20 Gallon Stand

[Soaup]

I recently started breeding african cichlids. I have several 20 gallon tanks and they are spread around and about throughout my room. Can anyone help me with a stand plan that i can maybe stick 3 tanks one on top of another? making it about 5ft tall at the top? Is there any way to do so? Thanks for you help.

 

[Tolak]

Here is a setup with 3 10 gallon tanks on the left, & a 29 & 20 gallon tank peeking in the pic on the right;

Here's a full pic of the 20 & 29;

Same rack design, with a couple of 20 highs;

You don't want the bottom tanks too low, due to problems syphoning water. I knew this & built the 10x3 rack anyway, having some pumps to deal with this problem.

The 20 gallon x 2 rack has room for a couple 5 gallon buckets beneath it. I built it to hold either a couple 20 highs, or a couple 29's. It will also hold 20 longs. The top rim of the upper tank is around 5'6" from the floor, I can just barely reach the bottom of the tank.

Here's a couple pics with 2 20 highs above a 55, with room underneath for milkcrates;

You could go lower than this by a few inches, but I wouldn't due to the syphoning difficulties. You will always need storage, especially with multiple breeding tanks.

It's all treated 2x4's, with deck screws. There is 5" of space betwen the rim of the 10 gallon & the top edge of the 2x4 above it, 7" above the 29, & 9" above the 20 & 55. That leaves just enough room to work in the tanks, and I am not petite, 6' & 220#.

If you are using 20 longs, you could probably get by with the 5" spacing, I wouldn't go less than 7" for 20 highs.

Let me know what size tanks you are using, how close to the floor you are willing to go, & what spacing you would need between tanks. I don't do cad or any of that fancy design crap, drawing on paper has worked fine for me for decades. Tank stands are a breeze compared to basement remodels & such.

Tolak

 

[Soaup]

Those look great exactally what im looking for.. Thanks. I am using 20 longs my ceiling is just over 6'0 so im looking at like a 5'6'' at is highest preferably 3 tanks 20 longs per stand. I also really like the 10 gallon stands if you wouldnt mind do you have a copy of the plans for that. Can you give me an estimate cost of the project.. Thanks agains.

 

[Tolak]

I haven't forgotten about ya, been a busy week. I just got done measuring up my 10 gallon setup, let me draw something up for your 20's & try to figure out this new printer/scanner my son bought a couple weeks ago.

Tolak

 

[Tolak]

Ok, I have some crudely scribbled diagrams, though they are a little better than what I usually do believe it or not. First, a front view;

Next, a side view;

Finally, a top view;

This rack will put the top of your top tank at 63", just shy of 5 1/2 feet.

You will need five 8 foot 2x4's. Remember that 2x4's measure out to 1 1/2" x 3 1/2". I prefer using treated lumber for racks, you can get them wet without worrying, it's the same lumber outdoor decks are made of.

You are also going to need sixty 3" galvanized deck screws, you may as well buy a 1 pound box, you will be needing them for the next rack you build.

A circular, table, or other power saw is a good idea, unless you are looking forward to a real upper body workout. A power drill is needed for pilot holes, I set up 2 drills, one for drilling, one for driving screws. A couple of c clamps helps when assembling, another person helping will do just as well. A square is needed to keep things square.

First cut four of the 2x4's to 51 1/2", saving the scraps. These will be your legs. If you want to bring the top of the top tank to 5 1/2 feet, cut them to 54".

Cut one 13" piece & one 28" piece out of each of the scraps, this will give you the pieces for 2 shelfs.

Cut two 13" pieces & two 28" pieces out of the remaining 2x4 for the last shelf.

Asemble the shelfs on a level surface, making sure they are square. The small dots in the really poorly drawn pics represent screws.

Mark the legs at 7 1/2 inches for a 63" height, or 10" for a 66" height. This will be the top of your first shelf. Clamp, or have a helper hold the leg steady while you drill pilot holes & drive screws. Once again, the dots represent screws. Make sure to keep the legs at right angles to the shelf.

Mark the legs at 29" for the shorter rack, or 31 1/2' for the taller rack. Once again, clamp or hold, drill & drive screws.

Follow the same procedure for the top shelf. What I did was leave 1/2" of leg above the top shelf. This will keep the tank from sliding if it is empty, or keep the plywood I put on them from sliding.

Treated 8 foot 2x4's run around $3 each. Box of screws I'm guessing at $5 tops. Lumber prices fluctuate, sometimes they get pretty outrageous during hurricane season. If you already have the power tools, you will get by for under $30, maybe as cheap as $20, depending on lumber prices. I've seen nice untreated 2x4's a few times for under $2, I've seen more that would serve well as an eight foot boomerang.

I got a sheet of 5/8" treated plywood for under the tanks, I can use them as a shelf if I pull a tank. I forget the price on that, I bought a full sheet & used it for other racks.

HTH, any questions, post away!

Tolak

 

[Soaup]

This is good im going to save this info and put it away for some time but i plan on getting back to you if i have any questions i just bought myself a 125 gallon tank so my pockets are kinda light now to be doing anything else but i will be taking a look at this in the near future. Thanks So much.

Mike