DIY Stands Template and Calculator

[Holyhands22]

It is possible to build a wood stand this size. What you need to do is have at least one center brace. If you could tolerate two center supports along the 130" dimension, then the lumber necessary would be reduced further.

Could you explain what you are after concerning the "open look"?

RocketEngineer

I dont have a cadd program so i will try and explain. The best thing i could compare it to would be like a coffe table where it has the four legs and then maybe bracing underneath of the tabletop. I wouldnt mind an x design from one leg to another if that makes sense. I understand that for a tank this size that would be pretty difficult. A friend of mines dad owns a construction company so i have kind of unlimited tools and resources if i need them. But just trying to get an idea of what i need to do.

What kind of extra bracing would i need? Do you have different diagrams like the basic one you posted? Something i could see to get an idea maybe? Or would steel be my best option?

 

[nickbuol]

He is basically saying that you need a vertical brace in the front and back middle, or better yet two in the front and two in the back with the 130" span split, but those vertical braces would be in your "open" front, meaning you would see them.

Think of your coffee table design, but make it with 6 or 8 legs instead of just 4.

 

[RocketEngineer]

The coffee table idea is possible. I ran the numbers and think a 131" long stand would work best with 8 legs. That would get you 39" between each leg (39*3+3.5*4=131). If it were mine, I might be tempted to have the legs on each end such that the screw strips are on the outside while those front and back have the screw strips inside. Let me work up a model to show you what I'm thinking.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Something like this:

Slightly different view:

This way, the red and orange parts are 130" and there is 40" between each leg. The lower section could have a shelf added between the rails. Made from clear lumber and then stained or clear coated, it would look pretty good.

RocketEngineer

 

[Holyhands22]

Rocket that is awesome something like that would be an awesome looking stand I'm going to use this model and see what I can come up with thanks dude. Are both the red and orange locations 2x8s????

 

[nickbuol]

LOL... That is exactly what I mentioned...

Think of your coffee table design, but make it with 6 or 8 legs instead of just 4.

 

[nickbuol]

Well, I used this design to build a 120 gallon stand tonight. At least the support frame anyway. I just used the basic design but with the recommended 2x6 top outside frame that will actually make contact with the tank edges. Since this is still just a basic 24" x 48" x whatever-height-you-want stand, it was just those four top pieces that were 2x6. I used a 2x4 for the center brace and made if flush with the bottom of the top frame. I also added a couple of addition support braces on the bottom since I wanted some support under the plywood that will go down there to hold a 40 gallon sump.

It sure would have been nice to have a helper for holding things together initially once building started, but I managed to do it all fairly easily. Then again, this isn't my first construction work either.

My biggest mistake (and hopefully my only mistake) is that looking back, I probably didn't build it tall enough. It is right at 34" tall. I was originally thinking 38" might be nice, but somewhere along the way, I wrote down 34" on my planning papers and it just kept getting transferred to the different worksheets I used. Oh well. My only though at this point would be to line the top with 2x2 material to add another 1.5" height, but I am not sure that it is worth it.

Thanks again for the plans.

 

[RocketEngineer]

LOL... That is exactly what I mentioned...

I know. It's not the first time someone has asked for something like this.

Rocket that is awesome something like that would be an awesome looking stand I'm going to use this model and see what I can come up with thanks dude. Are both the red and orange locations 2x8s????

The red and yellow boards are 2X6 as they only bridge the 40" openings. The rest is 2X4.

RocketEngineer.

 

[ridetheducati]

If I may...

I built a wood stand for a 300g (72x36x27) with top frame made with 2x8. I did not include a center vertical support in the front because I want it open; however, I did include a center support (2x4) in the rear. All lumber is 2x4 except the top frame that are 2x8.

Will my stand be fine with the open front without a center support?

 

[C-Rad]

I built a wood stand for a 300g (72x36x27) with top frame made with 2x8. I did not include a center vertical support in the front because I want it open...Will my stand be fine with the open front without a center support?

