What is the biggest tank you can realistically stack?
- Thread starter Hybridfish7
- Start date
The strength of the floor, the height of the ceiling and materials you use to build the stands are all important factors.
But the most important factor for me would be ease of maintanance on the highest tanks.
But the most important factor for me would be ease of maintanance on the highest tanks.
Like others have said materials, floor composition are your primary concerns. I have two 125s stacked, I used 2x4s for the uprights and 2x6 for the cross pieces. My floor is poured concrete so pretty much no concern there.
With tall racks of tanks, top-heaviness and tipping become a big concern imo. You've got to devise some way to anchor the rack to the floor and maybe the ceiling too, or design some type of buttress system to support and stabilize the rack.
Yes, weight and height concerns are both very valid...but another one which seems to be largely underestimated by many rack-designers is space between the levels for access to the lower tanks.
IMHO, if you haven't got a full 12 inches of space to reach in and get down into the lower tank, you are going to be cursing your design forever! Inserting tools, nets, filters, plants, rocks, wood, etc. will be a horrific PITA. Even with a full foot of space, working in the lower tanks is miserable; it's just a fact of life with racks. Don't make it worse than it needs to be.
I made the too-tight mistake with the very first rack I built; it lasted a couple of years before I broke down and broke it down, to re-build with more space between levels.
IMHO, if you haven't got a full 12 inches of space to reach in and get down into the lower tank, you are going to be cursing your design forever! Inserting tools, nets, filters, plants, rocks, wood, etc. will be a horrific PITA. Even with a full foot of space, working in the lower tanks is miserable; it's just a fact of life with racks. Don't make it worse than it needs to be.
I made the too-tight mistake with the very first rack I built; it lasted a couple of years before I broke down and broke it down, to re-build with more space between levels.
Can stack whatever u wish IMO… steel helps… but u can do alot with timber also 
… i had 125’s stacked with a removable front middle leg in plain 2x4. My buddy had a 650 gal on top of a 2500g with just wood. Really can push the limits with steel stands to make whatever u may want/need.
… i had 125’s stacked with a removable front middle leg in plain 2x4. My buddy had a 650 gal on top of a 2500g with just wood. Really can push the limits with steel stands to make whatever u may want/need.
I have multiple acrylic 480s stacked - used industrial grade concrete on the floor of my fishroom and welded steel stands. I think you can go much bigger if you use steel stands that are appropriately built and industrial concrete for a floor.