Quick "stand" question

[the big kahuna]

I have a 75 gallon tank I just picked up (18 inches wide) and want to put it on a wood stand that very very sturdy stand but it's only 16" wide. Is it okay to use a 1" thick piece of plywood that's the exact same measurements of the tank to sit on the smaller stand?

The stand is 4' long so length is okay it's just 2" short on the width.

 

[Oxymus]

If you even out the overlap gap then it will be ok, just make sure to get a good quality piece of plywood the thicker the better.

 

[Pomatomus]

Does the tank hang over on the ends at all? Does your stand come up over the trim of the tank at all or is it a flat surface? Some tanks sit in a little slot within the stand. Your idea will probably work. I have seen entire tanks and stand sitting on a couple of 2x4's before. Are you gonna use one piece or multiple boards?

 

[justarn]

use marine ply

 

[xraycer]

I have a 75 gallon tank I just picked up (18 inches wide) and want to put it on a wood stand that very very sturdy stand but it's only 16" wide. Is it okay to use a 1" thick piece of plywood that's the exact same measurements of the tank to sit on the smaller stand?

The stand is 4' long so length is okay it's just 2" short on the width.

As long as that stand is as strong as you say it is, the 1" plywood would be fine. Personally, I would go 1/4" wider than the foot print of the 75, and then go the extra distance and slap on a couple of coats of polyeurethane for moisture protection

 

[the big kahuna]

Does the tank hang over on the ends at all? Does your stand come up over the trim of the tank at all or is it a flat surface? Some tanks sit in a little slot within the stand. Your idea will probably work. I have seen entire tanks and stand sitting on a couple of 2x4's before. Are you gonna use one piece or multiple boards?

This stand is actually a solid wood shelf system that has a completely flat surface. The tank would hang over 1" in the front and 1" in the back.

 

[xraycer]

This stand is actually a solid wood shelf system that has a completely flat surface. The tank would hang over 1" in the front and 1" in the back.

Just keep in mind, that this shelf system wasn't built for a large aquarium...and a 75 fully loaded is somewhere in the neighborhood of 700lb+

 

[Oxymus]

Should be fine! hehehe some stand selling in LFS look glimsy as hell (as you think you poke and it would fall a part) and still hold a 180G Aquarium on top of it

 

[xraycer]

Should be fine! hehehe some stand selling in LFS look glimsy as hell (as you think you poke and it would fall a part) and still hold a 180G Aquarium on top of it

I agree, but as cheap as those crappo manufactured stands are they were probably designed by structural engineers to be able to hold a lot of weight with the least and cheapest materials possible. After all, chain stores who sell these don't want to get sued for thousands of dollars over a $150 stand. A structural engineer can probably build a stand for a 180 using only toothpicks and Elmers glue if the design is correct.....no, really...I've seen some amazing engineering feats/challenges

 

[Oxymus]

I agree, but as cheap as those crappo manufactured stands are they were probably designed by structural engineers to be able to hold a lot of weight without the least and cheapest materials possible. After all, chain stores who sell these don't want to get sued for thousands of dollars over a $150 stand. A structural engineer can probably build a stand for a 180 using only toothpicks and Elmers glue if the design is correct.....no, really...I've seen some amazing engineering feats/challenges

You are correct. I remembered a science TV long ago that some dude just built carton paper stand as right angle and right structure, it can hold like 50 lbs of rocks befoe it collapsed.