DIY Stands Template and Calculator

[hawks66]

This thread has been invaluable to my stand. which im planning on picking the lumber up today for. The question i have that I haven't seen answered is this...

Im building my stand 48 wide by 24 inches deep using the standard design, but my tank is only 12 inches deep, the front edge of the tank will rest on top of the horizontal 2x4, but the back edge of the tank will not.

Im building it this way to future proof it against a bigger tank, and to give myself more room in the sump area.

is this ok? is it only ok using a certain thickness of plywood? it is a rimmed tank.

thank you for your help.

 

[TheFishMan65]

Dustinc - Screwing door on is not a problem

hawks - just add an extra brace across the back to hold the back edge and make sure it is supported by legs and bottom frame to the floor.

 

[TheFishMan65]

Dustinc - Screwing door on is not a problem

hawks - just add an extra brace across the back to hold the back edge and make sure it is supported by legs and bottom frame to the floor.

 

[moondoggy4]

hawks66 Welcome to reef Central Is your tank 48 Long X 24'' wide and 12'' deep I would put either 5/8 marine plywood or 3/4 american made plywood.

 

[CRJ]

Question.

Have a 48 long X 24 deep by 36 tall stand. 2x6 top frame, 2x4 bottom with 2x4 legs.

Ordered a 36x24x16T rimless tank from miracles. they claim it is a non floating bottom (side panes on top of bottom pane of glass) so i would expect to put it on foam. BUT, i was told it comes with bottom trim (***) and to put the whole thing trim and all on the foam and the trim will just compress the foam (whats the point of it then?)

Anyways, can i put a 36" tank on a stand thats 48" long? I will have 3/4" plywood top, with 2x4's no further then 12" apart between the main 2x6 supports? Will this be OK?

2x4 supports will be in the center, at the edges of the tank and middle between edges of tank and center. (5 total under plywood between main 2x6's, theres only 3 now)

I overbuild stuff, im cool with it

Pic for reference.

 

[TheFishMan65]

I would add a cross brace where the tank sits (6 inches in from each end ?). With that and the ply wood you should be fine. Most 48 inch and less (framed) don't need full support, but I would double check with the manufacturer.

 

[kara13]

I'm upgrading my tank from a 37 to a 80 gallon. It will be an in wall that spans 2 rooms. Current tank is in kitchen on existing cabinets (it will need some extra support). Currently has a window into living room.

New tank will go through wall and 7.5" into living room (tank is 36x24x21). New cabinet will be 14" wide, so tank edge will be in middle of that cabinet.

The living room cabinet will also be longer than kitchen cabinet, so I have extra beams for the edges.

I would appreciate comments on my cabinet plans.

http://karacapaldo.zenfolio.com/p1004034142/h50b5fabc#h50b5fabc

http://karacapaldo.zenfolio.com/p1004034142/h50b5fab0#h50b5fab0

http://karacapaldo.zenfolio.com/p1004034142/h50b5ff30#h50b5ff30

 

[sgammon1]

I'm wanting to build my stand this weekend. Can you tell me what you think of this design and if it will work. Basically I'm using the template design as the base. My tank is a 125 gallon, 60x24. I want the stand to be exactly 60"x24" so I made the frame 58 1/2 inchs so I can put 3/4 melamine on the sides to make it exactly 60" In the front I have it over lay just about an inch so that the doors with the flush with the front of the tank. Essentially it's an elos design stand but with lumber. My original post is here that I wanted to make it out of all plywood.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2245652

Here is the current design.

 

[CRJ]

I would add a cross brace where the tank sits (6 inches in from each end ?). With that and the ply wood you should be fine. Most 48 inch and less (framed) don't need full support, but I would double check with the manufacturer.

Yea thats exactly what my plan was. Miracles claims 5/8" ply and foam, im going to do foam 3/4" ply and the added braces. Thanks for the help! I just got a picture of my tank from them so i need to get moving!

