Question for any Stand Masters

[Big D]

I'm in the process of building a built in style stand to hold a fairly large tank... After getting it just about complete, I started to question one thing... Every stock stand I've seen only supports the tank on the edges with maybe a center brace or two... Now, most of the DIY stands I've seen have a solid sheet of plywood or similar covering the entire area the tank will sit on...

Here's my delima... The way I have manufactured this stand, the tank will be sitting on (2) 2"x10"'s on the outer edges of the stand and (1) 2"x6" in the middle of them, with all of them laying flat... Is this going to be a problem or will it support the bottom OK?.. I really wanted to make it beefy since the tank alone (glass) is going to way in the 500lb range I believe...

Here's a pic for reference... Remember, it's going to eventually be in a wall so it can be this UGLY...

Stand Front







Stand Top Looking From Right End







Thanks in advance for any input...
David

[GLXTRIX]

as far as having the tank sit on something it really doesnt matter, where you need to have the area of concern is your corner points, which it looks like you ahve 4x4's so you need not to worry. The top that you have will help with rocking isses. The only suggestion that I have to give is make sure you have some kind of bracing towards the ground so all the posts are joined together, this will help with rocking and to ensure stability, tho I dont think its needed, its always good to be safe than sorry.

[theplatypus]

I would be worried about the 2x10's cupping. Assuming that top is set up to distibute the load down to the 4x4's you could remove the 2x10's altogether and replace with 3/4" plywood. The strength in 2x material comes into play when its used verticaly. Plywood is more than suffiecient in applications like this.

[leveldrummer]

i agree with platy, the wood is much stronger standing on end than laying flat, depending on the length of the stand, you can probably get away with out the flat pieces and just have 4x4's every 2 ft or so.

[RobinsonFam1]

agreed. either add 3/4" ply to the top of the 2x10's or remove them all together.
if you add the ply make darn sure the 2x's wont end up cupping the ply as well.
i would prefer to remove them and use a product called "Advantech". it is a subfloor plywood that has a 50 year warranty against moisture. it does not cup twist or warp since it is an OSB product. i can attest to the durability of this product as i have built many homes with it, many stands that have had their share of leaks, and i also sell the product for 84 Lumber.
you can find it anywhere pretty much includin HD and Lowes i think.

HTH
Brandon

[GeorgeW]

If those 4x4's run up to flush with the top (or those cross bars under the 2x10's), you could probably put a car on that table. That said, an aquarium to fit that stand is going to weigh considerably more than 500 lbs when full.

On the stability issue, if you're not going to need to move things in and out of the underside (of any real size, like a sump or filters), pull that bottom 2x4 you have running around the sides and run it around the bottom or add another 2x4.

[mojo]

I don't think anyone has asked - will the tank be glass or acrylic? A glass tank should only be supported around the edges. Any support in the middle (or boards warping up) will put a pressure point on the glass and cause it to break. An acrylic tank requires equal support along its entire base, such that plywood + foam would give.

[Big D]

Thanks for all the replies... I think Chris hit on just what I was looking for... As I mentioned, the tank is glass... After taking a closer look at it today, it looks to be 3/4 to 1 inch thick, it's going to weigh a ton!!! I have no idea how we're going to get it out of the wall it's in, and then get it to what ever we're going to haul it in... It really worries me only supporting it on the sides as far as stand goes, how far in can I take the side support boards... Obviously 2x materials are stronger sideways, but should I use 4x4 for the edges?... The only 4x's I ever see are pressure treated, not that this would be bad, but I have never seen one that was any where close to square... Any tips would be greatly appreciatted, also if anyone has any moving ideas, I'm very open to suggestions... I have been checking into the "Shoulder Dolly" lifting system, but I'm sure it's going to take more than that...

We pulled 500+ lbs of rock out of it today along with a very large Regal, Tomato, and Royal Gramma... We're already beat and the worse has yet to come!!!


David

[mojo]

Just as a note on the 4x4 vs 2x4 debate:

A high grade 2x4 (without knots, etc), stood on end, will withstand around 2000 lbs before giving way. This doens't mean that you should use the smallest board necessary, but rather that the 4x4's will be more than enough. I would, however, support it every 2 feet or so, like you have it now.

[Big D]

Thanks again Chris... I just looked through kwl1763's 450gal adventure thread... WOW, I've got some ideas now!!! This stand was actually built as a temp stand until I can get the rooms it will reside in permanently finished... I know I'm not doing this in the right order, but the price was right...


David