210 gallon 7x2x2 stand question

[dfritschle]

I'm looking for opinions on my current design for a stand. The sketchup drawing isn't completed. It's the fourth one I've done and I keep changing my mind about the design. The aquarium has a frame around the top and bottom and the bottom glass does not touch anything, just the frame. I have two questions. Is the, unfinished, aquarium design strong enough to support the aquarium? And do you think I need to cover the top in plywood? I'm thinking that since the aquarium only touches around the outside trim, that putting plywood on the top would be unnecessary. The finished stand design is similar to the one in the sticky.

 

[rusland005]

Every 2ft there should be a vertical support, along the front and the back. Minimum size of wood to use for supports i would say are 2x4's with double on the corners, but that's just me.

You don't need ply wood on the top but i did fit a sheet of 3mm ply on the top.

I just finished my tank stand last week . . .
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...180-GALLON-TANK-FOR-MIXED-CICHLIDS&highlight=
. . . it is on the overkill side, i knew this when biulding it, but i prefer the peace of mind knowing 180gallons of water is held secure.

Hope this helps

 

[dfritschle]

Yep, that's pretty much exactly what I had planned. The only weird thing I'm doing, is that I'm putting 2"x6" on the bottom. I am putting plywood on the bottom for the filters to sit on and I'm putting 3" trim along the bottom against carpet, so I wanted the shelf to be off the floor and above the trim. Hopefully that makes sense. The aquarium is being built into a wall. I went and got lumber this past Friday night, but didn't get a chance to start yet. My garage was such a mess I had to clean it up before I could even work in it.