Steel or Wood

wigo · #1 12/15/2006, 09:41 PM

I am going to build a stand for a 180 gallon tank. What do you guys think Wood or Steel? I have a welder and wood tools so the tools is not an issue. This is what is the preference?

z28pwr · #2 12/15/2006, 09:52 PM

For a 180 I would make it in wood. Wood is inexpensive, strong and doesn't rust. Just put some PolyCrilic on it so it can last a long time.

wigo · #3 12/15/2006, 09:54 PM

Would you use 2X6 construction or is 2X4 OK?

mflamb · #4 12/15/2006, 09:57 PM

If you need a lot of room under the tank, use steel...takes up less space.

wigo · #5 12/15/2006, 10:24 PM

Anyone know how much a 180 gallon tank + all equip ~30 gal sump weighs

asnatlas · #6 12/15/2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wigo
Would you use 2X6 construction or is 2X4 OK?

2x4 will be fine, I would double up on them... I have a 600gal tank (just a little over 3 tons) sitting on a custom wood stand that I built... I used 2x 2x6s and everything else was 2x4s...

Here are some pics... Not the best but should give you some ideas...

asnatlas · #7 12/15/2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wigo
Anyone know how much a 180 gallon tank + all equip ~30 gal sump weighs

If you had like 300lbs of rock, and water weighting 8.33lbs per gal I would say that your tank would be a little over a ton (around 2200lbs)...

chainsaw5vent · #8 12/16/2006, 02:02 AM

wood is more than strong enough as long as you use the right size, combination of sizes and cross bracing.
i'm currently attending a Rescue Systems II class and found out that 4"x4" posts by themselves are capable of holding 4,000 # before failure. now if you utilize many of them with the proper cross bracing, you should have no problem.

DeJaCo · #9 12/16/2006, 11:05 AM

Hey stick with wood! Plenty strong enough for your system.
Also down the road modifications are much easier! Always remember "there are no mistakes in woodworking, only multiple opportunities in which to reevaluate the design!" When designing your stand plan for "having to remove your sump" at some point!

asnatlas · #10 12/16/2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeJaCo
Always remember "there are no mistakes in woodworking, only multiple opportunities in which to reevaluate the design!"

LOL, I like that

wigo · #11 12/16/2006, 01:35 PM

I have a new house on a crawl space. I plan on putting the tank on one of the pillars but the joists run with the length of the tank so I would only be on 2 of them. Has anyone had any issues with this?

wigo · #12 12/18/2006, 09:46 PM

anyone

mflamb · #13 12/18/2006, 09:52 PM

Ask the builder!?!?