DIY Stands Template and Calculator

I gotta agree with uncleof6. I just gave two good coats of Behrs interior latex normally used for trim work. That is more than adequate for occasional splashes and spills. If the tank is leaking, the stand is my least concern.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14746000#post14746000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleof6
But there is no sense complicating simple things like painting a friggin stand either. If your stand is taking a bath in salt water, you got other probems that two part paint ain't gunna take care of.

Jim

Ok, now I am confused. I thought the purpose of painting the inside of a stand was to protect the wood from moisture and the occasional spills, not to compensate for catastrophic disaster. At least that is the impression I got from reading the various posts here. Some used paint, some used tiles, and some used pond liner. Did I misunderstand the concept?

Chris
 
No need to be confused. As for painting your stand, you are correct. Most people use paint as a means of sealing the wood so that mositure is not an issue. I used sealer\water proof caulking, mold resistant paint for all of the undersiding of the stand, and then a gloss on the very bottom for easy clean-up for small spills. I understand that my stand will only hold a larger amount of water for a short amount of time, however, that was my choice. If I wanted to 'waterproof' the bottom to where it hold a certain amount of water (in case of over flow) for a long period of time, I would resort to liners and things of that nature.
 
From reading this is what i'm gonna try let me know what u think

inwall 300gal lots of live rock. Marineland RR 72''x36''x27''tall

2x8 top
2 2x4s in each corner with two spaced evenly on front (for drywall)
open back for access and storage
2x4 bottom

sound good to you?
just questioning length without support because tank is so wide (3').
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14769588#post14769588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefpimp#1
From reading this is what i'm gonna try let me know what u think

inwall 300gal lots of live rock. Marineland RR 72''x36''x27''tall

2x8 top
2 2x4s in each corner with two spaced evenly on front (for drywall)
open back for access and storage
2x4 bottom

sound good to you?
just questioning length without support because tank is so wide (3').
The front should be ok but I would want to have at least one support for the back because of the size of your tank. RocketEngineer can give you a better answer.
 
Inclosed stand

Inclosed stand

I am looking at putting ¼” plywood on the back and side of my stand with doors on the front but am concerned about moisture build up inside the stand. Has anyone had that issue? If so, what is a good fix? Cut outs, fans? Thanks.
 
project begins tomorrow

project begins tomorrow

im undertaking this project tomorrow i had a question in regards to the calculator. The tank is a 180g tank plastic rimmed. 6'x2'x2'. i was wanting to construct the stand to 35in in height. that being said is there anything i need to adjust i was going to use 2x8s for the entire project. the h-10.75" is throwing me off. does that mean i need to build those @24.25"sorry but i just need a lil clarification.
 
Re: project begins tomorrow

Re: project begins tomorrow

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773717#post14773717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papajojo
im undertaking this project tomorrow i had a question in regards to the calculator. The tank is a 180g tank plastic rimmed. 6'x2'x2'. i was wanting to construct the stand to 35in in height. that being said is there anything i need to adjust i was going to use 2x8s for the entire project. the h-10.75" is throwing me off. does that mean i need to build those @24.25"sorry but i just need a lil clarification.

actually that measurement is assuming you are doing 2x4 at the base & 2x8 on the top....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14306863#post14306863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RocketEngineer
Things to note:

A 2X4 is actually 1.5" X 3.5"; a 2X6 is actually 1.5" X 5.5"; and a 2X8 is actually 1.5" X 7.25".

since you are doing a 2x8 on top & bottom rails, you would subtract 14.5" (2x8 is 7.25 x 2) from the height so you would make the legs 20.5" (35-14.5)

make sense?
 
Re: Re: project begins tomorrow

Re: Re: project begins tomorrow

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14775772#post14775772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
actually that measurement is assuming you are doing 2x4 at the base & 2x8 on the top....



since you are doing a 2x8 on top & bottom rails, you would subtract 14.5" (2x8 is 7.25 x 2) from the height so you would make the legs 20.5" (35-14.5)

make sense?
Ditto,

Also, make sure you have enough room height wise in front to get your sump in and out and enough room to work on equipment. Figgured that one out the hard way. :)
 
Thanks for all the great info.

I had a quick question. i'm going to be building a very similar stand out of 2x4s and 2x6s for my 3/4" thick glass tank it measures 72"x24" (outside to outside). I know the inside 2x4s are suppose to measure 21.5" but my current sump is just a hair shy of 22" and it has to sit inside of the 2x4s. will it cause a problem if i make the center pieces 22" instead of 21.5"?

Thanks.
 
Does anyone find it to be a problem to place a sheet of styrofoam between a tank, with trim, and the stand? Please let me know

Thanks ---
Chris
 
The rim is what supports your tank. All the weight of the tank is on the black trim. Foam is not necessary and can make a tank with trim worse. Rimless have there weight evenly distributed across the entire piece of foam.
 
how about some of the stick-on weather stripping?? thought about doing it just in case my top plywood isn't 100% straight
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794069#post14794069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer2727
The rim is what supports your tank. All the weight of the tank is on the black trim. Foam is not necessary and can make a tank with trim worse. Rimless have there weight evenly distributed across the entire piece of foam.
Not to disagree with you, but the company I'm buying the tank from have done rim tank installations using foam without any problems.

The reason why I like to use foam is to evenly distribute the weight, and at the same time foam is softer than wood. If not foam would you have another suggestion?

Thanks
 
RocketEngineer, just to double-check an earlier post you mentioned that for smaller than 55g tanks, it would be okay to use smaller than 2x4s, right?
I have a standard 29g and was thinking of using 1x4 maple or red oak all the way around - still okay, even for the longer pieces that make up the front and back to support the tank?
Thanks,
David.
 
I thought this thread would be a good place to ask, how much of a span can safely be achieved using dual 2x6 side-by-side supported by a 4x4? The reason I ask is I have built my own stand to support a 280g 72x30x30 and I made an unobstructed opening in the front that spans 54.5" for easy sump installation/access. Is that going to be okay?
Thanks for your advise - Dave
 
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