One stand, two tanks. Need input please.

[tehbatmaan]

So I've been limited on the amount of room I am able to take with tanks because I had to talk the lady into a 150 in the living room haha. So I have a 60 with my water dragon in it and I have an 80 and another 60 in the garage waiting to be filled. I believe the footprint of the 60 is be same and the 80 is about 1.5-2" wider, but not longer then my rep tank. I was thinking about making a stand for both one over the other. I was thinking about using 4x4s for the legs and then running them in between the legs one on the ground for a tank to sit on and one about 8" above where the top of that tank would be for the other tank. Anyone done something similar? Anyone got another stand that would work that they built? Just like one sitting over the other type of thing. I was thinking putting the lighter tank on the bottom my rep tank and then the aquarium on the top.

Thanks.
David

 

[biguebs]

I have a 55 and a 60 stacked in my garage. I went BASIC with it, but it was very cost effective and works like a charm: cinder blocks provide the base for the 60 on the bottom (one on each end and one in the middle with three 2 x 4s and a 5/8 plywood board to correctly support tank). I then stacked a column of cinder blocks on either side of the 60 until I was clear to run supports for the 55. It took 5 cinder blocks to get the proper height (make sure its a level area!) and then I placed the three more 2 x 4's with 5/8" plywood screwed on top AND bottom of the 2 x 4's to support the 55. I was initially worried about all that weight being up top, but it has been about 6 months now with no issues (no "bowing" in the middle of the top support either, I check!).

I spent $35 for all of the materials and it took like 15 minutes to set up. I did see some people wrap the cinder blocks with wood trim or just paint the cinder blocks to increase the cosmetics of the setup. But, like I said, its in my garage and I think it looks sharp as is out there.

My crude diagram that I used when planning it (before beefing up top support):

 

[Egon]

I've seen 125's triple stacked with 2X4 stands in a guy’s garage for breeding African cichlids. You should be fine with 2X4's for a 55

 

[shellies215]

I built a stand to hold a tank on the top, and three 20g highs facing ends out across the bottom. If you want to build something similar just put the support legs on the outer edges. (I put mine where they are for easier access to tanks on the ends of the bottom)

However you decide to build it, don't use 4x4's. Glue and screw 2- 2x4's together instead. The 4x4's have a habit of twisting and bending over time.

 

[tehbatmaan]

Thanks for the input everyone. Got a good idea combined with the two stands and 2x4s. Now I just gotta wait until pay day >.<

David

 

[Oughtsix]

I built a stand to hold a tank on the top, and three 20g highs facing ends out across the bottom. If you want to build something similar just put the support legs on the outer edges. (I put mine where they are for easier access to tanks on the ends of the bottom)

However you decide to build it, don't use 4x4's. Glue and screw 2- 2x4's together instead. The 4x4's have a habit of twisting and bending over time.

Laminated wood is much stronger than the two individual pieces. If you have access to a jointer... planing the two sides flat before gluing them together makes a very nice visual and mechanical bond. If you have two flat surfaces the screws aren't really needed as that much surface area for the glue will make it plenty strong. I you don't mind the screw holes they do make for easy clamping though. Pay the little extra to get Kiln dried 2x4's and they will warp less.