6' and 5' stand structural question?

[Xxxtremewv]

I tried searching but couldnt find an answer specifically to my question here so maybe this will be quicker. I just bought one of SCAs 150g 60x24x24s tanks and i want to do a DIY stand. The catch is I want to make the stand 72" wide so there is 6" on each side of the tank on top. Was planning on a basic stand from 2x4s, doubled together on the corners, with a front and rear vertical support halfway, and 2 front to back supports top and bottom at every third, with 1/2" plywood on the sides and front and 3/4" plywood between tank and stand. Never done a stand before, so just wondering if there was anything i need to know or more specifically anything support wise about having the tank sitting on a platform not exactly its dimensions?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Make the legs to fit the corners of the tank for support & let the extra hang out.
There is a thread here from "Rocket engineer" on a DIY stand with diagrams & specs.
Try to leave the bottom without cross braces & make it water tight for spills.
You will be glad you did. Put an access door on one end to slide in a sump.
Do a search for ideas & thoughts from others too.

 

[billdogg]

Make the legs to fit the corners of the tank for support & let the extra hang out.
There is a thread here from "Rocket engineer" on a DIY stand with diagrams & specs.
Try to leave the bottom without cross braces & make it water tight for spills.
You will be glad you did. Put an access door on one end to slide in a sump.
Do a search for ideas & thoughts from others too.

^^^This^^^

If you follow the RE design with the suggestion above you will have overbuilt your stand quite nicely. I would suggest a piece of plywood on the bottom as well. This allows you to seal the bottom for the inevitable spills that occur. If I were going that route today I would use a product like flexseal and then never have to worry about it leaking out.

 

[Xxxtremewv]

Will do! Ill do some digging for Rocketengineers info. I think now that i think about it just for ease ill not go with having anything hanging out the sides. Thank you for the info

Why leave the bottom with no cross braces?

 

[Xxxtremewv]

Yeah was planning on fitting a piece of plywood to fit snugly at the floor of the sump cabinet and running silicone around all the edges i side and priming amd painting for waterseal. Im a fan of a nicely painted and sealed white interior

 

[Xxxtremewv]

Ohh wait I see what you referring to. Do you mean a sheet of like high quality 3/4 plywood that the whole stand would sit on that would be between the bottom frame and the floor then?

 

[nemosworld]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1169964

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

A sheet under the stand would be easier than fitting one around the legs.

 

[Xxxtremewv]

Ohhh i do like that thought. Then just seal the inside of that and paint and ready to go. Thanks for the suggestion guys. I will be doing one on rocketengineers plans it looks like

 

[Xxxtremewv]

Didnt see anything abot it on his list so figured id ask, what kind of plywood would you recommend using on the bottom? 3/4” high quality be ok?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Yes.