Aquarium Stand Built

[fry_forever!]

Hello. I got a 55 gallon aquarium today for my birthday, but my parents didn't get a stand, because they didn't like any of them that they saw at the pet store. So, since the tank is going in the basement, and we're getting someone to put in a bar, my parents want the same guy to build an aquarium stand. I'm not too sure about this. It kind of makes me feel uneasy, because really, this guy really has never built an aquarium stand before.

I know that it'll need to be sturdy and level.

Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea? This guy is an expert woodworker, but he's never built an aquarium stand before....

Thanks in advance for any help!

-f_f!

EDIT: It's built now, here are some pics.....




Underneath the top of the tank. Brace bars, I guess, but then again, I don't know anything about construction.... lol

The doors aren't put on yet.... lol

 

[Tolak]

If the guy knows the slightest bit about deck construction a 55 gallon stand is a no brainer. 2x4 construction, box of 2x4's to support the bottom around the edges, six 2x4's for legs. This will give you a stand stronger than anything commercially sold.

At one time I never built a stand before, and I am nowhere near an expert woodworker. Built plenty of other things, stand was a piece of cake. Try to get pictures of the construction as well as the finished stand, I'm always looking at how things are made!

 

[fry_forever!]

Will do! Thank you very much!

 

[OldMan47]

The main thing that will differ from his prior wood working experience is that an aquarium is supported by the edges of the tank, it does not really sit on a platform. All of the strength of the stand needs to focused on keeping that edge of the stand flat and level. I do build my own stands and have done a fair bit of construction in my life. As long as the edges of the stand top are composed of boards on edge and the stand is adequately braced to avoid racking, with the 500 pound tank load, it should be fine. I decided to post a story of my own stand build because it shows many of the principles that I use. It is now here in the DIY section of the boards.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/314127-my-tank-stand-build/

 

[dave_oddballs]

as a qualified joiner i can tell you, you don't have to be a joiner to build a perfectly good aquarium stand! i built my last one just from birch faced ply-wood, no solid wood support at all, but length ways even ply-wood is extremely strong and can bear a lot of weight. as mentioned by tolak the easiest way and quite possibly the strongest way is a simple 2x3/4 frame, making sure it is level all the way round and then a wooden top just to help spread the weight, i have seen plenty of home made stands that look far better than any manufacturers stands so put a bit of thought into it and you could end up with a work of art, if your building a bar why not get the tank built into it??

 

[OldMan47]

I don't claim to be a joiner Dave but I have built plenty of stands from 1x4 and 1x6 lumber of #2 or better. I tend to use a 2x4 ripped in half to make oversize 2x2 lumber to make the support legs. The crazy 2x4 and 4x4 legs are for people that don't understand how strong wood is in compression.

 

[dave_oddballs]

thats true, even just pine 2x2 is extremely strong length ways, i'd probably go for 2x3 if you was unsure. i suppose as they say its better to be safe than sorry! my point was that you don't have to be a joiner, just be d.i.y. orientated and have a bit of common sense. you can make even the simplest of stands look nice!
i do like the idea of building the tank into the bar though!

 

[OldMan47]

A built-in definitely sounds good to me. I use the 2x2 for vertical loads and wrap them in 1x6 and 1x4 to prevent bending and racking Dave. Have a look at the link I gave in my earlier post, it details some of my thoughts on the subject. I used to build using 4x4 lumber and wrap the back 3 sides in 3/8 plywood, but you could drive a car over one of those stands. I finally got it through my head just how strong wood really is.

 

[Tolak]

The crazy 2x4 and 4x4 legs are for people that don't understand how strong wood is in compression.

Or for crazy aquarists who tend to lean on, climb on and under racks. I like the margin of safety six 4x4 legs provide that are holding five 40's & three 20's, especially when I'm underneath working on the tubs. Same goes for the 2x4's holding a pair of stacked 29's while I'm underneath working on a tank inches off the floor. Hundreds of pounds of "my hobby" landing on me all at once would make for a bad day. Provided I survive the experience my buddies would never let me hear the end of it.

Not being a joiner, or even close to being a carpenter, I like to play it safe spending a few more dollars on lumber. They are not a thing of beauty, but they are not going anywhere soon!

 

[OldMan47]

Have a look at my DIY thread Tolak. I build h*** for stout in everything I do but I have learned over the years just how much overkill a 4x4 really is.

 

[Tolak]

I saw that topic, nice work! I understand how strong a good 2x4 or 4x4 is, having used them to hold up trucks, move heavy printing equipment, and so on. Most of my racks are similar to the one you built in that topic, jacked up one more level. They have room for 5 gallon buckets, milk crates, or the occasional tank inches off the floor.

Yea, they are close to the ceiling. The one with the 4x4 legs is essentially a 3'x10' platform, 46" of clear space below it to the floor for the 150 gallon tubs. Overkill might be the back 3 legs run up to the floor joists above, and lag bolted in place.

 

[fry_forever!]

Wow, you guys are smart.

 

[OldMan47]

Not all that smart Fry Forever, just trying to do things right and have it all come out stout. I would not appreciate a stand falling over and I suspect Tolak's design is just as stout and the anchor to the floor joists would definitely make it tip-proof. Wrapping a bunch of simple legs with plywood makes sure the legs will never tip or bend sideways. As Dave said, plywood is very strong as long as you don't just lay it flat and put a lot of weight in the middle. By joining 2 pieces of plywood at right angles, then laying another piece across them, you can make a very strong structure. The 2 pieces at right angles are stiff vertically and in both directions that the boards lay in. By adding a top surface you have a very strong support, though not a very practical shape. If you go around 3 sides and use a simple top, you can make a very strong rectangular shape. A jointer, the craftsman, will make some fancy connections between the sides and between the sides and top but the structure with only some screws to hold the 3 sides together makes it plenty strong to hold up a tank. I use a router to make nice simple interlocking joints using what is called a rabbet joint but that is more for appearance than strength.

 

[fry_forever!]

Thank you for the info. We were taught about rabbet joints this year in woods. lol

 

[fry_forever!]

Updated.