Slick Fork
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I would stay away from MDF as it swells like a sonofagun with very little water.
DIY Stands Template and Calculator
- Thread starter RocketEngineer
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Great thread! Thank you very much RocketEngineer for starting this thread!
I have been putting off building the stand for 1 of my tanks, but I really need to get cracking.
I purchased the tank & stand from a friend a year ago and have never been happy with the stand. To my limit knowledge this stand seams to be constructed of MDS skinned over with a thin layer of (I think) formica. Of course I had a few spills and I can see the bottom of it showing damage.
What I would like to know is does a stand for a 6' X 1.5' 120 gallon tank absolutely need the center brace in the front? I have no issue with it in the back, but would like to avoid placing one in the front if at all possible without having to worry about it bowing.
I have been putting off building the stand for 1 of my tanks, but I really need to get cracking.
I purchased the tank & stand from a friend a year ago and have never been happy with the stand. To my limit knowledge this stand seams to be constructed of MDS skinned over with a thin layer of (I think) formica. Of course I had a few spills and I can see the bottom of it showing damage.
What I would like to know is does a stand for a 6' X 1.5' 120 gallon tank absolutely need the center brace in the front? I have no issue with it in the back, but would like to avoid placing one in the front if at all possible without having to worry about it bowing.
My thoughts exactly!
I intended to go with 2 X 8. Aren't the 2 X 4 for the corners?H W D
I intend to make the stand 38" X 72 1/4" X 18 5/8. I would like to skin at the most 12.125" on both the L & R sides of the front and back panels and the entire 18" 5/8" of the sides. I would like to put 2 - 24"doors in the front for easy access. I have osteoarthritis and getting into tight spaces can and is torture. But I also don't want the whole thing to come crashing down either.
I haven't decided how to finish it yet because hubby's Big Screen & my 155 BF mixed reef's stand & canopy are black. I would love to do a "Red Sedona" stain, but not sure yet. Obviously if I go with the black stain or paint the plywood I use does not have to be the very best.
How does that sound? This will be my very first wood work project with minimal tools or work place for that matter. I do have circular saw, sliding miter saw, drill/driver, jig saw, palm sander, hand saw, hammer.
Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated!!!!!! Thanks folks....
rfd515
New member
Looking for advice
Looking for advice
Looking for some help/advice:
The tank is a 90g Aga Megaflow (4' long) and my stand is 6' long to accommodate the 27g Sump and 27g fuge. The tank will sit centered on the stand with 1' of space on each side.
Below is a picture of the stand in progress, I'm finishing up the outside corners then adding the rest of the vertical supports. It's based off of the design on page 1, just wider. The horizontal supports on top are where the corners and center of the tank will sit (1', 3', and 5').
My question: Since the stand is wider than the tank, can I just add vertical supports where the corners will be and not put them where the center is? Or do I have to put them at the center as well? I don't mind adding them to the center but they will further limit my mobility when working on my sump/fuge.
My other option: putting vertical supports on the front at 1' and 5'(just where the corners of the tank will sit) and putting vertical supports at 1', 3', and 5' (corners of tank and center) on the back of the stand.
Any help is greatly appreciated,
-Bob
Pic:
Looking for advice
Looking for some help/advice:
The tank is a 90g Aga Megaflow (4' long) and my stand is 6' long to accommodate the 27g Sump and 27g fuge. The tank will sit centered on the stand with 1' of space on each side.
Below is a picture of the stand in progress, I'm finishing up the outside corners then adding the rest of the vertical supports. It's based off of the design on page 1, just wider. The horizontal supports on top are where the corners and center of the tank will sit (1', 3', and 5').
My question: Since the stand is wider than the tank, can I just add vertical supports where the corners will be and not put them where the center is? Or do I have to put them at the center as well? I don't mind adding them to the center but they will further limit my mobility when working on my sump/fuge.
My other option: putting vertical supports on the front at 1' and 5'(just where the corners of the tank will sit) and putting vertical supports at 1', 3', and 5' (corners of tank and center) on the back of the stand.
Any help is greatly appreciated,
-Bob
Pic:
spsfreak
Premium Member
Based off of what I have read on this thread, you should be ok with 1' and 5' (just corners) supports. Anything above 36 inches requires center support unless you go with a 2x6 for the top support. Maybe one of the "experts" can chime in.... but I wouldn't hold your breath, it appears that they don't frequent this thread anymore.
HTH Matt
HTH Matt
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
rfd515,
If you place legs at 1' and 5' you will effectively have the same design as on the first page. As such, 2X4s for a 75g will be just fine.
spsfreak,
We do frequent the thread, we just may not always answer questions that have already been addressed. When the thread splits, I will try to compile most of the common questions/answers onto the first page of the new thread.
irish02bk,
I would say using 2X4s only you could probably make a stand for under 50 bucks in lumber. Plywood, doors, finish, trim will all depend on what you want the stand to look like and will drastically affect cost.
If you place legs at 1' and 5' you will effectively have the same design as on the first page. As such, 2X4s for a 75g will be just fine.
spsfreak,
We do frequent the thread, we just may not always answer questions that have already been addressed. When the thread splits, I will try to compile most of the common questions/answers onto the first page of the new thread.
irish02bk,
I would say using 2X4s only you could probably make a stand for under 50 bucks in lumber. Plywood, doors, finish, trim will all depend on what you want the stand to look like and will drastically affect cost.
I used this DIY plan to built my stand. What I like most about this stand is that it stay really open on the front of the stand. On my pictures it has extra 2x4's but that will be for the drywall because my tank is going to be an in-wall. Anyway my tank is 78W X 30W x 24H. Here it is with a fresh paint job.
I forgot to mention that the stand is 47" tall.
I forgot to mention that the stand is 47" tall.
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Is there somewhere on these 33 pages that will tell you the total lenght or how many 2x4's to get for a 75g build? or is there a quick calculator? I'm going to build mine this weekend.
Also are the screws being angled in? screws showing from the outside or ar they hidden and screwed from the inside. Is the H for the purple and green using the height of the tank or whatever height you want it to be?
Also are the screws being angled in? screws showing from the outside or ar they hidden and screwed from the inside. Is the H for the purple and green using the height of the tank or whatever height you want it to be?
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David - Miami
Aquanot!
Irish - See the very first post by Rocket and alter to your dimensions.
savethereef
SCRK
any one have a link for a 225g stand. The dimensions will be
72L x 30W x 40H
thanks
72L x 30W x 40H
thanks
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