Newbie Q about DIY stand (wood type)?

[Mulla]

Hi all

I've recently purchased a 55G tank and has an idea about putting a stand together.

I've got 2 marble pedstals that's 12x12 square in area. It's hollow and the wall is around 1inch thick.

Now I just wanted to get a bit of wooden plank and just stick the tank on top of that.

Went to a home depot store and the guys there seemed to have their doubts about the ability of the wood to support a 55G aquairum. I suppose it would weight around 220kgs.

They even doubt that their structural wood could take that sort of load!!??? I mean when I see aquarium stands for 55G they certainly don't look 'structual' in build quality and strength.

What type of wood do you guys use to build stands? Or what you recommend me? The structural stuff costed A$25 per m which is like US$13 per m. They are not wide enough for the 55G so I would need 2 and the cost of that is just rediculous.


Thanks in advance

[TwoTankAmin]

2x4s work great- those are the side of wall studs.

[OrionGirl]

LOL!

Wood is very, very strong. I have a stand that consists of nothing more than 2x4's, with decking screws holding it together, and it has more than 220 pounds on it. Think it I figure it right, it comes closer to 300 lbs.

I wouldn't trust something less then 1 inch going the length you're talking about--if memory serves me right, that would mean about 12 inches of the tank would be just on the planking. One single piece would be iffy--it wouldn't break, but it's probably going to flex, which means the tank isn't on a level surface, which can cause the tank to break. If you use 2 or 3 planks, then you've increased the strength by much more than a factor of 2 or 3, and you'll be fine. Or, get 2x4's and make a frame, and set the tank of that. Keep in mind that having the edges of a glass tank is important, while an acrylic tank needs support along the full area.

[beviking]

I'd be concerned about two seperate pedistals. If the floor sags, creeps, bows, warps, and whatever else wood does, the pedistals act independantly which would put uneven stress on the tank. If you made a stand using 2X4's (and thus the whole stand would move if/when the floor does), you could incorporate the pedistals into the stand and dress it up to look nice. It sounds like that may be too involved for what you're looking to do.

My short answer is I wouldn't do it.

[elgecko]

I just used 2 X 3's for the frame and plywood oak verneer as a skin. Supports a 40 gallon breeder tank. Pictures can be seen here.

http://www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/community.html

same stand plus other wood projects I've made.
http://www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/Woodworking.html

[tnlguinn]

here is a link that might help you:
http://www.garf.org/stand.html#STAND

i just built one for my 135 gallon and my 55 gallon.

[SBee]

I have a large metal "E-Z-Rect" utility shelf, about 4' by 1.5' (these suckers come with particle board shelves) that I've put 3/4" plywood on instead. The way it all works, only the long sides of the shelf actually sit on anything, and the metal they sit on is only about 3/8" wide. Currently, I have two 20 gallons on one shelf. The shelf is still 100% level.

I'm putting together another one for one of my 77gallon tanks too, on an EZ Rect with a bigger base (2' by 4'). I will be using 3/4" plywood again.

I'm not expecting any problems. The EZ Rects I have were both purchased from the owner's of a LFS that went under....they had 80 gallons of water on two shelves, on each unit (160gallons total). Plus, the wood shelves that they used were only 5/8" thick.

[Mulla]

Gee thanks for all the very helpful inputs.

Beviking I'll be putting the thing on concrete floor so I would assume that the floor will not sag too much.

OrionGirl Think if I get 2-3 planks, the cost would be similar to a basic stand that I could get at the LFS. Hm... Think I'll go to the LFS and check out some stands.

Still not really sure if I should just grab a pre-made stand or go with the simple wooden planks. My initial thought would be to save a few $$$ but doesn't look like it anymore.

Hate to see me new 55G sitting on the floor doing nothing at the moment :D

Thanks anyway for everyone.

[OrionGirl]

Shouldn't cost much--I'm talking regular pine 1X12X4. Think it's about $7/board locally.

This weekend, I made a stand for 2 55's, stair stepped. The top tank sits about 2 inches higher than the top of the bottom stand, which is about 2 inches in front of the top tank, and 3 inches off the ground. The tank will hold about 1000 pounds, easily.

[Mulla]

OrionGirl Oh so it's pine we're talking about. Ok I'll recheck at the home depot again this weekend. This time without disclosing what I'm doing with them. The stepped sort of stand is a good idea. Maybe I should befriend some carpenter to make one for me :D

[dave76]

Originally posted by elgecko
I just used 2 X 3's for the frame and plywood oak verneer as a skin. Supports a 40 gallon breeder tank. Pictures can be seen here.

http://www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/community.html

same stand plus other wood projects I've made.
http://www.geocities.com/elgecko1989/Woodworking.html

Did you use some type of wood glue? It doesnt seem like dowel rods would give any real stability without some form of bond, course I really know nothing about wood working either. :confused:

[OrionGirl]

Wood dowels are a very strong joiner. The dowels are forced into place, usually with a hammer, much the way a nail is pounded in. The difference is that the dowels create better friction (between the dowel and the hole) than a nail. Even without glue, this is a very durable joint. With glue, it would be very hard to take the stand apart if needed. Whitout glue, all you'd need to do was replace the dowels to set it back up. Of course, the joints will be strong enough to transfer the weight from the frame to the supports, even with nails, though they tend to pull out over time (which is why screws work quite well).

I'll try getting some pics of the stand--it has a temporary 55 setup right now (unexpected fish, can't be added to my 40, so they're in what will be become the brackish tank). Should be able to get a good enough pic that you'll get the idea. It's really simple, but very functional.

[Mulla]

Waiting patiently for pics, next to his empty 55G :(

[OrionGirl]

Not the clearest--front view. The 55 on the bottom has a few fish in it right now, then you can see a 4 ft strip light sitting where the top tank will go.

[tnlguinn]

BTW, the stand i built for my 55 cost me $18. if you have a glass tank yu don't need the full support of the plywood on to of the stand in the drawing i included in my original post. i haven't put the paneling on the outside of my stand yet, but i did make ti where i can put a 10 gal under there also. i made my stand 33" tall so i can put any canister fliter i want under it without having any kinks or severe bends in the hoses. i'll post a pic. i used 2 1/2" sheetrock screws to put mine together, 1# did the 135s stand and 3/4# for the 55. a stand for a 55 takes 4 10' 2x4s and 1 8'2x4. you'll have enough left over to add the rails to add a 10 under it out of the wood you buy.http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL204/1088967/2341935/28335475.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL204/1088967/2341935/28335482.jpg
http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL204/1088967/2341935/28335452.jpg

[Mulla]

Thanks everyone for showing me your pics / advice. I'll show them to my friend. He knows a bit more about carpentery.

[elgecko]

dave76,

I used glue on my wood dowels. The joints also have glue on them.