My 55g stand/tank build
- Thread starter Rocknthehawk
- Start date
I feel like i made a lot of progress today. just one (maybe a second) pic though.
Got the hinges and handles mounted. Also got the hood done. Last night I made sure the light fit and would work, today I drilled a few 2" holes above where the light is to let the heat out. rather be safe than sorry....
looking forward to sanding/staining tomorrow after work.
Got the hinges and handles mounted. Also got the hood done. Last night I made sure the light fit and would work, today I drilled a few 2" holes above where the light is to let the heat out. rather be safe than sorry....
looking forward to sanding/staining tomorrow after work.
Did you put in any cross bracing to keep the stand square? Since the load is static, is any twisting of the stand a concern?
[\___/] just wondering as I am preparing to build my own stand for 150gal
[\___/] just wondering as I am preparing to build my own stand for 150gal
Thanks Kallmond. It's actually a relatively small upholstery shop, with a total of 5 full time and 3 part time employees. I'm fortunate my boss lets me use the tools and shop for projects. I've built sub boxes and plenty of furniture in my time after work. This whole stand has been built with the table saw and miter saw.
Chris, I did not add any cross bracing (I'm assuming you mean like a cross brace from a top corner to opposite bottom corner). If i were building one for a large tank like a 150, I would either add cross braces or more top to bottom braces. The stand is a total of 49" long, so I didn't feel like it would be neccessary. There's no concern of twisting. I've screwed each joint in each direction possible, and with all the bracing, I couldn't imagine it twisting.
I'm not sure I built it conventionally either. I cut each piece and assembled them in sections. So 4 10" pieces, and 4 48" pieces. Then assembled two large rectangles, a top and bottom. I then added the center brace. Having the large staple gun was a huge help in keeping things square while trying to screw them. I was able to use 2" staples to hold the 10" braces inside the long pieces, then check for square and screw it.
Then I cut 4 31" pieces and 8 25" pieces. I marked each of the 31" long pieces at 3.5" (width of a 2x4) and attached a 25" piece to it. After doing this to all 4, i turned them on the side, and simply lined up the second 25" piece and screwed it in. I had no need for a square, because I knew my top and bottom rectangles were square, and I knew each upright was now square. You can see this in my first pic. Checking to be sure they were pushed all the way to the corner and touching the bottom 2x4 frame, it kept them square. It's hard to explain, I should have taken more pics.
Chris, I did not add any cross bracing (I'm assuming you mean like a cross brace from a top corner to opposite bottom corner). If i were building one for a large tank like a 150, I would either add cross braces or more top to bottom braces. The stand is a total of 49" long, so I didn't feel like it would be neccessary. There's no concern of twisting. I've screwed each joint in each direction possible, and with all the bracing, I couldn't imagine it twisting.
I'm not sure I built it conventionally either. I cut each piece and assembled them in sections. So 4 10" pieces, and 4 48" pieces. Then assembled two large rectangles, a top and bottom. I then added the center brace. Having the large staple gun was a huge help in keeping things square while trying to screw them. I was able to use 2" staples to hold the 10" braces inside the long pieces, then check for square and screw it.
Then I cut 4 31" pieces and 8 25" pieces. I marked each of the 31" long pieces at 3.5" (width of a 2x4) and attached a 25" piece to it. After doing this to all 4, i turned them on the side, and simply lined up the second 25" piece and screwed it in. I had no need for a square, because I knew my top and bottom rectangles were square, and I knew each upright was now square. You can see this in my first pic. Checking to be sure they were pushed all the way to the corner and touching the bottom 2x4 frame, it kept them square. It's hard to explain, I should have taken more pics.
Your build certainly looks rock solid. And tools make the job easier too. Thanks for sharing your handy work and talents!!!
well....lots of progress, a few pics, and not much posting.
I stained the stand and hated it....brought it home from work anyways, and it actually looks good.
got it set in place (ignore the clock that once hung there)
testing the hood:
I found some beaaaautiful driftwood (stump):
today was the big day! I found the Fluval 305 on sale finally. WOW! I'll never use a H.O.T. filter again. This is so quite and easy!
cycling the tank now, still need to get the heater put in and hood put back on.
I stained the stand and hated it....brought it home from work anyways, and it actually looks good.
got it set in place (ignore the clock that once hung there)
testing the hood:
I found some beaaaautiful driftwood (stump):
today was the big day! I found the Fluval 305 on sale finally. WOW! I'll never use a H.O.T. filter again. This is so quite and easy!
cycling the tank now, still need to get the heater put in and hood put back on.
