Will this rack design work ok?

[werdy666]

Hi,

After doing research online and these forums I have come up with a design for a rack.

Using 2x4 timber I just want to make sure its going to hold the tanks ok

My plan currently is for the bottom 3 tanks to be 24x12x20 (inches)
The top 2 rows will be 24x12x15 (inches)

Most of the weight will be supported by the 3 foot beams across the front and back, but also have crossbeams to help support the weight.

My question is, will this rack hold these tanks ok without collapsing into a big wet, glassy mess?

Thanks for any help and advice you can give! :bounce1:

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:strooper:

 

[scott3569]

I would imagine that it will be just fine however I am not structural engineer either, I build my stand the main frame was 2x4 and some supports 2x3, and I am sure I could use the whole foot print of the stand and still be fine.my tank fits on a bout 3/4 of the stand length wise..and I have a total water volume of 65 gallons plus my rock and sand..

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i would not build the "posts' so to speak like that…i would use doubled up 2x4's cutting one out to place the beams then continue with it on top of the beam…

the cross braces are not necessary as the four corners of the tanks will be fully supported by the beams ( it is only the corners of the tank that are essential to supporting)

as designed the whole unit will "rack" i.e. topple over, you need to add a great deal of lateral bracing…both front to back and side to side…i would think 12" triangular gussets in every corner on the back and sides not just the top and bottom but the intermediate ones too.

aside from that the only issue i see accessibility tot eh tops of the tanks, especially if there is lights over them…mind you the lights could likely fit inside the 2x6 beam cavity

 

[mighties_keeper]

Werdy I have a rack in use and building another at the moment. I would have two 2 x 4s on both sides and at least 2 on the back also. Then I screwed mine to the wall to make sure my kids did not knock it over.

 

[werdy666]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Yeah I always had in mind I will have to bolt the thing to the wall to make sure it won't topple over or anything.

In practice it will end up being three 3x2 tanks on top of each other 3 high.

With the top one not sure If I will just hang some lights from the ceiling or something... Will wait till I am near the construction phase

In between the top of the tanks and the next support beam I have left around 6 inches to be able to access the tanks, this will require some tweaking as I will need to be able to reach in up to approx the 2 feet of the tank

But as long as the stand will be strong enough to support the weight, I can make sure it won't topple over!