55 gallon reef tank stand design help

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wyumez

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 20, 2007
13
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gainesville, FL
Hi, my friend just gave me a 55 gallon tank. He included the stand but IMHO, it looked pretty crappy. So, I decided to make a new one with a little more flavor.

I drew up the plans on my computer in about thirty mins:
aquariumdesigns.jpg


Are both designs able to handle the tank plus 55 or so pounds of liverock/coral?

I was thinking about 1" think or so of MDF board to support the constructions. I haven't had much experience with MDF boards but since they are commonly used in aquarium nowadays, it should be okay. Like this tank:
stand60.jpg

^^ or is that just for freshwater?

Also, the aquarium is going to be in the second floor of my new apartment so I wasn't sure if I should have went with reinforced 2x4's. such as this stand: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36201

thanks in advance.
 
okay for starters the extra 50 punds of lr will use up water space so there weight doesnt count. also i dont htink that stand can support 55 gals. you need actual timber to support not a bucnh of mbf. a good option is to rip all the exterior of the stand and re wrap it as that will have the framing/support to hold 55gs of weight.
 
I have to disagree with amehelo, I think it would be fine, but I would make sure you have a backing on your stand to prevent racking. Or at the very least put a support piece running along the top or bottom and have atleast 4-6 screws or nails and glue it. If you look at the ones they sell you they don't need timbers or anything like that. Just make sure everything is square and glued and nailed/screwed solid.
 
I dont like MDF or any of the partical board materials for stands because once water seeps into the material it begins to break down. A layered 2x4 frame supports weight well and is far more durable IMO.
 
i would use 3/4 inch plywood every where you want to use mdf it would work better and look better
 
hayden;977526;977526 said:
i would use 3/4 inch plywood every where you want to use mdf it would work better and look better
Click to expand...
i agree with hayden you'r desings should be fine if you use 3/4 inch maple oak or some other kind or hard wood ply wood and put a back made out of the same 3/4 ply and it should be great i had a 55 i put on top of a dresser that was pretty much like you'r first put for over a year and worked fine. and on you'r second desing they have 4x4 post that are round like those ones but wiched strong that would work great you could use them on the sides and thin ones in the middle if you wanted to and they would deffenitly be strong enought to support it and then put ply under the tank and on the back and if it's oak or maple or some kind of hard would it will look good and be strong
 
thanks for the responses. I'm just going to reinforce my designs with 2x4's at inside the cabinets so no one will see.

I'm also going to use 3/4 plywood. Should be great by then. Also, a stronger base would help.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
lol i agree but intern, i had my 60 gallon on a cheap flimsy...thing, it was two realy cheap stands with a mdf top, the stands where show racks with not more then 4 posts that where 1"X2" with lots of glass... god what was i thinking, and this was on my new maple hardwood floor, a good 3g's could have gone to waste but i got excited to set my first fish tank up and cut corners, uced what i had at the time... its on a sterdy hardwood ikea cabinet now.


it used to sway when i vaccumed the gravel, and i think that i herd it creek once, finaly it got moved to the basement... i juess you live and learn...
 
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