How to hold up 2610lbs. Need advice

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Wulfonce

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2009
881
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I intend to start building a stand this weekend to hold up my future breeding tanks.

I crunched some numbers and estimated that the total weight of the tanks would be around 2610lbs. This weight will be supported on 3 wooden boxes which I will have to make out of 2x4's and 2x12 planks. Anyone have some good design ideas or suggestions?

I got all the wood at a construction site. Its good quality hardwood. The 2x12 planks are in 3-4' sections so I will have to fit them together somehow to make a longer plank in which the tanks will sit on. Here's some crude drawings to give you a better idea.

EDIT: oh yeah the whole thing will measure 7 1/2' long

mfk.jpg


mfk2.jpg



And here's what I have to work with.
Picture183.jpg
 
The horizontal supports need to be at least 2x4s turned on their end (so the tanks are resting on the narrow part). Thinner and it will bow. A guy in the local fish club made a big rack that held 24 ten-gallons, he had the wide part of the 2x4 pointing up and they were sagging in the middle.
 
FSM;3600521; said:
The horizontal supports need to be at least 2x4s turned on their end (so the tanks are resting on the narrow part). Thinner and it will bow. A guy in the local fish club made a big rack that held 24 ten-gallons, he had the wide part of the 2x4 pointing up and they were sagging in the middle.
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I see what your saying but do you think I could get away with it if I screwed the 2x12's together to make them twice as thick? They only have to span a gap of less then 3'. I think there would be very little bowing if any.:confused:
 
Why not use cinder blocks for your base instead of wooden boxes?
 
bob965;3601113; said:
Why not use cinder blocks for your base instead of wooden boxes?
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Because I cant get them for free. :ROFL:

No, but on a more serious note where would one buy cinder blocks and what do they typically cost? Cinder blocks were in my original plan but i couldn't find a means of getting them.
 
tamzor;3601159; said:
there should be home depot store in canada and they cost around $1.75 each
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Thats all? I'll have to check that out tomorrow.:nilly:
 
i think you should use the wood you already have. and save that money you were gonna spend on cool stock
 
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