90 Gallon Rectangular Tank Stand Review

[XStroX]

I'm hoping to start building a rectangular stand with the same look and feel as my first hex stand found here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2332092

I've received compliments on the hex aquarium from virtually everyone who has stepped foot in our home.


Below are my plans. If anyone can provide any recommendations it would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to overbuild the heck out of this thing and I also want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything.

First up is the framing which is almost entirely 2x4's (canopy is 2x2's). Are two 2x4's necessary under the short ends of the tank? It is a 48x18x24" tank. I've only used one 2x4 along the back with vertical supports to allow for any bulkheads in the bottom of the tank to be closer to the back.

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank1_zps7364b623.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank1_zps7364b623.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank1_zps7364b623.jpg"/></a>

And here is the finished product with the skin, trim and doors. The skin is 1/2 stainable plywood. The trim pieces would be created using a router from a 1x2 most likely. The doors would be created from a solid piece of wood but routed around the sides.

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank2_zpsaa5f44f4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank2_zpsaa5f44f4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank2_zpsaa5f44f4.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank3_zps59b38160.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank3_zps59b38160.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank3_zps59b38160.jpg"/></a>

Here are two more views with the canopy and doors open. I picture the canopy being hinged with a piano hinge and then propped open like the hood of a car.

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank4_zps4447d576.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank4_zps4447d576.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank4_zps4447d576.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank5_zps2cf0937e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank5_zps2cf0937e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank5_zps2cf0937e.jpg"/></a>

Any comments or suggestions? A sump/refugium will go down below. I will be adding a shelf but that is a bit hard to define until I know where plumbing will be going.

 

[XStroX]

Should have mentioned I based both my stands off this one by marino420td

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=787189

And based on a quick read of this:

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

I think I can take some weight out....

 

[behlke]

The stand looks solid, I would say too solid. However, I cannot comment until we know what kind of aquarium will be used. Rim or rimless? Glass or Acrylic?

For a rimmed glass tank, all of the weight from the water is transferred to the bracing that rims the bottom of the aquarium. The weight from the bracing rim is transferred to the stand only where the two touch. It looks like your stand would make contact with the aquarium on the outer ring of 2x4. Therefore the inner ring is completely useless for the support of the weight of the aquarium.

For a rimless tank, all of the water weight is dispersed over the entire bottom of the aquarium. You need to have a solid surface for the aquarium to sit on in this case, which I do not see in your design. The solids surface can be added to your aquarium with a piece of 3/4" plywood, and a cross brace or two.

I hope this helps.

 

[XStroX]

This would be a rimmed glass tank. From doing some more reading/research I would agree the inside 2x4's are doing nothing. The question I have is whether a 2x4 is enough spanning 48" without any vertical supports inb etween. Or do I need to go with a 2x6 if I want to avoid the vertical supports.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Instead of a quick glance at the second link, go read through the first post. Then go read the updated thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1567110

Posts 3, 4, and 5.

Good luck.

 

[XStroX]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! Sounds like a single 2x4 for the span will be enough for my 48x18 tank. I'm going to be skinning 3 sides with 1/2" plywood and the back will likely not be skinned at all. Sounds like I don't need any vertical supports either.

I'm going to update my models to follow your design. Much less wood...

Thanks!

 

[XStroX]

I updated everything per RocketEngineer's design. Anyone think this will not be strong enough considering the canopy sitting on top of the tank?

This is a rimmed glass tank.

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank6_zps82a1710b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank6_zps82a1710b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank6_zps82a1710b.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/XStroX/media/NewTank7_zpsd16ffafd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y406/XStroX/NewTank7_zpsd16ffafd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo NewTank7_zpsd16ffafd.jpg"/></a>

Thanks!

 

[XStroX]

Obviously an extremely easy change would be to change the 4 2x4s on top to 2x6s to take care of any concerns about bridging the 48" gap with a single 2x4 on front and back. I believe RocketEngineer said that with 1000 pounds, a single 2x4 deflects around .25" max. I'll have less than 1000 pounds and 2 2x4s meaning with this design I should have less than 0.125" of deflection.