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01-08-2005, 12:03 AM
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#1
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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7 ply Birch strong enough for 90g?
I built my stand in two phases. i build two decks out of 2x4 (standard 47x17 frame w/ cross supports), decked it with standard plywood. Then I used 7 ply Birch to "erect" the stand. Basically the sides, two front pieces on either side of my 22" opening, and 3 support pieces virtically across the back.
I used this model after inspecting all of the stands for sale at my LFS which were all built entirely out of plywood. Do you think my design will support a 90g reef w/ 90lbs rock and 60lbs of sand? So far I've got it about 2/3 full with no probs (my RO filter takes a while) I still have to fill the remaining 1/3 and add rock and sand. My estimate is about 1200lbs.
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01-08-2005, 12:30 AM
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#2
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,094
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Whats the actual thicknes of the vertical support materiel and how is it fastened?
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01-08-2005, 08:00 AM
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#3
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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2X4's are plenty strong to hold up a 90. so all of the other plywood you are adding is just helping.
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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01-08-2005, 09:45 AM
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#4
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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the 7 ply is acutally the vertical support as well as the outside facing. It is 3/4" thick and is secured to the 2x4 "decks" with 3" wood screws I've got about 150 screws in the whole structure.
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01-08-2005, 11:19 AM
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#5
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Sodomy non sapiens
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: winder, Georgia USA
Posts: 714
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Sounds pretty good. Have you sat on it yet? It shouldn't wiggle.
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"Reasonable men adapt themselves to their environment; unreasonable men try to adapt their environment to themselves. Thus all progress is the result of the efforts of unreasonable men." -- George Bernard Shaw my tank
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01-08-2005, 01:46 PM
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#6
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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It does not wiggle. I've got it about 3/4 full of water now and every thing is looking good. I guess one of the benefits of my 35gpd RO unit is that I get to test the strength slowly  |
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01-08-2005, 10:32 PM
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#7
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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as long as the corner edges are firmly kept together you will be fine. 3/4" ply is wicked strong. as long as you can keep the ply from bowing out you will be fine. if they are screwed that is good, but glueing and screwing is even better.
G~
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Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
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01-09-2005, 12:15 AM
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#8
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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I screwed them and glued them used the new elmers glue anything glue. |
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01-09-2005, 08:10 AM
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#9
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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is the glue water soluable? some are some are not. the non-water soluables are better.
that is when fully cured.
G~
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01-10-2005, 09:38 AM
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#10
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Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Clifton, NJ
Posts: 37
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3/4 baltic birch ply can hold alot of weight.. You could probably make the stand out of 3/4 ply alone and have it be very rigid. You will need many many thousands of pounds to make 3/4 birch ply bow in that direction.
But, the question here isn't really about the strength of the material, it's the quality of your jointery.. I have no doubt that the material will never fail, however, your joints might.. If your confident in your construction, I wouldn't worry about the material.
jb |
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01-10-2005, 12:35 PM
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#11
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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Thanks, I must say I am very confident in the carpentry work of the creator I air on the side of over kill when I build anything. |
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01-10-2005, 12:37 PM
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#12
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Rotary Freak
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 59
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Anyone have floor shake if they jump up and down next to their setup? I have a crawl space and the floor is naturally flexible. I can jump next to my 20g and it shakes. It's not so bad next to the 90, I assume due to the weight.
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01-10-2005, 12:53 PM
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#13
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Sodomy non sapiens
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: winder, Georgia USA
Posts: 714
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Quote:
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not so bad next to the 90, I assume due to the weight.
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The 90 has pushed the flex in the floor down. Sort of like adding a lot of weight to the bed of a pickup. Once the bed is sitting on the axle it doesn't move much.
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"Reasonable men adapt themselves to their environment; unreasonable men try to adapt their environment to themselves. Thus all progress is the result of the efforts of unreasonable men." -- George Bernard Shaw my tank
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01-17-2005, 11:38 PM
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#14
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squid
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 1
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the problem is not usually the strength of the material, it's the quality of the joints.
You want to avoid having the stand go from this:
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to this:
.._
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