Supporting a tank on a stand

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JoelB

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 22, 2008
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Australia
I have heard that a tank should be supported around the edges and not in the centre of the base. My stand has a typical top (outer frame with cross pieces).

1. Is there a point to putting a piece of plywood on top of that? ...and...Should I even go to the point of making sure the cross pieces are not higher than the outer edge, even if I have to dish them out?

2. If I put a polystyrene sheet on a piece of ply, wouldn't it compress more at the edges causing pressure on the middle?

3. How thick of a sheet of poly should I use with a 130?
 
JoelB;2048567; said:
I have heard that a tank should be supported around the edges and not in the centre of the base.
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False...You heard wrong.

JoelB;2048567; said:
1. Is there a point to putting a piece of plywood on top of that? ...and...Should I even go to the point of making sure the cross pieces are not higher than the outer edge, even if I have to dish them out?
Click to expand...

How the tank should be supported depends on how it is put together. If the sides rest on the bottom panel, it would be wise to put a piece of plywood on the top of the stand and then top it with styrofoam.

If the tank sides extend past the bottom (the bottom panel does not touch the stand) then the tank won't benefit from plywood or styrofoam.

JoelB;2048567; said:
2. If I put a polystyrene sheet on a piece of ply, wouldn't it compress more at the edges causing pressure on the middle?
Click to expand...

Again, it depends on the tank.

JoelB;2048567; said:
3. How thick of a sheet of poly should I use with a 130?
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What ever you can get your hands on. The purpose of the styrofoam is to absorb the minute imperfections in the stand. The thickness doesn't need to be any larger than the imperfections in the stand.
 
Acrylic or glass tank? The bottom of an acrylic tank should ALWAYS be supported evenly.
Plywood would also stiffen up that stand and keep it from racking/twisting too!
 
Yes, agreed. I was hoping I could use this plywood top. It's just that I've seen others put their styrene sheet straight over the stand frame without a top piece.

BTW, it's glass.
 
That's really strange. Without the plywood, the styrofoam is pointless. :screwy: Be careful who or what you copy.
 
JoelB;2053484; said:
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This is overkill for a 130gal tank.Unless maybe your just going to drywall it the sides.I recommend just building a box out of some 3/4 finished oak or birch ply would be preferable.You make the sides and the bottom first and then reinforce the bottom with some 1x4s or 1x6s (depending on how high you want the base to be) running the the length of the stand.Then you place another 3/4" finished ply on top of the 1xs.Reinforce the top with some more 1xs.And then you can make another 3/4" finished ply board for your top.But make sure you make the top so that it overhangs both the sides and the front about an inch or so,depending on what type of trim work your going to do.You also need to put two center boards front and back for support,although explaining how to do this with out some kind picture is a little difficult to explain.

A lot of people don't like doing trim work,even some carpenters.But I love it,it's a lot of fun for me.As far as what your going to be using as fasteners,I usally use both a power drill,screws and a finish nailer.When building I use the finish nailer first and then go back and screw it all together with a drill and some scews.The reason I do this is cause the power drill doesn't cooperate as well as a finish nailer.Your boards will be more perfectly alligned and you can move a lot faster with a finish nailer than you can with a power drill.

I use a screw setter to set the screws and then fill them in with some filler.I would also either paint or stain and varnish depending on what wood you used.

I think that pretty much covers it.Pretty simple construction.:)
 
prskiller;2054438; said:
I made 3 stands, 29g, 55g, and a 75g using reference from this site.
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/75g_stand/index.shtml

Very solid, indestructible stands.:headbang2 Almost everywhere I read you support the whole bottom of acrylic tanks and edges only with the glass tanks.
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This is solid constuction here,too solid if you ask me.Haven't any of you been to a aquarium store and taken a look at how their built there? It's far simpler constuction and take far less time building stands the way you see them in the local aquarium store.Plus a stand with all that lumber can be pain to move.Sheeted plywood and 1xs are all you need for lumber.Unless your building it for 200gal or more.
 
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