Aquarium Stand question for monster tank!

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Michael Populus

Feeder Fish
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Feb 25, 2018
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Im building a 14x4x4 tank and im going to need to put the filtration under the tank. I have an old 300 ( 8x3x2) gallon tank that im converting into a sump but its 8 foot long. What im worried about is bracing underneath this tank and if it will need center bracing so it doesnt bow in the middle or even if it would need bracing all the way across ( 4x4 studs ever couple foot ) to keep it strong enough to hold that amount of water. Anyone have any experience with tanks of this size and are there any creative ways to keep the stand center empty.

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jsodwi said:
Steel stand
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I considered that in the beginning but in order to do a tank this big your talking a TON of money to do a steel frame and this is just a growout tank that will be upgraded in another year or 2. The prices I was getting for steel was looking like it would cost more than the tank.
 
I certainly wouldn't build it as per your diagram. If i'm reading it right you've just got supports all around the edges. As you've already mentioned yourself you need to put bracing struts across as well. Then i'd throw ply on top.
 
esoxlucius said:
I certainly wouldn't build it as per your diagram. If i'm reading it right you've just got supports all around the edges. As you've already mentioned yourself you need to put bracing struts across as well. Then i'd throw ply on top.
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The diagram was there to explain the question.

I want to put the sump underneath the tank but with a 4 foot width / 12 foot length i feel like it needs center supports to keep it from sagging in the middle. I was more asking if i supported around the edges really well and obvious cross beans in the center with ply on top does it need some form of support in the center or would that be enough. I know supports on most tanks are around the edges and with the plywood that would keep the weight distributed. In the end I need the center to be open so i can place filtration. Im considering using steal as a base on the tank and then placing all the stress on 2x6 plywood at the edges. I feel like that will allow me to keep the inside open but keep the center sag down. If i can get away with just wood thought that would be ideal. Im looking around 4000 for the full build so im trying to keep price down to essentials only. This in the end is a growout and will be upgrading in about 2 years, so it doesnt need to last that long
 
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A) you're just going to have plywood spanning the 4' without bracing? Seems like a bad idea. One option instead of doing steel for all of it is you could just run an I-beam across the length of it in the middle, would prevent bowing in the middle. Plenty of calculators for beam loads to do sizing. Make sure to coat it to prevent rust :)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amp/beam-stress-deflection-d_1312.html

My next tank (a dwarf compared to yours, at a planned 8x3'), I am planning cinder block edges and I-beams across. that way the entire middle is wide open and the stand will be under $500.

B) wtf. 14x4x4 is a growout tank? Upgraded to what?
 
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One things for certain, if you have centre support as well it's going to be nigh on impossible to have that size sump underneath and do maintainance and such without being hindered by your extra centre support. If i was you i'd just go the extra mile on the cross supports, beef it up more than what you probably need, maybe 2x6 for example as braces with 12" spacing. Then throw your ply on top. That would be overkill, even with that weight.

It's either overkill, for piece of mind, or pita centre supports.
 
Yoimbrian said:
A) you're just going to have plywood spanning the 4' without bracing? Seems like a bad idea. One option instead of doing steel for all of it is you could just run an I-beam across the length of it in the middle, would prevent bowing in the middle. Plenty of calculators for beam loads to do sizing. Make sure to coat it to prevent rust :)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amp/beam-stress-deflection-d_1312.html

My next tank (a dwarf compared to yours, at a planned 8x3'), I am planning cinder block edges and I-beams across. that way the entire middle is wide open and the stand will be under $500.

B) wtf. 14x4x4 is a growout tank? Upgraded to what?
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yeah, im just trying to avoid using steel unless its absolutely necessary since i have no experience welding and the sheer cost in this area is crazy. In the end i have to have be able to fit a sump in the center so im gonna have to do what i have to do, i was just hoping someone would have done a simliar size without having center supports underneath so that i could just use wood.

We are building a house with a tank in the center. its going to be a 15x15x6 concrete tank thats viewable from all 4 sides. This is just to hold the fish i have now until the money is in place to do that.
 
esoxlucius said:
One things for certain, if you have centre support as well it's going to be nigh on impossible to have that size sump underneath and do maintainance and such without being hindered by your extra centre support. If i was you i'd just go the extra mile on the cross supports, beef it up more than what you probably need, maybe 2x6 for example as braces with 12" spacing. Then throw your ply on top. That would be overkill, even with that weight.

It's either overkill, for piece of mind, or pita centre supports.
Click to expand...
Just to claifity when i say center supports i mean the center of the stand ( in the middle ) to prevent sag in the center. So i would have center supports around the edge every 2 foot probably and i would be using 2x8 probably so its gonna be pretty beefy around the edges for sure, im just wanting the middle of the stand open so i can fit the sump in. So i was wondering if i just put some 2x4 ever 6 inches all the way across the laid plywood on top of that if it would allow for me to keep it hollow on the inside
 
Did you price out steel stands? I build a ton of them in the tri state area. It’s peace of mind for most customers.
 
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