Aquarium stand build

[stryk3r]

Hello I am in the process of building a new aquarium stand. My question is do I need to glue the joints with wood glue? I have always do it in the past however I wold like to be able to take this stand apart if i want to make modifications to it. The stand is going to be supporting a 45 gallon cube. I am building the stank to support up to a 90 gallon. The stand is 48 1/2'' long and 25" wide, lastly the stand is going to be 33" tall. I am using screws to fasten everything together.

Thanks for any advice!
~Joshua

 

[aiq25]

I made a tank using 2x4's using RockEngineer's design before and didn't glue it, just screwed everything together. Worked fine for me.

 

[adova]

I have never glued a stand - done up to a 240 glass - so far...

 

[billdogg]

Should you? Yes. Can you get away without glueing? Maybe. Would I? Not a chance. Screws are nothing more than semi-permanent clamps to hold things together until the glue dries.

 

[sleepydoc]

+1 to bulldog's reply. Gluing the joints will make them *MUCH* stronger and prevent racking

 

[adova]

I would be very interested to see one stand that failed due to the lack of glue being used and not to a poorly engineered design....

 

[adova]

However - I am all about steel now

 

[stryk3r]

This is my build thus far

This is my build thus far

 

[stryk3r]

 

[stryk3r]

Well I tried to link a photo but it doesn't appear???
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xsyilg24b5c2stt/20150305_124607.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p1v5h8o97k7hnzl/20150305_132250.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6dklrexeg3a1nyg/20150305_132257.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q1bp681wlmxj9kx/20150305_140747.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/29au0aykjh0w651/20150305_143625.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pt9n7e38qlvppxw/1425585323982_8996361579_17b7c5ef.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pte9jetsu3c4dpb/1425585347763_4277567244_17b7c5ef.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bvrvbzo93uhu26i/1425591129894_5080701590_17b7c5ef.jpg?dl=0

 

[IN OVER MY HEAD]

overkill is underrated

 

[stryk3r]

I do have a rather important question to ask. I have installed flooring all my life and I know how even the hardest hardwood can settle and have heavy items leave impressions in it. should I put something under my tank or will it be ok? I have heard that some people purchase exercise mats for treadmills and cut them to size but I find this to be ugly and unpractical. What do you guys recommend putting under the stand if anything on top of old hardwood.

 

[adova]

I used card board - mostly to protect scratching during the build. I never thought about indentation. You could also use 1/2" pink insulation foam board that you find at Home Depot...

 

[Kbdeprima]

I'm in the process of building a stand for my elos 120. It's around the same dimensions as your 90g. I made all pocket holes and glued and screwed. I used titebond 3.

 

[stryk3r]

Thanks for all of the responses. I decided not to glue anything and just try the metal brackets. I just hope everything stays together!:sad2:

 

[stryk3r]

My stand is coming along rather well. I will put up pictures when it is finished. Then it will be time to start the skin that hides the stand.

 

[mixedreef89]

I have built several stands for my tanks(20 high,36 bow,46 bow,75 acrylic, 90 AGA and 125AGA) all have been screwed and metal support plates on the joints. ALL have held together perfectly for a long time now. the 36 bow and 46 bow are my oldest at 5 years. My niece ran into my 90 gallon stand at full speed and i cringed but it didn't budge.

 

[fishgate]

Glue? I've never heard of building a 2x4 stand with glue, however, regular furniture builds usually use glue on the joints. But then again, they are not butt joints usually they are some other type.

Just looked at your pics, your stand is great, it will last forever.