240 Gal DIY stand

[Chizzle]

So I decided to build a new stand for my 240 because its current stand is metal, only has two doors which are inconveniently located on the sides, and the piece of plywood on top warped a lot due to a fault in the design.

Need your honest opinion about what I have so far on the new stand. So far I have put two days of work into it. My main concern are the 4x 2x4s in the center. I have had 2 friends so far tell me they think it needs more support in the center. I am asking before i attach the legs to the plywood bottom.

 

[Chizzle]

Bump need some input pretty bad

 

[Chizzle]

bump

 

[josh pelican]

Definitely need more support in the middle... and everywhere else!

 

[kendragon]

Structurally I think it is weak. It should be framed like a house with a bottom plate and a beefed up header. 2x4 sitting on the plywood bottom is not good. No floor is perfect so shimming the bottom is impossible with that plywood bottom. The stand will twist. Also without your sides installed the shear load cannot be commented. You must have a shear wall in both directions. I think your middle support is the least of your worries.

 

[Chizzle]

Would like some input on it. I've posted it in the DIY section and havent gotten any responses for weeks. The stand is 97" x 25" and is going to hold a 240 (8'x2'x2'). Still have to attach the plywood to the bottom, but wanted some opinions/suggestions before I did that.

 

[Pharaoh]

I'm with kendragon. You need to beef up the supports on this thing. Start with putting a solid frame on the bottom and then add you middle supports after.

 

[Chizzle]

I'm with kendragon. You need to beef up the supports on this thing. Start with putting a solid frame on the bottom and then add you middle supports after.

Ill add a solid frame on bottom, how/where should i add the middle supports?

 

[littlewangzfan]

Can you still take the legs apart? IMO the easiest way is to make another frame identical to the first one but add more braces for support then just use the original frame for the bottom. Now you have 2 frames and you can start screwing the legs from the inside and reinforce it as you go along. It will be 2 pcs. of 2x4s screwed together for each leg. Hope this helps.

 

[kendragon]

Could the metal stand be reworked? I think it's a lot stronger if you can maybe relocate the door and replace some damaged board.
FYI. There is already a sticky on how to build a 2x4 stand. Check it out. Explains everything. Good examples too.