What Wood To Use?

[neekaragua]

most homes are framed with 2x4 im confident they can hold a fish tank

 

[benzjamin13]

instead of adding them here, ill just give you the link cause its easier haha.
here you go
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87045
its overbuilt for sure, and has been set up since then, should hold alot more than that...personally i think staining it looks alot better then my crap paint job, might skin it at another date bc of that.

2X4s are your friend and are very strong, just take a look at the one i made for my 3 60gals http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122908

Those stands look prety cool! THanks guys!

 

[Dr Joe]

Just a note or four...

Use screws made specifically for outdoor decks, so there isn't a worry of rust.

Use Johnson (or similar) waterseal on the wood before painting.

Use 1/2" plywood for each tank shelf with 1/2" Styrofoam under the tanks to level them.

Allow enough space on top of the bottom tank for maintenance (8"?).

Dr Joe

.

 

[Ianab]

I'm just worried about using wood that won't be strong enough to suppoert the weight of a decorated water filled 55g.

4x2s will support a tremendous amount of weigth in end on compression. Think about it, they hold up houses all the time.

What you need to do is brace them so they cant be pushed over and the whole stand fold up - that would be pretty disasterous.

The easiest way to do this is to clad the 4x2 structure with the plywood as suggested. Use the plywood both as a nice cladding to the stand AND a structural bracing component.

A 4x2 box clad in ply will support almost anything !!

If the tank is bigger, just use more 4x2s

Ian

 

[Dan F]

Here are some pictures of stands.

The 80 gallon stand has a piece of 5/8" plywood across the back for sheer strength. I like 3/8" galvanized lag-bolts and thru-bolts for that overkill effect. That stand would hold up an F-250 if properly balanced!

The 135 stand has been "skinned" and I enclosed the side and top behind the tank. I used 3/4" plywood and 3/4" quarter-round molding. To finish the corner miter the pieces at a 45 and then use a rasp and a sanding block to round it off.

I hope this helps or at least turns on a light bulb in your noggin.