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Can some one design a stand for my tank?? The outside dem are 96" x 24"w x 48"t. It is 1.25" acrylic. I would prefer one center support if possible. Thanks.
 
That is a really tall tank! I would use 2x8s for the top and add one down the center. I make sure each bean is supported at the ends and the middle. Does that idea work?
 
I was thinking using 2x8s on the 6 verticles and using either (2) 2x8 or 2x10 for the horizontal support with 3/4" top. Would i be better off me making a stand out of metal or wood strongh enough for this kind of weight?
 
I don't know enough about metal. It would allow for smaller beams if space underneath is critical. I am thinking with that sized tank you must have a fish room somewhere.

you don't need 2x4 legs, but you can if you want to. I don't know all the rules for acrylic, but I do know you need support under the entire tank. That is why I suggested the third horizontal support supported in 3 places. Maybe you could get away with nail cross braces (front to back) or use joist hangers, if you need the area under the tank free.
 
Well here is my stand made using these directions, but I am slightly worried. After making the stand as flat and square as possible there is a slight gap between the plastic frame and the wood. Should I be concerned about this?

The tank is 75 gallons.


Front View - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/259/1front.jpg




Side View - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/2sideview.jpg




Top Level - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/3levelontop.jpg




Stand Level - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/4levelonbottom.jpg




Gap - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/42/5gap.jpg




The gap can be filled by cramming 4 sheets of thin paper in (the gap size is about 1/2 thickness of a dime... just enough to freely slide a folded over sheet of paper back and forth) - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/202/6filled.jpg




When I place a level on the plastic frame it seems as if that is actually bowing UP in the center not down... perhaps its not my stand, but actually the tank! - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/7frameunlevel.jpg




Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Update: On page 48 of this thread it seems that a real "professional" weighed in. I guess since I have the two short sides and a few inches in on the long sides supported I should be fine.


Sorry for the delay in response.

That is true, for tanks 48” and smaller all you really need to support are either the two ends or if you do just the corners you will want about 3 to 4 inches from each corner in either direction supported. Larger tanks are a little different as the middle of the long edge would need supported as well.

Regards,

Rob Moneyhan
Central Aquatics Tech Lead
Phone# 888-255-4527 or 414-423-8544
Fax# 800-398-0396 or 414-421-9682
Email: rmoneyhan@central.com
Click to expand...
 
Tmaciejewski. my aqueon 40 breeder has the same issue, nothing to do with the stand though. The plastic frame itself seems to make that happen. Wouldn't matter what stand I set it on, it would be very slightly higher in the middle. Throwing a straight edge across it shows the plastic comes up every so slightly more in the center.

not enough silicone or whatever they attach it with maybe?

Later
 
Tarkin said:
Tmaciejewski. my aqueon 40 breeder has the same issue, nothing to do with the stand though. The plastic frame itself seems to make that happen. Wouldn't matter what stand I set it on, it would be very slightly higher in the middle. Throwing a straight edge across it shows the plastic comes up every so slightly more in the center.

not enough silicone or whatever they attach it with maybe?

Later
Click to expand...

I took apart a new 29 gallon tank someone gave me to fix one time that illustrates what's probably going on. It's cheaper to order glass that's ground only on the short end. The long ends because they are concealed by the plastic frame, are "seamed", that is cut with a glass cutter which can wave a little as it breaks along the score line from the cutter.

I took this 29 apart and I was going to flip the piece of glass over. I'd done many of these before and that always worked. This time they had already put the worst uneven edge at the top, so I had to wet-grind the best edge to get the needed fit. This is probably why so many tank makers have gone to floating bottoms.
 
Still need help with my 96" x 24"w x 48"t acrylic 1.25" thick. What are some designs for wood and metal stands for my tank?
 
Im finishing up my stand that I built following this thread. After setting the tank on the stand I noticed that the front top horizontal board had a ~1/8" bow. So there is about a 1/8" gap at the largest point. Im pretty new to wood working so I was hoping to get some other users inputs on what I can do to fix it, if its even an issue, or if I just have to replace the board. Is this something you could shim? Or is that just asking for trouble?

Its kind of hard to see in a photo but below is a pic, Thanks!


bottomgap.jpg
 
CDog,

How about 2x8 frame with joist hangers to support he middle cross braces (7 would work well). Center post in the front and back?

Post 2087 was a typo you need 2x4 legs, but there is no reason to go larger.
 
Wow sorry, was in a hurry posting and completely missed that!

Tank is a 210gal, 72" long. The board starts to bow pretty quickly, within a few inches on the left and within 6" or so on the right.

Thank you for the help!
 
Does anybody have a link to, or a copy of the pic from the original plan? It appears that it's gone from RC's image store.

Spacey :)
 
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