500kg Fish Tank Base, Any Carpenters In The House?

[stuhyde]

Been working tonight on building the base for my fish tank upgrade.

The bottom part has been built and I have made up 3 sections of 3x2 MDF, screwed down into the one below and built up to the height required.

I just wondered if anyone had some ideas on to make it more structurally solid. I thought about putting an extra 2 long pieces of wood across all 3 sections on the back about a 3rd up and maybe top but one set of 3 2x3's.

It does have a top, which will also add more rigidity, but anything else anyone would do?

Heres the top that I still have to fix on ..

Any help appreciated!

 

[Truck]

more cross bracing, and some diagonal struts on the sides

 

[locker]

Triangles are the strongest shape so if you add a back panel you could add thin bracing to the back.

Locker

 

[stuhyde]

Yeh the diagonal strips are a good idea, will do that tomorrow!

 

[Socks]

The best thing for it would to get a sheet of plywood ( 1/2"-3/4" hardwood if you can do it),cut it to size (one piece for the whole thing is best),make sure the entire thing is square and nail the plywood onto the back,put a nail every 6-8 inches making sure to hit the top,bottom,sides and middle braces. 6d or 8d nails would be perfect,even good wood screws would be fine,just make sure they are not to big or you'll get alot of splitting or need to pre-drill every hole with a bit smaller than the screws you have.It's how cabinets,bookshelves,and all the other goodies are made solid.I think it's also probably the best looking option aswell, heck put some doors on front and you have a full blown cabinet

 

[stuhyde]

The best thing for it would to get a sheet of plywood ( 1/2"-3/4" hardwood if you can do it),cut it to size (one piece for the whole thing is best),make sure the entire thing is square and nail the plywood onto the back,put a nail every 6-8 inches making sure to hit the top,bottom,sides and middle braces. 6d or 8d nails would be perfect,even good wood screws would be fine,just make sure they are not to big or you'll get alot of splitting or need to pre-drill every hole with a bit smaller than the screws you have.It's how cabinets,bookshelves,and all the other goodies are made solid.I think it's also probably the best looking option aswell, heck put some doors on front and you have a full blown cabinet

Hi socks
Yeh this is what I'm going to do I think. The doors we are going to do as well, this is just the carcass so to speak. Will get some cool doors and varnish it etc.

Thanks for your input folks!

 

[ROSSCO22]

I would glue and screw plywood on the back that way it should not move.

 

[stuhyde]

Got busy again today, heres the outcome ...

I stuck a 3/4 piece of "wood" lol on the back and used umpteen screws where I could, now solid as a rock and not going anywhere.

Next will be checking where it can be strengthened (if needbe) and then start looking at the aesthetics ..

Also bought a load of volcanic rock as the substrate

 

[Socks]

Looks beefy to me,good job!

 

[jschlosser]

I don't know, but those stacked 3x2s make me nervous.

 

[degsod]

There should not be any problem with the stacked 3x2's as all the forces are downwards. The sideway forces are dealt with by the 3/4" ply on the back.

Have a look at most aquarium cabinets, they are usually faced chipboard with no internal struts and just screws holding them together.