I ran your tank dimensions through the formula for beam deflection, assuming a gross weight of 11.5 lbs. per gallon, and assuming that your tank is 27" tall (not 36" tall). There are two ways to orient the two 2x4's that make up each leg. Since your tank is 72" long, if you orient the 2x4's as shown on the left the open span in the front will be 62". If you do it like the picture on the right, the span will be 65". The longer span will have more deflection:

62" span (left picture): .067" deflection
65" span (Right picture): .081" deflection (20% more)

Either is okay, but I'd go with the 62" span if you can spare the extra 3"

How wide a span do you want in the front? If, for example, you only need to fit a 48" long sump under there, rather than put a single extra leg in the middle, you could put two additional legs along the front (use 2x2's), with a 49" span between them. That would reduce the deflection to 0.025" - much better, if you don't mind the obstruction caused by the two new legs.

 

[ridetheducati]

Appreciate the calculations. The stand is constructed like the above right picture. I would like the opening to be 50". Based on your feedback, I will incorporate two new legs in the front to allow a 50" opening.

Again, thanks for the feedback.

 

[ridetheducati]

Double post.

 

[Wretch]

I am looking at building a stand for a 50g tank(36x18x19) but its going in a strange corner and would like some advice on how to best use up the space. Dont want the stand higher then 33" so it is just under the window sill and I can still reach in without a stool.

The cardboard is the tank footprint but an inch larger (39x19)be cause I dont have exact measurements of tank yet. The strip is just to mark a straight line to the wall.
Measurements are from the front around to the left
57"-33"-18"-62"

Is it best to just build a regular stand and fill the rest of the space in? or is it possible to make a one piece stand to fill the space but leave most of the interior of the stand open for storage(sump,ato,etc)?

 

[Mr_Jones]

HI

My tank is 72x28x30. I want to make my stand much wider then the actual tank. I want the stand to be 60" wide, almost double the width of the tank. Will this cause me trouble since the edges of the tank will not be supported by the edges of the stand? Any help on this would be great.

 

[RocketEngineer]

HI

My tank is 72x28x30. I want to make my stand much wider then the actual tank. I want the stand to be 60" wide, almost double the width of the tank. Will this cause me trouble since the edges of the tank will not be supported by the edges of the stand? Any help on this would be great.

The stand being wider isn't an issue as long as you have supports directly under the edges. The best way to do this would be to extend the "ends" of the stand so to support the extra width. If the long boards are moved inside of the ends, then all four sides of the tank can be supported properly.

By extending the yellow boards, you can extend the stand either way. Just make sure the top frame is 2X8 for the size tank you mentioned.

HTH,
RocketEngineer

 

[nickbuol]

I finished my stand on Tuesday, and put my 120 gallon tank on it Wednesday. Rock solid design advice here (not that anyone should be surprised by that) and I know that the tank won't crash through the stand... ever...

I will post a finished picture when we get back from out of town for the holiday, but thanks for the design help!

 

[Mr_Jones]

RocketEngineer thanks so much. With your picture this makes sense, thanks for taking the time. Also I assume its no risk to extend both sides out to have an even overhang on each side. Just as long as I mark properly where the 2x8 braces are and set the tank on top of them. Also based on what i'm reading and on your picture I don't need a centre vertical support when using 2x8.

 

[moondoggy4]

I am building a new stand for my 40 gallon breeder my first attempt is fire wood, the top and bottom rails were to warped to be useful. So I went back to a lumber store that sells to the trade and I bought some engineered 2 X 4's this type is like a bunch of splinters glued together, I was worried that the wood would not be manageable with the Kreg system but I was wrong it worked great.
So I will post some pictures showing how well the wood works, does not warp. I used regular 2 X 4's and they were still warped and gave me problems So the next time I would only use the engineered wood. The price was 21 dollars for a 21 foot piece.

 

[moondoggy4]

The image above is the top and bottom half. The next photo is of the stand part way finished.

 

[moondoggy4]

Second photo

Second photo

Sorry double post