Building a Wooden Stand for my 280

[dacox]

I'm supposed to pick up my new 280 this weekend, so I started building a stand for it. I figured I might as well document the process as I built it. I always like reading step-by-step DIY threads, so I figured that I'd take my shot at one. I'll include why I chose to build it the way I did and some of the steps/methods I used to construct it. Feel free to offer any criticisms or correct me if my logic is off. Here goes nothing...

Here is a shot of the building materials for the frame. Since the 280 will weigh about over 2,500 lbs (2,338.4 lbs water at 8.33 lbs/gal when full plus 350 lbs for the estimate that they gave me on the tank), I used all 4x4's and 2x6's for frame construction.

First I notched the top of all of my 4x4's so that I could inlay the 2x6's around the perimeter. Even though screwing and glueing the 2x6's should have worked too, I wanted to be a little safer. This will distribute the load around the outside evenly and will hold through any shear force the tank may place on it.

 

[dacox]

Here are a couple example pics of some of the finished joints from later in the construction of the stand.

 

[dacox]

... cutting the 2x6's with the miter saw I just picked up (thanks to some Christmas money)

Here's one of the long sides of the stand complete. I screwed and glued all of the joints in the stand.

 

[dacox]

Both sides are done. Now I'm just laying it out to see what it's going to look like in the end.

Here's a picture of the frame with the 2x6's going around the perimeter glued and screwed to the 4x4 uprights.

 

[dacox]

Finally, here is the "frame" of the frame. I had some extra 2x6's so I attached them to the center vertical posts and ran them accross the top.

These extra center crossmembers were not recessed in to the vertical center 4x4's. They
are just screwed and glued in to place. That should still be strong enough though.

 

[dacox]

I made sure that the stand is level all the way around.

 

[dacox]

Tomorrow I'm going to sheath three sides of the stand with plywood. I'm planning on sheathing three sides of the stand and leaving one of the long sides oped for access to pumps or whatever will be stored underneath the stand.

Sheathing will eliminate any flexing, sway, etc. that may occur. IMO, this is the most important step in stand construction, especially since most people here who choose to build stands will build them for aquariums for large fish. Large fish usually equals intense feedings, large water changes, etc. All these events will cause the water in the tank to slosh and splash around. That means that the loads on the stand are not static but are dynamic. They're constantly changing. I'm not an engineer, so I can't calculate the exact forces exerted on the stand at a given time (not that anyone really can for such complex systems as those involving fluid dynamics and living creatures), but I do know that they can be enough to topple a stand that is not properly supported. Sheathing at least a couple of sides will key to adding that extra stability.

If sheathing is not an option, horizantal bracing will also provide that dimensional stability that is required to house an aquarium. I still prefer sheathing though.

Like I said, I always appreciate constructive criticism. Feel free to comment. I'm no engineer, so if someone has any advice or modifications that they'd recommend I'm all ears. Hopefully what I've done so far though will help someone else out when they're building their stand.

I'll update this thread again with more pics once I get the outside sheathed.

I almost forgot. I couldn't have done this without my little helper. My other dog got bored and left me hanging, but she stuck with me.

(Sorry for the multiple posts. For some reason I could only post 3 pictures per post, so I needed more.)

 

[dacox]

Alright, I feel like a retard. The pics still aren't working too well and I wanna smash my computer.

They're real small now, but if you click on them they will link you to larger pics.

BTW... that plastic tub in the pick of the completed stand will be the future sump, and maybe the subject of another DIY thread.

 

[Sham]

Hi your stand looks like the goods to me. I recently built a stand in a similar fashion to yours but am considering putting another row of veritical down the middle. You have linked the thumb nail pics to the forum instead of the full size ones I think
Is your tank glass plywood or acrylic ?

 

[WyldFya]

Great looking stand. Very well built. Now just hope you didn't forget something important like nails!