Tank dilema...it doesnt fit to the stand

[AeroD79]

My friend's tank...
tank size is 36x24x24

the stand has a lip and its 3/4inch thick

Lip is 1.5inch high. But the tank is about 1/4 longer than the lip can take lengthwise. The tank is just a bit bigger than usual due to

depthwise its off by 1/4 to 3/8 as well.


I would like to get ideas on how to get it fit or tell me which of my option is the best.

option A add wood around the lip so that it will raise the tank 1.5 inches higher and sit along with the lip. Of course Ill sand down the lip to be even and straight with the higher wood and add 1/4 foam to distribute weight evenly. ( can i use a different wood, like ply or does it have to be the same wood as the lip?)

THis method will probably faster for me to do but no lip function. Depth is big enough that lip isnt very necessary.

option B Sand off the lips from the inside 1/8 inch of each side lenthwise and 3/8" off at the front lip. So this way the tank willl just slide right in.

This method will take longer for me and lips will be functional.

option C any other ideas?


Thanks!

 

[Sk8r]

Router. Or dremel. Burr that stand out, being careful you don't lose your wood strength where the screws connect the top to the sides. Your other idea, shimming it up with a solid slab of plywood, that would work too. Depends on looks. If you take solution A, I'd fix a piece of wood right along where the shelf meets the side support, so that the shelf is also supported by that. Maybe I don't have a thorough mental picture of this stand, but the fact that the shelf seems to come in and butt up against the side rather than sitting square atop the wood of the side is worrisome, in terms of strength to bear that weight. A tank weighs like a refrigerator, if a refrigerator swayed like jello when you walk across the floor. Anything you can do in the process to reinforce that shelf, be it L-braces, bar-braces, whatever, do it now. It's *** to do it later.

 

[AeroD79]

Can routers cut or trim down to an 1inch and a half depth?

If so this sounds easier and ill just lay a 1/4'' ply and 1/4 foam on top of it.

Then Ill still have the lip.

 

[yeloyoshi]

option 3... buy a new stand...

 

[AeroD79]

sorry that i cant do. Im pretty sure there's a way to get around this by modding it.

ill be stopping by tomororw at his house to get the idea on its structure.

 

[JenDub]

Is it a glass tank? If so, they only need to be supported along the frame's edge typically. The problem would be if you router out the edge of the trim, will the edge of the tank be resting on a load bearing part of the stand or on the non-load bearing trim piece of wood? That would be really really bad.

 

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7097718#post7097718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AeroD79
Can routers cut or trim down to an 1inch and a half depth?

If so this sounds easier and ill just lay a 1/4'' ply and 1/4 foam on top of it.

Then Ill still have the lip.

Go to HD and see if they have a router bit that will do what you want. If they do, it will only take a few minutes to fix.

 

[laverda]

Sounds like the lip is a seprate trim peice. Without seeing it it is hard to say exactly. I would remove the trim and get a sheet of 3/4" plywood sized to match your tank. Attach this to the top of the stand. Then attach new trim if you want to cover up the bottom edge of the tank.

 

[AeroD79]

the lip is part of the stand 's faces
like this pic of an unfinished stand ( the one I made)
http://users.adelphia.net/~aerodee79/200603/200600312 042.jpg

 

[AeroD79]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7098304#post7098304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JenDub
Is it a glass tank? If so, they only need to be supported along the frame's edge typically. The problem would be if you router out the edge of the trim, will the edge of the tank be resting on a load bearing part of the stand or on the non-load bearing trim piece of wood? That would be really really bad.

its not a trim, the lip is part of the tank.

if the lip was just a trim...ill be convincing him to get a new one regardless. Also its a glass tank

 

[chalowolf]

I made a stand for a 60 gallon and made it to fit a acrylic tand. I then decided to make it fit also a glass tank that has plastic frame. The stand was already built, and i needed about 1/4 '' more. You can't use a router , because the stand is already built. and you need clearance for the guide bearing.
I had to use a chisle and take a layer of plywood off on each side.
It took some time but i was able to make it work.

 

[AeroD79]

If the guide bearing at the bottom is at the most 1/4'' thts fine. Ill just add a 1/4 ply to re plane.