Tank Stand Question..

[110GTJ]

Just ordered my new custom tank from SC Aquarium. ITs going to be a peninsula build with a 16"shadow overflow on the left side. The tank is 60 longx24deepx20high. About 125 gallons roughly. So my question is I have made my stand 64 inches long, tank will sit over the 4 legs which are 4x4s. I put braces 9 inches in from the left side and 9 inches in from the right side. do I need a center brace if the opening is like 40ish inches with no brace? I know its confusing. Ill take a picture of it when I get home too! Basically what is the max span with 2x4s I can go with no center brace.

 

[Lsufan]

It’s hard to say exactly what the max span of a 2 by 4 would be without all the info. Personally I wouldn’t go over about 36” with a single 2 by 4, but I don’t like taking a chance of any deflection. Having said that, u will more then likely be fine.

If I was doing it I would have just used a 2 by 6 top frame & not had to give it another thought. If it makes u feel better u can always glue & screw another 2 by 4 in the front & back & have a double 2 by 4 top frame. It may be a little overkill but it would take out any worry u have about it.

 

[110GTJ]

This is where Im at...can I remove the top center braces and add a 2x4 behind the current one? Will that help? Im just trying to avoid a center brace in the front. Im also putting a 1/2 inch furniture ply top in this as well.

 

[110GTJ]

sorry here is the picture

 

[Lsufan]

Yes, that would definitely help. U would really only need to do it to the front being u have a center support in the back. After seeing it I think u more then likely are fine how it is. The stand is pretty overbuilt as it is with the one potential weak spot being the top frame. It would be pretty simple to go ahead & add the 2 by 4 to be 100% certain, so I would go ahead & add it.

 

[110GTJ]

ok awesome! So basically take the two center braces out, cut another 2x4 the length of the backside of the front top brace, then glue and screw it to the front 2x4 correct?

 

[billdogg]

IMHO, that stand is already way overbuilt. (as 99.9% of 2x stands are)

 

[Bracka345]

Maybe use 2x6 instead of 2x4 for across the top. Also along the front of my 150g i double up the 2x6. Also its better to glue and screw 2 2x4's together than to use a 4x4.

 

[Urchinhead]

This calculator may help:
http://www.garf.org/calculators/BuildLargeStand_3.asp

 

[Lsufan]

ok awesome! So basically take the two center braces out, cut another 2x4 the length of the backside of the front top brace, then glue and screw it to the front 2x4 correct?

Yes, that is what I would do to insure u have no sagging in the center. If u already had the plywood on then I would say leave it as is. Being u don’t it will be simple to go ahead & do it so u are certain. The rest of the stand is built well enough to hold a 5 of your tanks, it’s just the potential for sagging with no center brace that would make me a little worried.