CA2OR Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 ah....ok....I am building a 36g so would it be safe to build stand for 400 or so pounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrellw Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 ah....ok....I am building a 36g so would it be safe to build stand for 400 or so pounds? That seems like a reasonable estimate. In my opinion, you could use 3/4" ply for a tank that size. The important thing is to make sure it is well put together (screws and glue), and that you have the sides, back, top and bottom well tied together. To be super safe, you could build a 2x4 frame, then skin with thinner plywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 There is a table of wood strengths here: http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood/strength_table.htm 2x4 construction is more than enough for multi-hundred gallon tank stands. Like Darrell says, design and construction are really more important than materials (within reason of course) on tank stands. Just take a look at the construction of stands at Petco for example. Be sure that the load is carried by butt jointed wood and not screws or glue, and you should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Andy- thank you for that link. You can find it reposted in the DIY area under "30g project" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrellw Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Quick update, the stand is coming together. Need to finish up some odds and ends, like bending the conduit for my light pole, but should be ready to fill this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Looking good Darrell, real progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrellw Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 OK, good news and bad news. If you saw my thread in the Equipment forum, you will know that once I got the Solaris going it was kind of loud. Well, once I fired up the pumps and skimmer, it was clear I could not have the tank where I was planning. Since it is now "banished" to the family room, I'm keeping the Solaris. Here are shots of the whole setup. The bottom is my "wet" section, with the sump and ATO holding tank. It is pretty small, almost a gallon, but was about all I could still fit. I have a small fan to keep the humidity down, and I have a small stick-on LED light to see my way around. Not sure of the color temp :-). The top section of the stand has all of my electrical. The 4 switch box controls my return pump, heater, skimmer and cabinet fans. This section also has a fan to keep the temps down. The VorTech and Solaris are not controlled by the switchbox. I plan to install a face plate over this section to mount the VorTech control box, and I will put a cable retainer on door so that it can serve as a small shelf. I guess it is time to continue in the "Member Tank" section. I was hoping to get my live rock in this weekend, but I'm just now adding the salt, and probably won't have time tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 sorry to hear about the banishment. I am always dissapointed in where I can place my tank. I just want to put it in the middle of the room so I can see from all angles. But wife isn't down for that...(wife)(threaten)(flame) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrellw Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 sorry to hear about the banishment. I am always dissapointed in where I can place my tank. I just want to put it in the middle of the room so I can see from all angles. But wife isn't down for that...(wife)(threaten)(flame) I know what you mean :-). On the positive side, I should never have a heat problem, since the room it is in runs about 62 in the winter, and only the high 60s in the summer. In fact, I may need to get a bigger (or an additional) heater, the 50W I put in still hasn't raised the temp out of the 60s (though the tap water is running very cold right now, about 50 or so). -Darrell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Well as my wife always says " stop looking at your stupid fish tank", I mean....wait...what were we talking about? I can't help it, I am addicted. I eat, sleep,walk, and talk fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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