I'm glad I found this thread today, I've been wanting to get somebody's help & thought's on my stand.
After upgrading from a 55 gallon to a 75 gallon tank I decided to build my own stand this go around. I built the stand about a month ago and looked around for some ideas before I started building and decided on basically what I was going for.
Here is a picture of the stand with my tank on top right now;
Well my problem is that I have started to see cracks start to run down the legs of my stand!!! (shown here)
& here
I am some what worried with maybe the way I built the stand where the tank sits on top of the 4x4 post's & the posts are level to the floor. All the 2x4's are just supports all the way around the stand. I did build the stand on a level floor in my garage & everything on the stand came out to be level after I was done building the stand. What's funny is that the cracks are only on the right side of the stand not the left.
Some things that cross my mind about this problem is that maybe the wood is just splitting (maybe from the weight, maybe not) ??
that I didn't build the stand the right way to where my 4x4 posts are resting on something else other than all the way down to the bottom of the stand... ??
I wonder if I should drain my tank & just rebuild my stand to a slightly different design, to where the 4x4 posts are not to the bottom of the stand and their notched or something onto a 2x4 at the bottom of the post ??
Maybe I'm totally fine with that way it is and their is nothing to worry about & I can continue with the floor for my sump and the sides and front doors to keep my kid out from under the tank ??
Anyone's thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated.