Very Quick stand question

JustinReef

JustinReef

New member
Tank is 72"x20" 95G tank

I just finished building a 2x4 stand exactly like some of the plans I have seen on here. For the top box that the tank sits on I used 2x6's as per the plans.

My question is do I need vertical supports from the bottom box to the top in the center (front and back)? I think it said as long as your using 2x6's for the top frame, you don't need the middle braces. Is this right?

Better be because my sump with not fit under the stand if there are the center braces.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13265047#post13265047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kcress
A six foot span needs some center support.
Click to expand...

Ok...those plans were for a 6' span...they probably should be changed.

Its a really huge thread and Im sure a lot of people are taking advice from it.
 
I don't know...Im looking this stand and I find it very hard to believe it wouldn't hold 95G. The 2x6's seem like more than enough.

How many of you have used these plans with a 6' tank?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13265254#post13265254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chudsosoft
Just make a removable center support. Install the sump before you fill the tank.
Click to expand...

No the sump will not fit because of the width if I add a center brace anywhere. The sump has to sit on the bottom frame (I made a tiny little "stand" for it).

Im just wondering how many people have used these plans for a 6' tank and had no problems.

I wouldn't be very comfortable without the center brace if the tank were say 150G but this 95...
 
I built a stand for my 90 and had no center support and also used 2x6 for the top BUT mine was 48" across.

6ft could probably be done but I wouldn't want to find out a yr from now its bowing.......There is no way you can put a removable brace in there?? Something small that could come out if needed?

But if you are using plywood sheet for the skinning of the stand it would also add support depending on how its done.

I guess its argumentative either way. The link you posted does indeed show a 6ft span with no center brace
 
That's my concern. Wood is a material that shifts over time. You put a huge load on it that doesn't exceed its immediate limits and it still holds just fine. But over time it will distort to minimize the stresses on it. So you set it all up and its fine but 6 months or a year later the center may be taking 1/4 the loading it was before.

Think about a house floor. They use 2 x 8s or 10s on merely 16" centers. They then skin those with 1" plywood type material. These floor joists are then supported about what(?) 6 feet. This is considered adequate for normal house duty of not sagging more than noticeable to people or having your refrigerator slowly sag.

But you are talking about an aquarium which will tolerate less sag than a human or a piece of furniture.

In your case I would suggest that you go to the local steel fabrication shop and have them make you a diminutive steel brace. Just a 3/4" piece of square tubing would do it. Have someone weld a little plate on each end. Two bolts in each and you have a strong easy to to install brace.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13265961#post13265961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doahh
Wow... Guys COMMERCIAL stands are build out of 1x2's... Why would you use 2x6's for a standard 90?
Click to expand...

Its not a standard 90 but I agree, I don't see how this is going to be a problem for a relatively small tank. There is a vertical brace at 4' on front and back as well as a 1/2" plywood skin on 3 sides. So that leaves 4' without a center brace. Im not too worried.

I was curious about how many people were doing 6' without a center brace. Based on those plans.
 
Doahh; That is certainly true and not a problem, but they are built so the entire sides and ends are providing support, not just the 4 corners.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13267624#post13267624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kcress
Doahh; That is certainly true and not a problem, but they are built so the entire sides and ends are providing support, not just the 4 corners.
Click to expand...

Exactly, so thats the point of using a 2x6 instead of a 1x2 or a 2x4...
 
148629DIY_Stand_Template.jpg


The Horizontal ones on the top sit ON TOP OF the vertical pieces... Therefore the sides and front/back are supporting the load and the corners are just getting the transferred load. So IMO a brace with a 2x4 2 feet in from the end in the front and back should be fine
 
So my final answer is:
If you used a 2x6 (Just to be safe) you WOULD NOT need a center brace on the front or back
 
You are ok. People here tend to overbuild their stands super big time.

Like Doahh said, take a look at commercial stand that use 1x.

When I had my 92 bow I built the stand out of 2x3 never had any "sag" over the 4 years it was set up.
 
Yeah I feel comfortable with how its built. The top frame is 2x6 and there are two vertical braces (besides the four corners) at 2' out from one end. So there is only a 4' span.

Plus, I still think being only a 95G tank makes a huge difference. The waterline in this thing is only 17". Its not like were talking about a 2' tall tank where the weight is substantially more.

The 1/2" plywood helps quite a bit too I guess.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13269319#post13269319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TimberTDI
You are ok. People here tend to overbuild their stands super big time.

Like Doahh said, take a look at commercial stand that use 1x.

When I had my 92 bow I built the stand out of 2x3 never had any "sag" over the 4 years it was set up.
Click to expand...

Probably a good thing since we're dealing with a lot of water. I agree though.

I built the stand over at my parents place to use my dads tools (hes a contractor) and when he saw the stand he laughed and asked if we were planning the jack the house up on it.

He built a 350G glass tank back in the 70's and then built a stand for it out of 2x4's. It was 8' long and 3' high with only one center support. That thing held up for 15 years in his basement. Doesn't mean anything really, I know but compared to the stands we build now, that would be WAY under built for a tank that size and people would be telling him all about how it was going to fail in a year :)
 
yeah I used that build for my 6ft 130gal with no center supports and it works great. "rocketengineer" defends his build in the thread very well. I might add little tringular pieces of 2x4s though. I found that with my building skills there was a slight front to back wiggle. 4 wedges on the top side inner corners took care of that though.
 
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