Mod stand to accept sump

[davocean]

Both 1x's are needed, but the long one goes to the inside, not the outside as I think you are describing, and if screwed from inside those fasteners are hidden, and this also does not bump you out and mess up for hinges or doors.
The short one sits flush w/ face frame.

Lsufan drawing is correct and very helpful(I can't do comp drawings myself)

 

[fishkeeprian]

Both 1x's are needed, but the long one goes to the inside, not the outside as I think you are describing, and if screwed from inside those fasteners are hidden, and this also does not bump you out and mess up for hinges or doors.
The short one sits flush w/ face frame.

Lsufan drawing is correct and very helpful(I can't do comp drawings myself)

Do I need the arrangement at both ends of the tank or one arrangement in the middle or can you confirm which arrangement I should use from my attached photo.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vxktdbedy7b7dwe/20170828_203428.jpg?dl=0

 

[Lsufan]

I would put them in the middle of the stand. Right where your doors meet together when they are closed. I did the diagram from the side because u wouldn't be able to tell how to position them if the diagram was of the front of the stand.

Basically brace #1 is there to give u something to screw brace #2. Brace number 2 needs to be directly under your face frame of the stand. So the face frame of the existing stand actually sits on top of the brace. If u put the brace behind or in front of the face frame then the screws themselves are under a lot of pressure.

If u take a pic of what u have already done then I may be able to help more.

 

[fishkeeprian]

I would put them in the middle of the stand. Right where your doors meet together when they are closed. I did the diagram from the side because u wouldn't be able to tell how to position them if the diagram was of the front of the stand.

Basically brace #1 is there to give u something to screw brace #2. Brace number 2 needs to be directly under your face frame of the stand. So the face frame of the existing stand actually sits on top of the brace. If u put the brace behind or in front of the face frame than the screws themselves are under a lot of pressure.

If u take a pic of what u have already done then I may be able to help more.

Hi, all I've done is put in a cross member. If I put it in the middle then it goes against what I'm trying to achieve. I wanted an open cabinet at the bottom so I maintain a sump easily. The original picture at the top shows an actual EA Marine 900s tank stand and that's how they sell them. Is there no other way? I just can't see how they would sell them like that if you were going to get bowing issues. If you look at the red sea 250 stands they are sold the same way with a brace across the top with no central support. I have contacted EA Marine technical.

 

[davocean]

People compare to what stores sell all the time, and perhaps they will hold just fine for as long as that manufacturer intends for them to last, but going by my experience in this area, many manufacturers expect us to have that tank or be in the hobby a year or two, and sure an MDF stand should easily last that long, how long it takes before they begin to break down or crumble is another story.

Bottom line, MDF is a TERRIBLE choice for marine use long term, and there may be some better designed or using marine grade MDF that are better than others, but still not an ideal choice.

Altering or modifying an MDF stand usually if not always ends up compromising the integrity of it's design,and no manufacturer is going to advise you to do so.

At this point I have no idea what you are trying to achieve, and comments were based on the stand pictured based on assumption you had or planned on removing and replacing a brace in order to make a sump fit.