Stand Design Feedback

[Silencer]

I've got a slight dilemma here. I'm trying to design a stand for a 180g tank that has room for a 125g within it. I do not think my current plans are good enough for a number of reasons, but I'm not quite sure how to change it. Here is a Quicktime VR movie of my initial plans.

http://unrealdev.net/saltwater/180gStandDesignB.mov

From the bottom up we start with a 3/4" sheet of plywood to help spread the weight out over the entire area. On top of this is a 2x4 framework. There is a sheet of 1/2" plywood on top of this framework to distribute the weight of the 125g and act as a floor. Next we have six 2x6 vertical supports. These rest on top of the lower 2x4 framework. Resting on top of these supports is another identical 2x4 framework which has a 3/4" sheet of plywood on top.

All the 2x6's have a second board sandwiched to them on the inside. In the center this is another 2x6 and on the corners these are 2x4's. These inner supports are of longer length and extend into the upper and lower framework, all the way from the bottom 3/4" plwood all the way to the top 3/4" plywood, an are screwed into the side of the framework and the vertical support for added stability.

I am concerned with several aspects of this design but would like to hear your feedback before I start changing anything. Keep in mind that because I want to put an 18.5" wide tank inside a 24.5" wide stand, the vertical supports are limited to a maximum of 3" width on each side.

[atreis]

I'm not good at designing stands, but can point out one thing that would bother me with the lower tank... I left about that same amount of space between the top of my sump and the platform above it, and would do it differently if I ever do it over. It's very hard to work on anything in the sump because of the low clearance. Just a thought.

[johnpoole]

the design will work, like many diy stand designs, it has more wood then you need. the 1'st one i built was heavier then the full tank. i still like to use 3 2x4's with 1/4 inch removed from each side, (makes them square) for my horz supports then a single 1x6 for the vert, sandwiched between the two outer 2x4's. the center 2x4 is left out to make mortises for my hortz supports. then with the single 2x6 vert i glue and screw 2x6's to each side. because your using mortice and tennon, but not having to cut either, your stand would hold a sherman tank..

[Silencer]

atreis that is one of my big concerns. In that design there is 7.5" clearance abot the 125g, assuming that it's 23.5" tall. The stand itself would be 40" from the floor to the top of the plywood that the tank rests on. The interior of the stand would be 31" tall.

My main concern is the single 2x4 horizontal brace. Even with the 2x6 supporting it in the center I am worried that this isn't enough. I would like to use a 2x6 for the horizontal supports but then I only have 5.5" clearance inside the stand and I don't think this is enough. If I double up the 2x4's I should be ok, but I can't figure out a good way to support double 2x4s given the limited width I have for the vertical supports. Here is a version with doubled up horizontal beams.

http://unrealdev.net/saltwater/180gStandDesignC.mov

The main difference is that the horizontal beams are doubled up between the interior vertical supports. Although these horizontal beams are not directly supported by anything they should still provide some strength and stability. I may notch the interior vertical supports so that these doubled up beams rest on a 1-1.5" lip at least. This doubled-up design should be stronger and more stable shouldn't it?

I wouldn't be using mortice and tenon joints for either stand as I don't have the equipment to do so.

[jeffbrig]

Silencer,

What you're describing sounds a lot like the one I just put together, but for a 250G. I did everything with 2x4s, not 2x6s, to maximize space. Here's a link to the thread:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...35#post4266035

[jaden1]

You don't need 2x6 anywhere on this project to still havce it overbuilt. And you definitely need more clearance in your sump.

[jallard]

I’m building right now a much smaller stand for a smaller tank...but the sump spacing is similar. In my old stand I didn't have enough room for much at all...my sump barely slid in under my tank (stand given to me) What I decided to do was 2 things....make my tank longer...so I would have room on both sides to place things not a ton...4" on each side. And I also made the tank stand deeper too to accommodate my overflow drain...now it will be able to go straight into my sump. By making this "oversized" stand...I am also able to safely make my stand a bit taller to give me more space to work in my sump. I don't feel that the stand is as top heavy now because the stand is wide than the tank.
HTH

[Silencer]

And you definitely need more clearance in your sump.

How much room do you think I need? It will act as a refugium and macro grower and will not have any skimmers or other bulky equipment in it that I need to service often. If I rotated the 2x4's in the bottom framing (the front-to-back ones) to be on their sides instead of their edge I would save 2" giving me about 9.5" clearance (again, this assumes 23.5" height for a 125g).

There will also be an attached cabinet almost identical to jdiecks setup at one end of the tank which is where all the plumbing lines, ballasts and other equipment will go.