DIY Stand Height

joshsmit56001 · 08-23-2006, 01:00 PM

Is 42" tall by 24" wide going to be too top heavy for a 150 gallon tank? I built a stand for a 30 gallon and we made it 30" by 13" and it was top heavy. I do not want the same thing to happen to this stand. Please let me know before I start building.
Here is a pic of what I am planning.

Thanks,
Josh

RobinsonFam1 · 08-23-2006, 03:08 PM

i wouldnt think so. i have a 90 on a 42" stand with no problems. i think you are going to have enough weight to keep it stable. actually i also had a 135 on a 42" stand with no problems too.
small tanks dont have enought weight to hold themselves down real well in my experience. i have a nano that is plain wobbly.

joshsmit56001 · 08-23-2006, 03:21 PM

Cool thanks a lot

Geoff · 08-24-2006, 02:34 PM

how level is your floor? if you are worried about it than put eyelett anchors in the wall and strap the stand to the wall as a safety measure.

G~

Casey · 08-24-2006, 02:39 PM

Thats an awesome size great for woking on the sump and stuff

joshsmit56001 · 08-24-2006, 05:11 PM

I am not worried about the level of the floor as it is very level. I was just not sure how many people had built a 42" tall stand before.

joshsmit56001 · 08-25-2006, 11:07 PM

Here is the stand all framed out. It is a bit overbuilt but better safe than sorry.

Geoff · 08-26-2006, 08:26 AM

that is a good strong stand!!. are you planning on putting anything in it when done? the spacing of the support ribs are a bit close. you might have trouble getting a sump in there.

G~

joshsmit56001 · 08-26-2006, 10:33 AM

I am going to have the right side piece of the stand removable to allow me to place my sump inside. I should have 18" of clearance to play with. THis will allow me me to put in a 30 gallon or 55 gallon or anything else that is 18" or less in width. I was originally going to turn the corn uprights he opposite way but I didn't think that that would have been as strong having all of the upright supports in the same direction.

joshsmit56001 · 08-26-2006, 10:37 AM

Well I just measured the width and it is actually 14" but I can still fit a 30 or a 55 in it without problem.

Geoff · 08-26-2006, 02:24 PM

the 55 is a good size for a sump. it would be perfect if it was not so tall, but still that 4' length is nice.

G~

joshsmit56001 · 08-26-2006, 04:26 PM

Yea when I get a little extra money or find a really good deal on a used one I will buy that and turn it into a sump. How would you suggest setting up the sump? This is what I was thinking (see pic)

The water enters in the same chamber that the skimmer is in. I am in the process of figuring out if I want a refugium but am not sure yet. I know you hate fuges geoff! LOL Might have an overflow go into the fuge with the water slowing with a bal valve so the water moves through it slower.

Let me know what you think?

tims · 08-26-2006, 11:09 PM

hehe i take it the refuge is the right side?
just make sure you can clean the baffles when you need to, the design looks pretty good to me. If you get a chance look at casey's refuge/ export station, he uses a small pump to send water to the ten gallon and has gravity allowing it to flow to the sump ( past the pump area)

with the stand, will you be able to reach the bottom of the tank once it is on it? including the back corner?

joshsmit56001 · 08-26-2006, 11:25 PM

I will have to stand on a ladder but yes i should be able to work on the tank.

tims · 08-27-2006, 12:07 AM

when you get to the canopy part, make sure the sides can be removed, it will make it a lot easier