Welding my own Stand

[corals b 4 bills]

Hey guy's just sharing some pictures of the stand that I'm welding together for my up in coming reef tank upgrade, my new tank is a Lee Mar 225 Gallon starfire tank 72"L x 24"H x 30"W with a center over flow, The stand I am building is being made up of 1/8" 2x2 square tubes with a 2x3 tube for added support because the back of the tank will be completly open for easy access.

The height of the stand is 34"

The total weight of the stand will be about 200 lbs. and the total weight of the entire system will be 3,000 lbs. so it may look like overkill but it's not. So far I have three day's invested in the stand as of the last picture in this post, one more day will be for weld grinding and adding screw tabs plus priming, then I will Hurculine the whole thing.

The cost of the project is roughly $400, I hear prices of $1,600 or more being paid for someone to make one here in california (I'm not about to pay that for a stand).

Anyways just thought I'd share my stand build for those interested in making one, if you have any questions just ask,

Mark

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[Rickey]

I was a welder in the Army for over 12 years before I reclassed and instructed for almost 3 of that. I have got to say it's nice to see someone take the time to prep the metal like they are supposed to. Too many people just go ahead and weld the metal if it has no rust and then sometimes when there is just a little surface rust they weld over that. The final product looks great. How do you plan to skin it or is it going in a wall?

 

[mflamb]

I also have a metal stand that a buddy and I made in my garage. I would add some small gussets in the front.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

Thank you, The tank will be inwall (plywood & sheet rock).

I am going to add gussetts too! Just ran out of time on friday.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

So Yesturday I finished the welding of the Gussetts, and screw tabs. Today I cleaned and primed it, tomorrow I will paint it and I will cut some 3/4 ply for the top and polyurethane it. Here are the latest pictures.

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[corals b 4 bills]

I decided to go with 1 1/8" plywood because...........................Because.

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[corals b 4 bills]

I completed my stand here is the final painted project.

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[nycreef]

nice job

 

[Jar*Head]

That is a very nice stand....

 

[corals b 4 bills]

Thank's guys! Wed I get my tank out of the shop and I can put it on the new stand! After it cures I will water test it for a few months before it goes in my home.