400cm tankstand

[geophagus]

I`m going to start building a stand for my 4 meter (around 160") tank right after christmas.
What would you guys do, wood or concrete blocks?
The floor is solid concrete, so no worries about the floor moving..
How do i get this thing 100% leveled. I`m not a carpenter, so i find it a bit hard to get it leveled 100% Have build smaller stands before, but they are easier to get right i think.

 

[boisblancboy]

If you went with a wood to make sure it would be pretty level and even is when picking out the lumber make sure you get the straightest nicest pieces you can find cause that WILL make a huge difference in the end. Also make sure all your cuts are precise. Once the frame is contrusted, you would have to get a long straight edge to see where its high or low and get the trusty sander out until its perfect, which I would do on both top and bottom of the stand.

Chances are no matter what you make it out of you are going to be doing alot of work trying to get it level or making sure you dont have any high or low points as to not crack the tank.

No advice on the concrete block idea I have never done it or know anything about it. Good luck though!

 

[geophagus]

The concrete blocks i can get are fabric made, and they are all exactly the same sizes and leveled. And of course its a dead material, so it want change no matter what. Each block can stand 500kg, and i was thinking of using 18 blocks with a 18mm plywood wallboard on top. Only thing needed is to check that the floor is leveled 100%.

But, with wood is easy to get the exact measurements you want when considering hight. Its also much easier to make it look nice, painted concrete doesnt look so good.
Anyway i`m going to use expanded polyester under the tank, so that will at least remove small differences in the stand.

One more question, would you split the bottom glass-plate in two shorter pieces instead of one long when making a tank at 4 meteres (they will be glued togehter with silicone)? I have seen some large tanks that this is done.. Guess its done to remove some stress from the long bottomplate that has lots of pressure from all the water, rocks etc.

 

[boisblancboy]

One more question, would you split the bottom glass-plate in two shorter pieces instead of one long when making a tank at 4 meteres (they will be glued togehter with silicone)?

If you are talking about the bottom piece of glass in the tank, then I am guessing you are building the tank as well? That I cant give you an answer to, never built a tank.

Another thing when you set your tank on the stand, make sure you have a piece of 1" styrafoam on the stand that the tank will sit on, that also helps take out any inperfections.

 

[geophagus]

I decieded to go for a wooden tankstand. I have attached some pictures from the process (I`m not finished at all).

I`m going to build the tank as well, yes, and it would be great to get some advice on that too.
This is not going to be a monstertank in volume, just the length (at least its kinda monster for me). Measurements are 400x50x50cm, or around 160x20x20 inches.

How much silicone would you use between the sheets of glass..i cant find the right word for it...sorry.
And would you split the bottom glass?
Do anyone know how much inperfections a 1-2" styrofoam under the tank will take?

 

[geophagus]

Btw: I`m using standard float glass, 10mm (bottom, front, back, sides)

And dont mind the mess, i just couldnt move everything into the livingroom in christmas

 

[boisblancboy]

Do anyone know how much inperfections a 1-2" styrofoam under the tank will take?

Not exactly sure how big of inperfections it will take out, but if it were me I wouldnt want the styrafoam trying to take out more than an 1/8" here and there. With the length of the tank this have to be pretty close.

Sorry cant help you with the other questions, but other people I am sure will chime in.

 

[geophagus]

Just thought i update this thread...
I`m almost finished with the tankstand now, and the glass will be here in the end of this week.
Made myself a decent place to put the beer on when looking into the tank
I`m not able to get the whole thing in one picture, my camera sucks. Sorry for that.

 

[geophagus]

Look like its not much interest, but i`ll post a few more pictures until i`m done.

 

[boisblancboy]

Hey very cool. Heck yeah make sure you keep posting pictures! I would have commented at the last picture but not too much to comment on then. Now at least the progress is finally starting to show. How wide and tall is the tank going to be?