View Full Version : cinder block stand???
shediddily
10-24-2005, 5:25 PM
any suggestions on this? how to do it etc.? I dont need a good looking stand... just something to hold 10 or 20 10g tanks???
I was thinking putting cinder blocks on the floor (basement) stacked about 3 high 22" apart...with 2X4s ontop and plywood ontop of that... kind of a makeshift table. Would this be enough support? to much? to little?
Jericho
10-24-2005, 5:27 PM
That should be a sturdy stand. You can always get some inexpensive cloth at a fabric store and cover it to give it a less industrial look.
aardvark1
10-24-2005, 10:51 PM
Here's my tanks:
http://www.gunsandrovers.com/tank1.JPG
Had the extra cinder blocks and shelf boards laying around, so the price was right!
6 foot long total, with a 2 foot shelf for the 10 gallon.
Please excuse the mess!
slipknottin
10-25-2005, 12:06 AM
Cinderblocks work great for vertical loads. They can support very heavy weights. However, because they dont interlock with anything (usually) horizontal loads can cause issues. If you have kids (or adults who act like kids, or earthquakes for that matter) that may push or pull horizontally on the tank, then you may want to consider a different type of stand. Otherwise you should be perfectly fine.
ashdavid
10-25-2005, 12:18 AM
Yeah, here in Japan cinderblocks are a big no no, b/c of the earthquakes of coarse. But as slipknottin mentioned they are great for supporting heavy loads verticaly.
Much of my tank room is cinderblock based. ~18 years with no issues. Ditto the storage area of the garage.
One of the LFS in my area has all their tanks on cinderblocks, stacked about 4 or 5 high, to put the tanks at a good viewing level. They use treated lumber for the planks, but then, I am sure they have a lot more spillage and splashing to deal with than you would at home, lol!
shediddily
10-25-2005, 2:55 PM
no kids, no earthquakes, no irresponsible adults... Thanks guys! this should work out great!
The treated lumber is a good idea... we're planning on breeding some stuff you cant get easily in our area and supplying a few of the almost local FS's. We also hope to support our fish hobby... We hope it works... our closes pet store is approx. 2-3 hours away!
Holly9937
10-25-2005, 4:33 PM
Even painting the blocks/boards might give it a different look as opposed to just plain looking bricks... I would make sure you really love the pattern before you put down any fabric tenting, unless you plan on cutting it off when you get sick of it!!! :D
LOL @ Holly! Definitely the right idea! My oh so inelegant stands which provide a false wall between the pool room and the tank room are draped with heavy-duty black plastic drum liners. If I re-arrange the tanks, or if it gets torn, I replace the plastic. Originally I had planned to do a wooden false wall, but my cabinet-maker convinced me to do a temporary setup untill I was sure what I had would be permanent. I'm not permanent yet, and its going on 20 years.
telecubby
10-28-2005, 10:55 AM
the 2 by fours may not be needed as you can see in the picture above you don't need them in between the cinder blocks & the plywood if the plywood is thick enough
The need for beams is a function of tank size and span between blocks. Lumber is cheap, skimping is potentially very expensive.
telecubby
10-28-2005, 2:13 PM
eye beams huh charley :)
shediddily
11-16-2005, 3:13 PM
finaly got somewhere with this idea... more to come! I'm gunna make another shelf similar to this one but with 2 or 3 rows stacked
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/shediddily/PICT0014.jpg