Nate

 

[TheFishMan65]

kara, If I understand the layout the tank looks good. Just remember all support from wood on wood not from screws.

Steve, If it was plywood I would say fine, but I am not familiar with the properties of melamine. What does it do when (not if) it get wet? I know MDF does not work well for stands. I am a little worried about the inch over hang. If it was a framed tank I would not recommend it, not familiar with unframed enough to comment. But I thought I would give you a few things to think about

 

[kara13]

kara, If I understand the layout the tank looks good. Just remember all support from wood on wood not from screws.

Thanks! Do you have a specific paint you recommend for inside sump cabinet?

 

[sgammon1]

Steve, If it was plywood I would say fine, but I am not familiar with the properties of melamine. What does it do when (not if) it get wet? I know MDF does not work well for stands. I am a little worried about the inch over hang. If it was a framed tank I would not recommend it, not familiar with unframed enough to comment. But I thought I would give you a few things to think about

The elos isn't framed and has the overhang on the stand. Actually the tank is hung off the stand about 3/4" My design, I would still have the melamine underneath. Mine would be more of 3/4 as well.

I would also seal the edges of the melamine and add melamine strips to the sides

 

[TheFishMan65]

kara, I always ask the folks at the store. I do like white on the inside since it make it seem brighter.

Steve, If melamine isn't made for water I wouldn't use it. If the seal isn't perfect, gets scratched, etc. you don't want the stand falling down. Now maybe it isn't structural, but the tank does rest on it. I wouldn't do it without more research (which you may have done).

 

[kara13]

I appreciate your quick responses FishMan!

 

[NeptuneHood]

Built three 90g stands from the original template. They are all set up and stained and have handles, but I did this probably 6 months ago and just wanted to add to the thread and say thanks.

IMG_3935 by raymondwise, on Flickr

Working on an 8 20L rack based on these plans currently.

 

[Moveda7]

I really like the stand template and am looking to use it on my next build. I have a 20g long rimless DT and am trying to figure out the best way to place a sump of the same size in the cabinet yet still support the DT appropriately. Maybe I am over thinking this as the display is pretty small. Any thoughts? I saw the design for a stand that was built several years ago before the thread was split where the cabinet was quite a bit bigger than the footprint of the display (Post#74 from rocket engineer to saltwaterfishlover). Does that seem like a reasonable plan for my setup? I do t want the cabinet to be that much bigger, I just need to be able to have room for the sump.

 

[Davey Bones]

RocketEngineer, I am working on a 55 gallon stand, I like all of the designs, and I really like Neptunehood. The only thing I want to change is to be a able to add molding around the top where the bottom of the tank would be, to be more decrotive. Could you please give me the plans like you have for some others. And let me know if I could get by with a 2x4 or 2x6"s. Thank you for any help you can give.

 

[NeptuneHood]

Looking for some help

Looking for some help

My sketchup file is located Here if you want to see the design and pieces.

I'm having real trouble trying to design a rack and am looking for some guidance.

I want 1 rack to hold 4x 20L tanks, 2 @ 24" high and the other two 27.5" higher than that. Tanks are long side back-to-back. Attached is my attempt, but as you can see the weight is on yellow and grey which are not supported all the way to the ground. I can't figure out how to get these tanks above one another because my legs sit on the corners which is where the tanks need to sit. Does anyone have any plans for something like this? I wanted to use only 2x4 and no plywood, but I'm not thinking that's a possibility. I've attached my attempt and I am pretty disappointed in it..

 

[TheFishMan65]

Neptune her is a plan from way back. With these small tanks I would do similar. Take 2x4 (may need to be a 2x6) and add a middle leg. To support a cross brace. With small tank you can support from just the front and back.

 

[RocketEngineer]

TheFishMan65, I have an improved version of that design (color coded).

Neptunehood,
For tanks that small you shouldn't need to support the ends, just the front and back edges like TheFishMan65 said. A third set of verticals in the middle supporting a center rail is plenty.