the staircase is only 30" wide. HELP!!! Does anybody else have any ideas how much issue can be addressed? |
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11/08/2017, 06:12 PM | #2205 | |
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It has worked just fine for the year and a half it has been running for. |
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11/08/2017, 06:21 PM | #2206 | |
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Did you use special stainless steel fasteners or did you just paint them to resist corrosion? What means did you use for leveling of the whole thing? |
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11/08/2017, 06:25 PM | #2207 |
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I didn't use any feet to level it because that would create pressure points. Use the foam to level the tank.
The fasteners are hot dipped galvanized to present corrosion. Make sure you powder coat the steel stand, salt and steel don't mix. |
11/08/2017, 06:31 PM | #2208 | |
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11/09/2017, 07:55 PM | #2209 |
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Here is the new one for my 1200g build, had to be built in place due to size
20170930_102609 by Scott Chase, on Flickr 20170930_110254 by Scott Chase, on Flickr 20170930_110300 by Scott Chase, on Flickr There will also be a secondary standard that is integral to the plywood build |
11/14/2017, 02:07 PM | #2210 | |
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Wow...what are the dimensions of your tank? Do you have a build thread? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
(1) 300g mixed reef (Starfire DT) + 100g Sump (2) 100g Softie tank (Starfire DT) My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263472 |
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11/21/2017, 09:38 PM | #2211 |
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Starting to consider my design for a 84" long by 32" wide stand. I picked up a bunch of 2"x2" 1/8" wall tubes 22.5" long that I will be using for the uprights. Would 14 gauge 2x2 tubes work for the long spans or do I need 1/8" for that as well. I have enough of 2x2s for uprights and 45 degree gussets to strengthen it up.
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11/21/2017, 11:45 PM | #2212 | |
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12/30/2017, 05:38 PM | #2213 |
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Here is my stand just after welding. 84" by 32" by 30" 1/8" 2" square tube. Didn't use any fancy CAD but just ideas from this thread. Opinions welcome.
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12/31/2017, 02:10 AM | #2214 | |
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Looks tidy - I want to paint mine white, what paint did you use? Cheers Chris Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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04/28/2018, 11:30 AM | #2215 |
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Location: Southern California
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To add Drain holes or not to add drain holes?
Does anyone have any words of wisdom regarding whether or not to drill drain holes in the bottoms of the HSS steel tubing runs in my steel stand?
I attempted to seal all the tubing ends mostly for aesthetic reasons but I worry that if I have a tank overflow or something, water may find it's way into the tubing somehow and get trapped there and rot the stand from the inside out over a long time frame. I considered drilling rain holes on the bottoms of the horizontal tubes before I get it powder coated but I hate to drill holes in my work unless there is a good reason. Any feedback would be appreciated! |
05/02/2018, 08:02 AM | #2216 | |
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I use 1/4" flat stock and put angle mount points in the 4 corners of the top of the stand. I then drilled a hole and screwed up through it to hold the plywood in place. Honestly, once the tank is on it, the plywood isn't going anywhere, but it helped to hold the plywood in place while sliding the tank onto the stand. For sealing, I did 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of enamel spray paint. |
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05/05/2018, 09:16 PM | #2217 | |
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05/06/2018, 05:47 PM | #2218 |
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I have holes all over my stand, most are 'plugged' with screws and whatnot for stuff attached to it... So i didn't even bother capping the tubes knowing that would happen.
Unless you are flushing the insides of the tubes with inert gas while welding you will have rust forming inside anyway, eventually. It is probably 'much faster' with holes drilled in or uncapped tubes, but realistically it will fall down sometime after the silicone gives out anyway. Unless you are doing something stupid like 'washing' it with salt water daily (hello snowy north, sorry about your cars)... Even then it will take time. |
05/17/2018, 04:42 PM | #2219 |
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Location: Gilbert, Az
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Anyone know if the Flux Core 125 amp welder at Harbor Freight is enough to do the job of welding 1-1/4" 16 gauge square stock. I am trying to decide new steel stand for a 60"x24"x24" 150 gallon tank verses trying to refurbish the used home made wood one that came with it. I have Mig welded sheet metal a long time ago using shielding gas. I plan on 45 angles around the top to seal. 3-4" triangle gusset plates 1/8" thick at the 4 corners and 3/4" plywood top and sump shelf. Any suggestions or tips are very welcome. Also I am debating powdercoat costs vs other coatings if anyone has used anything else please let me know what has worked.
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05/17/2018, 07:03 PM | #2220 |
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It would do the job technically, especially if you properly prep the mates with bevels and such. I don't know how well it will work (how smooth it works and how forgiving it is). The biggest thing is its only a 20% duty cycle machine.... It again may be enough, especially for someone not very proficient at fabricating, but it means you really should only weld for about 2 minutes every 10 minutes. It may actually work out that you don't weld more than that even if you hurry with adjusting all the joints up and such.
Get some proper welding wire though. Crap wire will really frustrate the whole process no matter how well the welder or machine works. |
05/21/2018, 05:42 PM | #2221 | |
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06/04/2018, 12:18 PM | #2222 |
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I'm looking at welding up a frame in a couple months for a 300 gallon and was wondering if anyone had made a frame out of stainless. I'm about 5 miles from a metal depot and they quoted me $630 for 60 feet of stainless 11 gauge 1.25 square bar stock and $270 for mild steel. Thing is, two powdercoat places quoted me in the $280 range. I could probably use marine paint or some other type of primer (does anyone have recommendations?) but I feel like it might be worth it to make it out of stainless. I welded up a stainless light stand a couple years ago and it has zero signs of corrosion.
Second question, has anyone looked at mounting the frame on wheels? I have my eye on some casters rated to 2200 lbs. I'm setting my stand in a book case and would like it if the whole stand could slide out for easy maintenance. I figure 6 of them should support a 300 gallon aquarium plus water and a 80 gallon sump. That's about 3500 lbs filled with rock and equipment? It'll be on a concrete slab so I'm not worried about moving weight on the foundation. |
07/13/2018, 08:15 AM | #2223 | |
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07/13/2018, 08:19 AM | #2224 | |
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There was no way to carry it down into the basement so I went with AL profiles. Ordered the stand last week. 2-3 weeks before I get it. I'll post pictures then for those who might consider an alternative. |
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07/13/2018, 09:05 PM | #2225 |
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Stand advice
Hey MeuserReef. Thanks so much for your build thread on your metal stand! Quick question: if i have a 4' tank (120gallons) would I even need a center support in the front?
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