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	large aquarium stands
Sonic2041 Enthusiast Posts: 152 Kudos: 142 Votes: 19 Registered: 19-Dec-2004	i am building a stand for a 120 gallon tank. i am thinking of using two 4x4 posts in the back corners and two 4x4 posts that are cut down to 2.25 x 3.5 so it is covered by the face frame in front of the doors. and i will have a 2x4 brace in the middle of the back. i will have cut down 2x4 on the top and the bottom of the posts going all the way around and probably a center brace going along the center brace of the tank frame. a was going to cover all this with maple faces and have 3/4 inch plywood on the top. does anyone know if this will hold. tank stands in stores for a 75 gallon tank are made of particle boad and have no framing so it seems like this would be a lot stroger.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	If I understood what you are saying, it should work with no problems. Your only concern should be that everythign is stright. You dont want the stand to lean or start to twist in any way. I have a 125gal built in to a wall with two 2x4 at each corner and two 2x4 running the length and width of the tank. No center support to the floor because I have another 125gal under it. Your main support of the tank is the corners. Dan
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Sonic2041 Enthusiast Posts: 152 Kudos: 142 Votes: 19 Registered: 19-Dec-2004	thanks for the help. i kingd of figured that it would work but i wanted to hear what someone with eperience had to say about it to be sure.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	I've made a few stands, and they all work fine. What you build will b emuch stronger then what you will buy. I've seen 125 stands made from particle board. Dan
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
MR_CICHLID Fish Addict Posts: 770 Kudos: 582 Votes: 124 Registered: 12-Aug-2003	I built a stand for my buddies 125g. Very simlar to what your doing, and i works! well go big or go home, add lots of bracing from front to back, and long screws
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	You should also make sure the surface it sits on is flat and level. You dont want to have the tank sitting on a high spot adding stress to the tank. Dan
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Sonic2041 Some one can correct me if I am wrong your tank could weigh 1000lb + Using 4x4 would hold up a house. My old 6ft tank was on a partical board frame, the 5ft is of venered a particle board. Both pieces made 20+ years ago are still in perfect condidion. It is how it is made not what it is made of. Also how the weight is spread over the total area. Qualifications for making this comment Cabinet Maker trade instructor 26 years. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Sonic2041 Enthusiast Posts: 152 Kudos: 142 Votes: 19 Registered: 19-Dec-2004	thanks you've made me more confident in my design. would you recommend puting a styrofoam sheat under the tank to make everything even. i've read books that say to do this but i'm not sure if anyone does.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Sin in Style Mega Fish Posts: 1323 Kudos: 1119 Votes: 165 Registered: 03-Dec-2003	i ran a sheet of foam i got from a arts and craft store. its about 1/8th inch or 1/16th not sure. you really just want something to cause even distrabution of the weight alogn the frame of the tank. you dont need 3 inches worth of foam to do this.the foam i got has a thin layer of paper on either side and is pretty rigid. it worked out very well with out being really thick. as far as the frame goes it sounds fine. the goal is to follow the weight transfering and make sure it never jumps weak points like nails and screws. you can construct something that does jump nails and screws but you gotta know what your doing so its usually just safer to carry the weight on legs. this is what you did in your design with the 4x4 cut to hold the above 2x4. when its all done get some friends or family to climb on and test it. better to have a person fall 3 feet then a tank with 120 gallons of water lol.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Sonic2041 Enthusiast Posts: 152 Kudos: 142 Votes: 19 Registered: 19-Dec-2004	I was thinking of using 1/2 inch styrofoam i am puting a lip around the tank that will cover it and the tank frame. i making it look similar to the aga modern series maple.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Sonic2041 I always use styrene mine is 20mm thick. It is a personal choice but in this case a thicker piece is the better choice. I bough mine at a large hardware store. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40


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