Ever built a plastic stand?

[bbrantley]

Hey all,

I've got a great steel-encrusted-with-truck-bed-liner stand that I had made to support Bertha, my 800G tank. I'm now trying to figure out how to build something to support all the supporting tanks -- refugium, grow-out tank, plus a couple QTs. I estimate I'll have a total of 300 gallons of support tankage, spread out across 4 or 5 tanks.

Anyway, I'm a little averse to building the stands out of wood simply because my whole fish room is basically waterproof and designed to handle water flooding the floor, humidity, etc. However, I don't want to go through the hassle and expense of a metal stand if I can help it. Has anyone built or found any kind of plastic stand that would support this kind of weight? I imagine I could do something with aluminum as well, but that seems pretty expensive.

I tried some searches but didn't really turn much up. Maybe I will just have to suck it up and build it out of wood, coat it, and hope it doesn't rot out or require replacement every three years.

Ben

 

[Chris Witort]

If you are talking about acrylic stand, then yes it can and has been done, but I think you will find that it will be your most expensive solution.

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9110482#post9110482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chris Witort
If you are talking about acrylic stand, then yes it can and has been done, but I think you will find that it will be your most expensive solution.

I was thinking maybe PVC or a related plastic. Certainly PVC tubing is longitudinally very strong... ?

 

[MaGNuS042]

how about those metal wire racks?? they support a ton of weight

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9111019#post9111019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MaGNuS042
how about those metal wire racks?? they support a ton of weight

Now that's not a bad idea. The concern I have is weight, but I guess I've seen those things pre-dipped or -coated with rubbery stuff, so maybe that would work. Hmm...

 

[MCary]

I'm sure plastic decking material would make a great stand.

Mike

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9116402#post9116402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MCary
I'm sure plastic decking material would make a great stand.

Mike

Another great idea, except, in my limited understanding, FRP decking is not structural by itself -- it needs a traditional framing underneath it, no? So I might be back to the same problem there...

 

[H20ENG]

FRP Strut is the end all of corrosion I built all of these for all types of equipment and tanks. All the brackets and even bolts are fiberglass. The stuff is the dogs danglies! All of this was Aikenstrut brand, the best I've used.

Just have your defibrillator standing by when you see the price tag. Oh, and use a diamond blade and other masonry tools for working with it. Tyvek and a respirator are mandatory or you will scrape your skin off scratching the itch.

I do agree though that plastic lumber (usually wood fibers and HDPE) is a great second choice, though a lot weaker.

Hope this helps,
Chris

 

[H20ENG]

This was a Mysid culture station I built using treated lumber, then 4 or 5 coats of epoxy. I used FRP plate for the feet to avoid the bottom paint being scraped off. I used the belt sander between coats and filled every little defect for a completely sealed surface.
A lot of work, but bulletproof and cheaper than all that strut.

 

[bbehring]

look at "Trex" wood. It's a weatherproof product! Same wood build, just no maintenance ever. I have this installed on a deck in my backyard deck! Super stuff. Bought it from HD. A little pricy, but worth it