DIY Stands Template and Calculator

[Wellcraft]

I also have a 60" long tank, 120gal.
What is the design for this frame?

Thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10621673#post10621673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Siffy
Michael,
That should be fine given you limit yourself to a 4' span. I'm just thinking 2x4's should be fine on a 120g, so they're fine here too. I have a 60" stand (odd size, 70g, think 55g + 1' longer) factory built similarly. Double doors in the middle allow a lil over 24" opening in my case.

RocketEngineer,
I know how that is. Same position here for the past 2 months. Not the house, but tight budget for a bit. Why the re-assembly? Trying to straighten the boards?

Dwight,
You screw through the base sections into the screw strips and through the legs into the screw strips. That's it. Nothing directly binds the legs to either bases. I know, it seems too simple to be correct.

 

[NanoBen]

I need a bit of guidence, i have a 180 acrylic 6'x2'x2'. as you can see the drain pipe will hit the "green boards" Im wondering if i can just cut them shorter on the back? any suggestions would be appreciated

i will be using 2x8" top so that will give me a few inches and a 3/4" top...

also just to clarify, with an acrylic tank you must have a top and "blue boards" right?

 

[Wellcraft]

I'm in the process of designing my stand, I don't have the tank yet because they had to order it. My question is, since this is a reef ready tank with corner flows on each side how can this affect the upper part of the frame, meaning that I think the frame could obstruct the way of the plumbing from the corne flows?

 

[Wellcraft]

Stevedola, what are you using for the skin, panels or solid wood and what kind of wood?

QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12906681#post12906681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
heres a few pictures of my progress. picking up some corner molding and quarter round tomorrow and then the stain but so far so good IMO.
<a href="http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/?action=view&current=DSCF5007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/DSCF5007.jpg~original" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/?action=view&current=DSCF5006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/DSCF5006.jpg~original" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/?action=view&current=DSCF5009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n138/stevedola/DSCF5009.jpg~original" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> [/QUOTE]

 

[Wellcraft]

lubyone1 you stand looks great, what are you using for the skin, panel or solid wood, and what type of wood?

I want to put my tank behind my bed as a head board and want to basically copy my bed furniture but I'm not sure what type of wood was used and I'll like to make it as similar as possible. I think you grain looks like my furniture.

Thanks in advance

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12097887#post12097887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lubyone1
Hey Rocket - just wanted to say thanks for the designs. I couldn't have done it without your plans!

Some pics!

Thanks again!

 

[stevedola]

i used solid red oak for my skin.

you going to have the tank at the head of the bed? might be alittle noisey.

 

[Wellcraft]

Thanks fully I'm the kind of person that needs some kind of noise to sleep, I always have to turn on a fan or something else when I'm going to bed.
This is the second time I'm having a tank nest to my bed, I had one next to my bed, like 15 years ago.

It shouldn't be a problem.

BTW, thanks for the info.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13101754#post13101754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
i used solid red oak for my skin.

you going to have the tank at the head of the bed? might be alittle noisey.

 

[happyclam]

Sorry if I'm cutting in on anybody, but I just have a question. Would a wood stand be able to support a 270 gal aquarium (72"L x 36"W x 24"T)? Or should I look into a metal stand?

 

[Underwood]

I will be building a stand for my 120 (48" x 25" x 24"), but I had a question about alternatives to the screw strip in the back corner where the overflow is. The tank only has one overflow, in the back left hand corner, and it doesn't look like I will have room for a 2x4 screw strip there.

Could a use some type of metal bracket to attach the frame to the legs on the inside of the stand, then run a 2x4 screw strip along the back outside part of the stand for that side? Would that be strong enough?

Any other ideas?

 

[stevedola]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13106274#post13106274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
Would a wood stand be able to support a 270 gal aquarium (72"L x 36"W x 24"T)? Or should I look into a metal stand?

if built properly there is no doubt.

 

[dteske]

Would a wood stand be able to support a 270 gal aquarium (72"L x 36"W x 24"T)? Or should I look into a metal stand?

I'm filling my 300 gal now... It's built based on these plans. One thing I noticed was the huge difference changing from the nailing strips to pocket screws. Not sure if it was due to the height of the stand ~40", but using the pocket holes and screws made it rock solid. The jig was like $20, found mine at Lowes, and way worth it in my opinion.

 

[eme]

dteske .. can I understand that properly . You didn't use the screw strips rather you used 'angled' screws using a a pre-angled jig? Do you have a photo of how you did that ?

 

[cpeisher]

http://www.kregtool.com/products/pht/index.php

 

[dteske]

http://www.kregtool.com/products/pht/index.php

Yep that's the one. I got the mini kit and used their screws as well. I've got some pics, I'll try to get them up in the next day or so.

 

[tsouth]

Here's my stand that I built using the exact instructions listed in this diy. 2x4's skinned in 1/4" sandleply. I've just finished the doors here. Decided to do something simple and not so bland. I haven't mounted them but i'll get around to it once i find some nice hinges since euro's aren't an option. Great write up!

 

[zachofalltrades]

Just built my stand for a 125g, and here she is. The 2 center braces might come out, but I'm putting a 30g underneith the 125 so I figured the extra legs would give me a space to attach doors. But I ran into a problem... in the left front corner there is a 1/8th inch gap between the frame of the tank and the stand like it's just floating there, but everywhere else it's even. Any ideas on how to fix this? I thought about cutting a piece of 1/2 plywood to go underneith the tank and hope it closes up but I'm not so sure... I'd hate to have to replace the front 2x6. I don't think I can fill it with water as is though.




Imageshack crapped out and I'm running late for work... I'll get a pic of the gap later.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I haven't seen these mentioned, but wondered if anyone ever used these: 2"x3"'s instead of 2"x4"'s ??

I've notice our local Lowes has 2"x3"s in addition to 2"x4"s and the 2"x3"s appear to be straighter and not as warped.

 

[eme]

cpeisher and dteske. Thanks very much for the information on 'Pocket Screws'. We have the same concept over here .. just not the branding. Guides rock out for a couple of euros ...

 

[OCEAN SIZE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13137168#post13137168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tsouth
Here's my stand that I built using the exact instructions listed in this diy. 2x4's skinned in 1/4" sandleply. I've just finished the doors here. Decided to do something simple and not so bland. I haven't mounted them but i'll get around to it once i find some nice hinges since euro's aren't an option. Great write up!

NICE work.

Sandleply - what is that?

I like your results and would like to follow what you did... thanks and great stand.

 

[cpeisher]

sandply, is what i think he meant. It's regular plywood with oak veneer.

Ok here is my situation. I am using a 55g (48x13x20) for a sump under a 90g tank. I plan on using a calcium reactor, skimmer, phos and carbon reactors, having a controller (prob a reef keeper 2), fuge with light, basically a lot of stuff. What i'm trying to figure out is how tall i need to build the stand so i will have plenty of room to fit all my stuff under the stand. I am going to have to make the stand deeper than the 90g so i'll have plenty of room depth wise, but i need some help determining the height of the stand. I want to have enough room on top of the 55 so i don't feel like things are cramped getting into and out of the 55. What would you guys suggest as the maximum height i could make the stand so it is easy to view without having to stoop down, easy to access teh inside, and not to dangerously top heavy?