90g/40g double stand help...

[t0p_sh0tta]

I have a friend who has commissioned me to build him a stand. He wants it to hold a 90gal (approx: 48x15) and a 40 breeder (36x18).

Here is a rough sketch of what I had in mind, but I'm not sure if it would work with the 40gal being ~3" wider. I was thinking that I could add a sheet of plywood, wider than the base, that would be supported by its own legs.

It won't be pretty, but I think that It'd work. Plywood or some other form of bracing would also be added to the back and sides to prevent sway.

 

[basslover34]

Make the whole stand 18 and then add some 2X4's to the inside of the top frame sistered to what you have...

 

[t0p_sh0tta]

Sounds good to me. Anybody else care to chime in?

-Lamar

 

[titulaernd]

I am designing a stand to hold a 90 and a 60 in a similar set up and if you look at the weight of water and everything you plan on putting in the tank. 2x3 box steel is the only way to go. It holds way more weight than wood so you need less of it. You can pick up box steel pretty cheap from local scrap yards and if you search around there are probably a few people in your area that have mig welders you might be able to borrow.

 

[basslover34]

I am designing a stand to hold a 90 and a 60 in a similar set up and if you look at the weight of water and everything you plan on putting in the tank. 2x3 box steel is the only way to go. It holds way more weight than wood so you need less of it. You can pick up box steel pretty cheap from local scrap yards and if you search around there are probably a few people in your area that have mig welders you might be able to borrow.

Uh... you do realize it's ONLY a 90 gallons and 60 gallons... right? Perhaps we should tell all the thousands of people out there with their 300 gallon plus tanks on wood stands that they have to switch to steel...

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

Make the whole stand 18 and then add some 2X4's to the inside of the top frame sistered to what you have...

Isn't that still putting all the weight on any screws/nails? You end up with a situation where the shear strength of the screws are important. For a wood stand to be adequate, the joints are the key. Lap joints are good, you want the pressure to be vertical.

Plus, there still won't be enough room inside the cabinet for an 18" wide tank, if the stand is 18" wide. You also might want to add vertical supports in the center of the stand on the long sides.

 

[titulaernd]

Uh... you do realize it's ONLY a 90 gallons and 60 gallons... right? Perhaps we should tell all the thousands of people out there with their 300 gallon plus tanks on wood stands that they have to switch to steel...

I know there are many people on here that have wonderful wood stands, but that was not my point. it was that if you are starting from scratch a steel stand can be much more cost effective and offer a cleaner look due to the fact that has better load resistance, and can be more cost effective.

 

[basslover34]

Isn't that still putting all the weight on any screws/nails? You end up with a situation where the shear strength of the screws are important. For a wood stand to be adequate, the joints are the key. Lap joints are good, you want the pressure to be vertical.

Plus, there still won't be enough room inside the cabinet for an 18" wide tank, if the stand is 18" wide. You also might want to add vertical supports in the center of the stand on the long sides.

Actually the strength would be in the sheathing which would be put ontop of the framing and spreading the load across the whole frame and not just the sistered boards. As for the Tank fitting in the bottom of the stand it would fit with plenty of space as it's the length which would be the determining factor and since it's so much shorter in length it would be able to fit in the opening under the larger tank on top.