55g DIY stand question

If you have access to CAD, then you should have little trouble building your own cabinets, as long as you are proficient with some carpentry tools....or have a friend who is. Don't know the height of your wheelchair, or how high you sit in it, but I'd go at the lower end of your projected height, just to make sure you can reach things ok.

For materials, us a 2x4 frame...for a 55 gallon, don't get too concerned about "extra bracing". Just build a simple frame with a center brace under the cabinet top. Then sheath the whole construction with 3/4" (or even 1/2") plywood. The type of plywood depends on how you like the looks. If you will paint it, use anything but OSB....just use "REAL" plywood. I made my complete setup using these guidelines, and my setup is fairly "over-built" by cabinet standards...which is what I like! Check out my link in my signature area of my post....just copy and paste (can't figure out how to get a link place there!....grrrr!)

I wonder if you could just use a shelf system and hang the tank on the wall? So called Dutch aquariums are made in this way.

ty15906 said:

The main issue is choosing the correct type for excelent stability due to the repeated bumping my chair will do in the process of getting close enough to the tank to reach.

Click to expand...

The weight of the stand should be supported by 2x4's (they carry the weight). This "frame" is supported by the plywood. By saying "supporting" I simply mean that they keep the frame from "rhomboiding" or falling over. As long as you hold a 2x4 straight up, it has enormous stregth, but let it tilt even 1" to one side or the other, and whatever weight you are supporting will come crashing down. That's what the plywood "sheathing" does to support it. It also has the added benefit of making a simple frame look much better. You can either buy doors for it or make them yourself. I don't know if you looked at any of my pics or not, but in the pictures of the inside of my cabinet (with all the filters and stuff) you will see exactly what I mean by framing it with 2x4's....but you don't need as many as me. Mine is 150 gallons. For you, the only vertical bracing you should need is one in each corner, and two in the middle (front and back).

Here's a good one: http://community.webshots.com/photo/300483461/300522918JvpTOv

The stiffness of plywood sheathing provides required lateral support. This is true for houses, so I'm sure it works for stands too .
One note, be sure to use kiln-dried lumber (should be more expensive, and stamped with S-Dry). Lumber with a moisture content over 19% ('wet' or 'green', stamped with S-grn) can twist and warp as it dries inside the house, with disastrous results.

I used 2x4s. The stands at the LFS where to short, so I made a taller one. Do a search, there a few trends here.

If you don't mind a metal stand. Most good LFS should be able to get a custom sized tubular stand built.

For custom ones the height is usually the easiest thing for the companies to adjust. I have seen higher ones made for customers in our store. So I don't see why lower ones couldn't also be done. The tubular customized ones are usually not that expensive either.

I just helped a friend transport a 55G acrylic and stand.
I was VERY surprised how light the darn stand was!
I was expecting something heavy, but I was able to carry it myself - it couldn't have been more than 20lbs. for just the stand.
I looked at the construction, and it was mostly out of 1x2's and 1x3's.
I was expecting a more robust construction, but this was one of those generic stands with the front hinged cabinet twin doors.
The floor was crappy 1/2" Masonite - absolutely no particle board anywhere.
Sides were maximum 1/2" plywood.
Rear was totally open except for a single 1x3 verticle support beam.
The acrylic 55G was SW with at least 50 lbs. of "rock" in it, so we're talking 500 lbs. of weight inside the tank?

With said, anything out of 2x4's should be overkill.
Personally, I would just build it out of 2x4's if you're paranoid.

Good luck!