Hi all, first post, but have been here about a year.
I picked up this monster 450 gallon custom made beauty. I have decided that I want to completely DIY the stand build for the experience and fun of it. I have built a stand for a 47 gallon column tank. I am pretty handy with woodworking so I am confident I can build it.
The concern is the tank is glass (obviously) and weighs 1000 lbs. empty. Water and substrate will make the total weight in the 6000+ lb. range.
Below is my SketchUp made design. I based the wood dimensions on this website:
Capacity of wood column calculator
Based on what I read and punched in, with quadruple stacked 2x8's with 2x6 ends on each stack. And the middle column with 2x12's double stacked and 2x4 ends on that stack, it calculates out to around 20,000 - 24,000 lbs. capacity. The entire thing will be glued and screwed with structural wood screws (many, many screws).
Should I put more vertical columns along the back maybe 2x6's and should I put a column of double stacked 2x6's in the middle of the front spans (of 3' 6 1/2")?
I know, "go with steel", but that is expensive (would be almost more than I got the tank for) and I want to build this myself. Also the wood design give better sump access (believe it or not) than what my welder told me would be needed for side to side stability. A 125 gallon tank (about 75 gallons filled) of sump is going under the tank. I need space to get this sump in the stand and the steel bracing will severely impede that.
I will also have a double stacked 3/4 (1 1/2" total) plywood top and skinned with 3/4 plywood.
Really just looking for opinions on this design of a wooden stand.
Thanks in advance.
I picked up this monster 450 gallon custom made beauty. I have decided that I want to completely DIY the stand build for the experience and fun of it. I have built a stand for a 47 gallon column tank. I am pretty handy with woodworking so I am confident I can build it.
The concern is the tank is glass (obviously) and weighs 1000 lbs. empty. Water and substrate will make the total weight in the 6000+ lb. range.
Below is my SketchUp made design. I based the wood dimensions on this website:
Capacity of wood column calculator
Based on what I read and punched in, with quadruple stacked 2x8's with 2x6 ends on each stack. And the middle column with 2x12's double stacked and 2x4 ends on that stack, it calculates out to around 20,000 - 24,000 lbs. capacity. The entire thing will be glued and screwed with structural wood screws (many, many screws).
Should I put more vertical columns along the back maybe 2x6's and should I put a column of double stacked 2x6's in the middle of the front spans (of 3' 6 1/2")?
I know, "go with steel", but that is expensive (would be almost more than I got the tank for) and I want to build this myself. Also the wood design give better sump access (believe it or not) than what my welder told me would be needed for side to side stability. A 125 gallon tank (about 75 gallons filled) of sump is going under the tank. I need space to get this sump in the stand and the steel bracing will severely impede that.
I will also have a double stacked 3/4 (1 1/2" total) plywood top and skinned with 3/4 plywood.
Really just looking for opinions on this design of a wooden stand.
Thanks in advance.
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