DIY Metal stand

[Amaroq]

So here is my design to place a 38 gallon fish tank on. It will be 7'x2'x3' (LxWxH) This is going to be made out of 1"x1" square tubing to help give you an idea of it.

Now my question is, should I worry about adding another beam on the sides (the red line that the red arrow points at) or will this thing be strong enough? The tank will run across 3 of the joists each 1' apart, with a layer of 1/2" plywood then a layer of Styrofoam under the tank. I think that will spread the weight out enough on the stand, right?

I will also have a 4"x4" plate on the bottom of each leg to help distribute the weight on my floor. Those cross beams that make the triangle that you see in the "front/back view" will be 1' long and will be on the front and back.The tank is only 3' long but I plan on having a 4' lizard cage beside it so thats why it is 7' long.

So yeah, thoughts? BTW I'm making this in my high school welding class for a project!

 

[MPLSdunk]

skip all the cross beams on the top section and just add that beam on the side.

 

[chesterthehero]

id add the side brace but maybe move it lower and add some side to side pieces so that it can be turned into a shelf.. put it maybe 3" off the ground.. that way if at some point you decide to put a a 6x2x? tank on it you wont have to worry about it.. or if nothing else... a piece of plywood and its an instant shelf...

for the top you could recess the cross members 3/8"-1/2" so that you could hide the plywood.. this would also maybe score you some design points... either way keep the cross memebers... that way if you manage to score an acrylic tank you could use this stand

also congrats on going to a HS that still has some sort of shop..

 

[Ullopincrate]

I would include the red beam you inquire about. Since you are doing it why not?? Structural integrity can either be a great regret or something we never think of. I don't know about you but I'd rather not think of it after it is built. However, it looks ok without it. I'd add it though. If I were building it, I would definitely add it. You state that is is a 38 gallon with a foot print of 7' by 2'. You also state that it is 3' high. No aquarium I know can fit these dimensions. It appears to be against the laws of physics.

a true 38 could easily be supported by 2X4's. Good luck (though with your stand plans I think you won't need it)

 

[Amaroq]

You state that is is a 38 gallon with a foot print of 7' by 2'. You also state that it is 3' high. No aquarium I know can fit these dimensions. It appears to be against the laws of physics.

The tank is only 3' long but I plan on having a 4' lizard cage beside it so thats why it is 7' long.

The tanks true dimension are supposedly 36"x19"x12" (LxWxH) so the seller says but I guess when I get it I'll just have to check and make sure.

I'm just paranoid that for some reason the weight of the tank will bust through the weld on the cross beams and then smash into my floor