any architects out there?

[laura65536]

okay, I need help. We can build, but we cannot plan....I need to make a stand and canopy for the tank we're building, it's almost done all it needs is glass. I wanted to (if it's possible) put our 55 under the plywood tank in the stand so all the fishies could be in one spot, then I need cabinets on the sides of the big tank, and room on the sides of the 55 for the sump...the plywood tank measures 24Hx36Wx84L and I want about 1' of cabinet on the side of the big tank, so overall the unit should be I guess 108" wide right? after that I get lost, not sure how high, how to support that weight or anything like that...not sure how I can fit a 55 for a sump and a 55 for fishies under it, so maybe I'll have to change the sump plans, but I would really like to get the 55 for the africans under the big tank....and I'm guessing it need to be in 4 pieces like those entertainment centers for huge tvs are or we'd never be able to move it anywhere, right? anyone here have any input or possibly could give us some guidance to where to find it? I got the plans for the tank from garf.org but they don't do complex stand plans (bummer)....

PLUS if I've done the math right, this thing is gonna weigh more than my car....how can we make sure it's safe to put on the floor? We are in a rental, for right now til our house is done, but that's gonna be awhile, (like 2 years), and my fish need the bigger tank asap, not in 2 years....

 

[mannyhappy]

I think your challenge is going to be supporting the plywood tank. The plywood WILL flex. It is gonna need alot more support than a glass tank. This can be accomplished by using heavy duty beams (i think thats the term for them). When you create the stand, you have to make sure that the 55 gallon wont have a huge vertical 2x4 or whatever smack dab in front of it. This means that you will have a 4 foot span viewing area underneath your ply tank. Figure that out, and the rest is cake.

 

[laura65536]

okay, put it on paper, don't think I like the little fish tank on bottom idea anymore, looks odd....but I still need help with the stand and measurments part of it, I think instead I am going to put 2 smaller tanks below, leave the middle open for supports and the sump...it'll make my 55 gallon sump idea easier anyway....I think I am going get 2 30 gallon tanks to go on the bottom, but make it so that they are viewed from the side, so the 12" part is the part I have to frame around, but then I'll still have room for the guppies in the tanks....here's my idea if anyone could help me out it's much appriciated....please be nice, I'm not good with paint....

 

[Dr Joe]

What is the floor made of? (concrete / wood etc.)

Are you building your new house?

If so, best bet, since your moving in just two yrs is to put the big tank (all the weight) on the floor and the two 55g tanks on top (less weight). Then plan out the proper stand for the new house.

How about some pix of the build?

Dr Joe

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[Dr Joe]

Your clearances (inside dim.s) are going to make it hard to maintain the tanks (hoses, nets, arms) and if it's difficult it doesn't get done.

Dr Joe

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[laura65536]

so how much clearance would you suggest? thats why I posted it was to get everyone's feedback, I have a hard time thinking of stuff like that when it's on paper....thanks

and I'll post some pics of my tank here in a bit, there are none of the stand cause we haven't gotten that far....I don't have pics of us building it, best I can do is pics of the tank right now....

 

[Dr Joe]

12" or so. See what's convenient for you. Big fish = big net. Set a board on top of the tank as a top and try to work under it.

No pix of the build?!? That won't do! Start over!

Dr Joe

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[laura65536]

btw...yes we are building our house

no pics of the build, no need for them I didn't think, we're new to the forum, and I think my husband will have a hard time forgetting what it took to make it....so I guess I wouldn't need as much clearance then for the smaller tanks on the bottom as I would for the tank on the top...since this is going to be in 4 pieces, and the top will come off, I wouldn't need to make it large enough to get my fish in and out would I...cause my paroons are going in there, I don't think I want a 12" cabinet on top of it....so then if the top comes off I just need to make sure I have enough room to get in and out for pwcs and such then right? Or should I just make the 12" cabinet on top?

 

[Wolf3101]

You can build the entire stand out of 4x4's but the extra center bracing...it'll need at LEAST 8 legs to support that much weight properly... will preclude putting display tanks under it...you could get away with a sump undernieth it however.

 

[Dr Joe]

Sorry Wolf3101 but with you .

Or you could use box steel (2"x6" ?) for the horizontals.

Where's our structural engineers???