DIY stand build... A few questions.

[E.intheC]

I'm going to be building a stand for an upcoming 60 cube (24 inch) tank.
I'll be using 3/4 inch plywood along with some additional wood for bracing. How would 1x4's work out? Or should I go with 2x4s?

I'm trying to maximize space inside the stand, so I'd rather go with the 1x4s.

Thanks in advance

 

[peppie]

1x4s are not needed. Plywood is more than enough to handle the cube.

 

[E.intheC]

Really? I feel like at least some bracing would be a good idea.
Also, how should the plywood be screwed together? Anything special? (LOL I'm not a complete moron, and have made a few stands, but would like to know if there's some special way of getting everything attached and stable that I'm missing)

 

[peppie]

If it were me I would use a rabbit joint along with cabinet screws, with some good wood glue. Trim the outside raw edges of the plywood, with a trim of your choice.
Cut the door holes out of a full panel. No need to use any framing material.

 

[next_generation]

60 gallons water x 8 lbs per gallon = 480 lbs. That's not counting any of your rock or sand. I'd definitely use 2" x 4"s as your framing and then sheet with 3/4" plywood to give you shear strength. I also use the gold drywall screws to assemble everything. 2.5"-3" for your framing and 1.25" for your plywood. Maybe a bit overbuilt, but IMO it's better to be safe then sorry.

 

[billdogg]

3/4 ply can be used alone using rabbit joints as mentioned above, or even just pocket hole screws (Kreg makes a nice jig kit). It will be more than strong enough without any other bracing at all. I would very much like to add a sump to my 60 cube but cannot because the stand won't allow the room inside. Thinking of doing the same myself, but I think I will go for about 30x30 to make plenty of room underneath.

 

[Waggs]

Some of these China cabinets are nothing more than 1/2" particle board screwed together and my 100 gallon bow front is sitting on it just fine. Sounds spooky to me too.

 

[E.intheC]

You're right about the factory stands. I've only had one in the past few years on a 72 bow and it didn't look like much.

I'm probably going to use 1x4s or 2x4s on the stand if I end up making my own.

 

[jong11]

You could use 1x1 to frame it out. It might make construction easier. Cabinet grade plywood is expensive.

 

[bmiller1234]

I just built my 60 cube stand and built it 28" square out of 3/4 ply with rabbit joints. I am going to use 2 20 high tanks for sump with the rear one elevated about 6" my plan is to have skimmer and fuge in rear tank and then return in front tank. Will give me lots of room for reactors and additional live rock since display will be a bonsai minimal look.

 

[E.intheC]

I like the sump idea you have there... Maybe I'll do something similar..

 

[E.intheC]

You could use 1x1 to frame it out. It might make construction easier. Cabinet grade plywood is expensive.

I might end up going with thinner plywood and using 1x4s to frame it out.
It's getting a bit confusing

 

[eznet2u]

My 65g stand was made from ½" Oak Plywood. No bracing. Just screwed and glued.
You could park a car on it.

As far as how to hold it all together...Time for a new tool.
http://www.kregtool.com/Pocket-Hole-Jigs-Prodlist.html

You will not believe how strong this will make a joint. I love mine.

 

[SimonSKL]

I recently built a stand for a fellow reefer for his 24" tank. I used mostly 3/4" plywood as frame and also 2x2 as the screw strips. The 3/4" plywood were all pocket jointed. TiteBond wood glue was used as well. Here are some pictures of the plan and the actual build. The stand is rock solid.

 

[eznet2u]

Very nice looking stand SimonSKL. Please tell me they stained it. I hate seeing nice wood work covered with paint.

The only drawback I see with using the 2x2 framing, is that it takes up space that would otherwise be available for equipment.

 

[SimonSKL]

Very nice looking stand SimonSKL. Please tell me they stained it. I hate seeing nice wood work covered with paint.

The only drawback I see with using the 2x2 framing, is that it takes up space that would otherwise be available for equipment.

Thanks! Yes, the 2x2 did take up a little space at each corner but they added reinforcement and peace of mind. While pocket joints with glue are pretty strong but the contact surface is quite limited. Also plywood glue joints are much weaker than solid wood joints.

LOL, the reefer that I built this stand for wanted to paint it black to go with his home decor. Yes, I would have stained it to show the beautiful oakwood grain. Well, different folks, different taste.

 

[kttran_2005]

i have a very good result with a few stands that i built not using 2x4 but just picture frame cut-out pieces. anyway, here is my build thread for the stand and others.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2156790

 

[stang_j_99]

Saltwater is 8.6 lbs per gal
Freshwater is 8.3 lbs per gal
That's another 36 pounds in saltwater

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[Triggerfish]

how you making out with this build? did you decide what wood to use?

 

[E.intheC]

There are a lot of good ideas and knowledge gained on this thread.

The 60 cube I was going to buy has been out of stock for a while. (same with the 45 cube I was looking at).

However, soon after posting this thread and learning the tanks were out of stock, I saw a used Elos Mini for sale locally. I plan on picking that up this weekend.