Why DIY Stands Fail

[qumqats]

How big a tank is that? did you aslo use glue?
I cap stands 55g and larger with 5/8" ply over the supports then cover that with 1/4"cork board so that the bottom gets full support, it is probably not needed but it makes me feel better.

180G odd size 33" Front to back

no glue, LOTS of screws. The stand won't fit through the door so if I ever need to remove it I wanted to be able to unscrew it without distroying it, thus no glue.

3/4" stryofoam under the stand, and on top between the 1/2" plywood top and the tank. All irregularities and stresses should be well distributed.

 

[qumqats]

Yes, but I have some conserns. It should be vertically supported where your doors close. Wood is great for crossing spans under load, but long spans in a humid condition are prone to warpage.

Are you telling me that 7 2x4s on a 4 or 5 foot span isn't enough? I've got about 4" between each of the 2x4s. If I put any more in there wouldn't be room to fit the plumbing through.

Besides, it won't be that humid inside the stand. Everything will be covered to eliminate evaporation.

The comment about bridging is valid. I'll add something in the middle of the spans to increase rigidity.

 

[dodgefreak8]

chompers,
I definatly think we would get along great face to face. and you hit the nail on the head I just suck at getting my point across how i hear it in my head. I just wanted to say again i think your post is excellent and very informative.. I think I remember the 700+ tank and stand you are reffering to, and all I have to say is WOW!! accident waiting to happen.. thank again for your input on this subject.

oh and p.s. all costruction workers hate engineers but only from 7:00 to 3:30

and some tradesmen get there liscense at the bottom of their class as well...

 

[CHOMPERS]

Are you telling me that 7 2x4s on a 4 or 5 foot span isn't enough? I've got about 4" between each of the 2x4s...

You are good to go. You only posted pics of one end of your stand and I had to fill in the blanks. My big'un is almost eight feet long and is considered small on this site.

 

[jsodwi]

Stand for my 300g you can set a dump truck on this thing its not goin anywhere

 

[CHOMPERS]

you can set a dump truck on this thing its not goin anywhere

Good thing 'Joizzey' doesn't get earthquakes. By the way, nice diagonal bracing. Did you calculate what your dump truck is going to weigh when you fill it with water? How about for lateral forces?

Hate math? Take that bad @ss stand outside and lean the base against the house, and then have twelve of your buddies climb on the upper frame of it. Twelve people are an approximation of the water that you will add to your empty tank. Any idea what your tank weighs empty? Do you really have that much faith in it? Are you certain that you will not have any lateral displacement? By the way, am I seeing correctly that each 2x6 has only two screws in each end?

Don't like that test? Here is another one: Invite a bunch of people over for a party. Place a plywood deck on your stand and then have 2940 pounds of people dance on top of it. If you do not have any motion, you are good to go.

 

[edotero]

I want to keep this in mind for the near future.

 

[dannyboy]

would this need alot more supports? reading this post makes me think it would



the shaded grey bit would be the long (4ft) horizontal supports
the other short horizontal supports would be on each side of the 6 vertical supports

oh it would be made totally of 2 by 4s with plyboard for the aquariums to sit on.

havent figured out exact measurments but would house 3 tiers of aquariums, top shelp being about 1ft by 4 ft, middle shelf 2ft by 4ft and bottom 3 ft by 4 ft

thanks for your post!!!

 

[guppy]

I agree with chompers on the bridging and center support where the doors close, I also would have used about twice as many uprights.

 

[Guinness]

I filled up my tank and did my best to try to knock it over. I shook it as hard as I could so I think I'm safe. This is probably not the best way to check, but it worked.