Stand strength

[KMB]

Ok I had a custom built stand made by glass cages.

42in tall

It is built with 3/4 oak on all sides. 2 doors built on one side and a extra door on the end and has 1 2x4 brace in the very middle.


I am paranoid about this holding up a 300 gallon tank 96x30x25.

I have seen the oceanic 215 and they are just made with mdf and did not see any middle brace.


someone put my mind at ease and tell me this will hold no issues as long as it is level!!!

 

[boxfishpooalot]

That sounds kinda weak to me. My stand is home made and is 2x4 everywhere. Even with 2x4s I think it would benefit with more wood.

Oak is pretty dense wood though. There is only one 2x4 that goes down the middle and thats all?

 

[KMB]

right just the oustide 3/4 oak and 1 2x4 suppot in the middle

 

[KMB]

bump

 

[liquidlunch]

Oak is pretty hard as you know. I built my 90gal stand out of 3/4"red oak. For added insurance, I framed the inside with 2x4's. I basically have 2 stands in one. I didn't have to do this but I was paranoid. Some of the ones at LFS's seem like they're made out of balsa wood!

 

[RowingMunkeyCU]

eh, i'd say you're better off building your own stand instead of having one built with questionable strength. it'll cost you less and you'll be more confident in the construction and structural integrity.

This is a model of the stand I am currently building for my 75G RR. It's definately overbuilt (entirely of 4x4s) but I could put something 2-3x heavier on it and still have no worries.

 

[KMB]

I was thinking about adding somemore support on both ends..Due to the way the doors are built not sure I can add anymore

 

[Eashton123]

I think it will support it, If it was made for a 300gal tank.. Wow thats big.. Thats atleast a ton..

 

[Racing1]

I guess I would have to see a puicture to understand. Sounds like you are saying it is 3/4 oak plywood all around and a 2x4 center brace. is the 2x4 brace on the outside edges? Also, does the edge of the tank sit on the plywood all the way around the tank? If so then it should be plenty strong enough...

 

[Black Mammoth]

I don't think that the stand is properly described. I would bet it is strong enough, but what you described doesn't make much sense. What does the stand rest on? Is there some type of internal frame?

BTW, 4x4s on a 75g is way overkill...but piece of mind is priceless.

2x6s are sufficient for a 300G tank if built correctly. I've seen this setup on several stands.

 

[Broreefr]

That is a little lite in the support department for me to feel safe.

Also weird coming from glass cages, I bought my 360 from them and when they let me know it was ready the lady asked about my stand, I told her I built it myself, she said with 4 x 4's and I said no very sturdy 2 x 4' construction. She kinda moaned........O.K. it's your tank. Needless to say I DOUBLE braced it with 4 x 4's before I picked the tank up and I do feel more secure.

I am sure the construction of their stand is solid.

But YOU are the one that will be crawling under several thousand pounds of water, glass and rocks.

I say add support.

 

[theatrus]

My 55g is held up by 6 4x4 posts

 

[RichConley]

Guys, what will hold a tank, and what people like to build are two totally different things


My LFS has a bank of tanks with 2 8x2x2 tanks on it, one on top of the other with about 18" between them. The stand is built out of 3/4" plywood, and nothing else.


The compression strenght of wood is ridiculous.

Your average home made stand for a 75g, you could park a sherman tank on, and I'm not even kidding.

The compressive strenght of a pine 2x4 is 750 PSI, so assuming a 2x4 is 1.5x3.5, thats roughly 4000lbs that a single 2x4 can support. That means, with your 4 corners 2x4s, if your stand is built correctly, and the tank isnt shifting left to right, it can hold 8 tons.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

But we have to take in to consideration wet areas,humidity, salt spray, ect. Wich can weaken wood considerably.

I think the stand will be fine, but I dont think its built to last a lifetime.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

Ok I found this:

standard kind of pine with a 12% moisture content is between 1200 and 1400 ksi (kips per square inch)

a kip is equal to 1,000 pounds, no idea how to convert that, but it seems rediculously strong!

Box

 

[KMB]

I seems then the 3/4 in oak plywood should be fine then with the one brace in the middle.

thank you for all the helpful info to all

 

[HowardW]

If you look at the standard pine Oceanic stands for larger tanks, they look incredibly weak and cheaply made to me with very little support, yet I guess they are enough.