Oversized Plywood tank for 125 -ok if I add a 1.5 inch thick top?

[neilp2006]

I have an aqueon 125- 72 inches long x 18 wide. I'm using a 40b as a sump- which is the same width.

I want to make a 2x6 and plywood stand, but if I make it to the dimensions of the DT, then I literally have zero extra room around the 40b and it'll be pretty tight. If I were to top the stand with a 1.5 inch thick (laminated 3/4 inch plywood) top, can I oversize the width of the stand by 6 inches to make a bit more room on the inside? I'd add crossbar 2x4 on 18 inch centers to help spread the load on the top to prevent bowing. Total height of the stand would be 34.5 inches, 36 with the top.

The top is a requirement by the wife to match the stand to the built in bookcase in the living room - sits practically next to the tank. It'll add "aesthetic cohesion".

I don't tried the dimensional lumber route a la rocket engineer, but my available stock is shitty and I need to shim the bottom frame like crazy to stop it rocking due to the wood having bows and crowns. It's going to be extremely time consuming to square it all ( had to pull it all down once already) - and I figured I could omit the bottom 2x4 frame and run the straight cut edge of the ply to the floor. I'll reuse the 2x6s and 2x4s I have to make headers sitting on top of legs going straight to the floor, and sheath them with 3/4 ply.

Sound ok?

Tldr- if I add a thick top, can I oversize the plywood stand for a 72 inch 125 gallon?

Cheers


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[Snug Tanks]

neilp2006: Have had issues with wood frames in the past. Had recently used extruded aluminum from Controlled Dynamics, went together extremely easy and looks great. Uses architectural anodizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LErpw9STO-4&feature=youtu.be

 

[neilp2006]

neilp2006: Have had issues with wood frames in the past. Had recently used extruded aluminum from Controlled Dynamics, went together extremely easy and looks great. Uses architectural anodizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LErpw9STO-4&feature=youtu.be

Yeah, I looked into Adult Mecanno (unistrut) but i would still need to face it with plywood to reach my happy wife metric. At that point, I figured spend an extra $15 a panel for the next thickness grade of ply and make the plywood box structural. I personally do like the unistrut open look though- but not in the living room.

Thanks for the tip- Appreciate the input




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[fishgate]

What is your issue? I have the identical setup and there is no problems at all. The 40b sits directly below the tank supported front and back with the same width rails as the top and I just added two more supports for the right and left side below the 40b.

Top frame = 2x6, everything else is 2x4. plywood top and sites. Inner supports are not needed but you can put them just to the right and left of the stand if you so desire.

The 40b and 125 are the same width so this is not as issue.

 

[fishgate]

What is your issue? I have the identical setup and there is no problems at all. The 40b sits directly below the tank supported front and back with the same width rails as the top and I just added two more supports for the right and left side below the 40b.

Top frame = 2x6, everything else is 2x4. plywood top and sites. Inner supports are not needed but you can put them just to the right and left of the stand if you so desire.

The 40b and 125 are the same width so this is not as issue.

 

[neilp2006]

No real issue than a perceived lack of space. The rim of the 40b will literally be touching the back and front plywood sheathing.

Having it oversized also means I can offset the dt and the sump by pushing the sump to the back by 4 inches, so my overflow plumbing can drop straight down. I know having angles In the pipes doesn't affect performance, so more a set up and aesthetic issue.

It isn't so much a specific issue I'm trying to solve, more a custom stand that deviates from the rocketengineer template a little and was wondering about how to compensate for it in the design.

Thanks


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[der_wille_zur_macht]

The way you've described the stand, it'll be wildly overbuilt if constructed well. No issues whatsoever oversizing it 6".

 

[Lsufan]

What I have done a few times was basically make the bottom of the stand larger then the top. So my 150 gallon is 60" by 24" by 24" & I made the bottom 30 " instead of 24 like the top. If u do it like that u can't have a center support on the back of the stand so u have to use a wider board across the back. So in your case u would need to use a 2 by 8 as the top frame on the back of the stand. Your supports will have to be in all four corners of the top frame so u wouldn't have any in the back corners of the bottom frame.

Even if u can squeeze the 40 breeder into the stand I still like to have the bottom frame bigger so u can push the sump to the back & it not take up your hole stand.

I probably didn't explain it well so here is a pic so u can see what I am talking about.