the web abounds with plans for fish tank stands. If you can't find one here, try reefcentral.com and search. I've seen a couple over there. While you do need to respect the weight of the aqaurium, typical 2x4 material will easily support it. Where people go wrong is not including some means of diagonal bracing or using fasteners that aren't up to snuff. (Diagonal bracing may or may not mean a true diagonal support, more often its multiple fastening points). Just follow one of the posted plans if you aren't sure.
building a stand
- Thread starter psychadelicdrea
- Start date
Nice job loaches r cool. Is the cabinet space underneath functional? I couldn't tell from the pics.
On a side note, I see you have an Anablep. I love those fish (hope to have one myself).
...from Ripley's
On a side note, I see you have an Anablep. I love those fish (hope to have one myself).
...from Ripley's
Addict, thanks for the compliment 
And yes, the cabinent is functional. I designed it pretty tall so the tank is about at eye level, 40" tall, so there is a shelf in the middle and then the bottom. To fit my larger canister filter when I up'd it to 75G, I had to remove the shelf on one side though.
I was going to mention that myself. MDF, when properly attached has great stability when your dealing with one solid peice connected 90* to another solid piece. But when making a frame from 2x4 you have to remember the thing is going to want to lean, so its not just holding up the weight, but also preventing it from shifting side-to-side.
On that side note, the Anablep was probably my favorite fish and I suppose I should update my sig since the poor fella escaped one night I accidently left the tank open. He was about 1.5yrs old (from the point we bought him ~4") and grew to over 8". In his memory here is a short
Video Clip of the Anablep (you might need divx installed to view it).
And yes, the cabinent is functional. I designed it pretty tall so the tank is about at eye level, 40" tall, so there is a shelf in the middle and then the bottom. To fit my larger canister filter when I up'd it to 75G, I had to remove the shelf on one side though.I was going to mention that myself. MDF, when properly attached has great stability when your dealing with one solid peice connected 90* to another solid piece. But when making a frame from 2x4 you have to remember the thing is going to want to lean, so its not just holding up the weight, but also preventing it from shifting side-to-side.
On that side note, the Anablep was probably my favorite fish and I suppose I should update my sig since the poor fella escaped one night I accidently left the tank open. He was about 1.5yrs old (from the point we bought him ~4") and grew to over 8". In his memory here is a short
Video Clip of the Anablep (you might need divx installed to view it).
You're very welcome.loaches r cool said:Addict, thanks for the compliment
Good points. Remember to test your design with weight other than your tank BEFORE you fill up the tank and set it up. I'd hate to hear a horror story about the tank collapsing.
I hope to get started on a stand here soon.
That's sad. He was a beautiful fish.
Addict said:
a ngood starting point is to stand on it yourself and do a little dance.
If it cant handle 200lbs dancing, it wont handle 1000 lbs sitting.
Two important task you need to do when setting up a tank & stand: 1- measure the levelness of the floor and add the necessary shims to the bottom of the stand BEFORE you place the tank on top; 2 - Don't forget to put a dense foam pad between your tank and stand to evenly distribute the weight.
1 - My 75 gallon tank is in my finished side of the basement. The front to back slope was nearly perfect, but the 4 ft sideways slope was 3/4 of an inch. My stand bottom had two contact boards running the full width and the sides were 18 inches. I cut two 4 foot long shims that tapered from 3/4 inch to nearly paper thin. I also added a full 18 inch by 3/4 inch shim to the right side panel.
2 - When I placed the tank on the stand (bought both from PetsMart) I noticed the tank was only making contact on the ends and there was a gap big enough to slide a matchbook cover under the frame. I purchased 1/2 inch thick exercise foam mat from Target and cut strips that went under the outside and center frame. Now that the tank is filled, the foam on the ends has compressed about half way while the foam under the center is barely compressed.
1 - My 75 gallon tank is in my finished side of the basement. The front to back slope was nearly perfect, but the 4 ft sideways slope was 3/4 of an inch. My stand bottom had two contact boards running the full width and the sides were 18 inches. I cut two 4 foot long shims that tapered from 3/4 inch to nearly paper thin. I also added a full 18 inch by 3/4 inch shim to the right side panel.
2 - When I placed the tank on the stand (bought both from PetsMart) I noticed the tank was only making contact on the ends and there was a gap big enough to slide a matchbook cover under the frame. I purchased 1/2 inch thick exercise foam mat from Target and cut strips that went under the outside and center frame. Now that the tank is filled, the foam on the ends has compressed about half way while the foam under the center is barely compressed.
2x4's are plenty strong for your size tank, if not overkill.
To lower your cost, and to give it that diagonal bracing, all you need is very thin plywood, like the type you will find that is oak veneered. 1/4" is plenty. This will allow you to cloak the sides, the front and do a partial on the back - much like the cut outs for TV's on entertainment centers add support plus blackout from stray light.
I work with wood a lot. I've got my own plans for a stand that I hope to photo document once I start building it. _ need to buy an air tool first.
To lower your cost, and to give it that diagonal bracing, all you need is very thin plywood, like the type you will find that is oak veneered. 1/4" is plenty. This will allow you to cloak the sides, the front and do a partial on the back - much like the cut outs for TV's on entertainment centers add support plus blackout from stray light.
I work with wood a lot. I've got my own plans for a stand that I hope to photo document once I start building it. _ need to buy an air tool first.
Not sure what kind of look you're after, but stacked cinder blocks are functional & inexpensive. You can paint them to match whatever if gray is not your speed. Just a thought...
this is my stand i made with 1 sheet of 3/4 inch plywood i made two rectangle columns and connected them with some support peices and made a top that connects both rectangles heres a pic its a 55gallon tank i wish you luck and hope this gives you ideas and remember test it before you put your tank on it
