36" DIY Stand Height

[islanddave]

Hello All

First post here...I built a stand for my 90 gallon tank. It is based upon Rocket Engineers plan for an aquarium stand. It is 36" in height and with the tank on it, and not filled it is obviously top heavy and can be made to sway back and forth. Is there any way of minimizing the tenancy of the tank to sway? Will this sway become less pronounce once the tank is full I just don't want it to crash! The stand is on carpet so this also contributes.

Thanks Very Much

David

 

[pelphrey]

Does it sway with a forceful push or pull, or minimal effort? Is the tank level? I used the same design on a 75 gallon and it will move but I have to really push on it. Anchoring the stand to the wall may be a solution?

 

[rwb500]

I always build a solid plywood back to prevent side-to-side racking. then for other areas, wood bracing if possible, and steel angle braces if not.

 

[islanddave]

Moderate pressure will cause the tank and stand to rock. I might possibly add 2x4's around the base of the stand to give it a wider footprint.

 

[islanddave]

I always build a solid plywood back to prevent side-to-side racking. then for other areas, wood bracing if possible, and steel angle braces if not.

Yup very good idea a ply wood back will tighten everything up.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Does it rock because its not touching the floor at all four corners? Sounds to me like either the base is not flat or the floor is the problem. Most folks have to shim between the stand and the floor to compensate for out of level anyways. I would just shim it flat and it should remove the issue.

 

[islanddave]

Does it rock because its not touching the floor at all four corners? Sounds to me like either the base is not flat or the floor is the problem. Most folks have to shim between the stand and the floor to compensate for out of level anyways. I would just shim it flat and it should remove the issue.

Yes your absolutely correct. Actually there were a couple of problems. First off I made the stand exactly 48x18......too small! The tank slightly hung off the top rail all the way around. I think number 2 will be 49x19. Second it's high at 36".....so that places the weight up high so it tends to sway a bit if pushed. I think possibly if I doubled up on the 2x4's around the bottom to make the base wider might help.

Skinning this stand I think to be necessary. In many of the stands I see online most are not skinned. I don't see how that is wise. its very hard to get all of the lumber exactly the same, and by nature 2x4 are not very straight so this resulted in the creaking sound, as there were some gaps.


How thick would you make the plywood skin 1/4" or 1/2 or 3/4" also how would you attach the ply wood nails or 2 1/2" screws?


Rocket Engineer you are the worlds most famous person in DIY Aquarium stands!!! Something to be proud of!


Thanks David From Canada!

 

[RocketEngineer]

If the thing sways, there is something wrong with how it was constructed. Making the base wider isn't going to fix this problem. If it is correctly built, the entire stand is going to move as one piece which means tipping the thing over means lifting about 900 pounds by pushing the tank sideways. That would require almost 225 pounds of sideways force to achieve.

Pipe clamps are your friend when putting one of these together. The joints should all be sitting flush and square. If they don't you may have problems. Then again, 900 pounds of compression is going to get rid of a lot of the gaps.

If you are going to go with 3/4" plywood, you might as well skip the frame entirely and just make a 3/4" box with a top. It would be much more rigid than the 2X4s.

Not really. I get all sorts of folks asking me the same question a hundred times instead of reading what I've already posted :uzi:.

 

[SaltTinker]

You might also place a piece of plywood under the stand on the carpet.

Is this one of those 2x4 stands with carriage bolts and screws?

 

[islanddave]

If the thing sways, there is something wrong with how it was constructed. Making the base wider isn't going to fix this problem. If it is correctly built, the entire stand is going to move as one piece which means tipping the thing over means lifting about 900 pounds by pushing the tank sideways. That would require almost 225 pounds of sideways force to achieve.

Pipe clamps are your friend when putting one of these together. The joints should all be sitting flush and square. If they don't you may have problems. Then again, 900 pounds of compression is going to get rid of a lot of the gaps.

If you are going to go with 3/4" plywood, you might as well skip the frame entirely and just make a 3/4" box with a top. It would be much more rigid than the 2X4s.

Not really. I get all sorts of folks asking me the same question a hundred times instead of reading what I've already posted :uzi:.

Thanks for replying. It tips like you have said in one piece,but not sways like it's on hinges. Now mind you this is with an empty tank. I guess I've just never had a tank sit this high before and am concerned that it will be a tipping hazard. Pipe clamps sound like an excellent idea! Can you tell I\m not a wood worker.

Thanks David from Canada

 

[islanddave]

If you were using the original design would skinning in 1/4" plywood suffice to create rigidity?


Thank You Very Much

David

 

[Sn8kbyt]

If you were using the original design would skinning in 1/4" plywood suffice to create rigidity?


Thank You Very Much

David

If going off of his original design, done correctly, and level you shouldn't have to skin the stand at all. I built my 210 gallon stand at 40" according to his design and it is solid.