I just got my first 55 gallon tank yesterday 12/16 and I got a sweet deal on it. I got the tank, hood and light, a penguin bio-filter 350, and a marineland heater all for only $180. But the only thing it didn't come with was a stand. But I'm a little short on height space so I need to make a wooden stand that will support the weight of the tank when its running and has fish in it but the stand only needs to be about 1' 3" tall or shorter or taller not sure yet. So could someone tell me the supplys I'll need and anything else I'll need to know.
Need Some Help Building Something For My 55g
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simonbrown403
Fish Herder
Hi there, sounds like a good deal to me
Try this artical it will give you a basic run down on construction and materails.
All you have to do is change the style and sizes to suit.
Any problems or you need something clarifing feel free to PM me.
Have fun and keep us posted.
Thanks for the link but I need to build a different kind of stand. I just need a stand with no doors or anything special like that I just need something strong enough to raise the tank 1' 9" off the ground. Would you know the measurements I'd need because I need to do this on the somewhat cheap side since I'm short on cash?
simonbrown403
Fish Herder
Like i said that thread will help, its a guile not a plan. all you have to do is take the basic and turn it into what you want.
If you follow the frame section of the article, but modify the measure to suit the size of you tank and the high you want.
I would suggest using 2"*2" softwood for the frame, and then covering it in 6mm MDF, which with the wood and screws and what not should cost around the £30.40 mark, or less depending on what you can beg steal or borrow.
If you post or PM me the measurements of the base of your tank ie length and width il write a cutting list for you, which you can take to your local wood yard, to be cut.
Dorkhedeos
Boss Major
it depends on what tools you have access to too. i can make stands easily and cheaply cause i got all the woodworking equipment i need. if you have the right equipment, all you need to buy is 2x4s and you are set
Check out http
/garf.org/
Go to the DIY section down on the left. They have a program where you input the size stand you want. 2x4 construction works fine, my racks are built out of 2x4's.
Don't go too low with it, you need some height for vacs & syphons to work properly. Anything lower than a foot starts to be a problem.
Tolak
/garf.org/ Go to the DIY section down on the left. They have a program where you input the size stand you want. 2x4 construction works fine, my racks are built out of 2x4's.
Don't go too low with it, you need some height for vacs & syphons to work properly. Anything lower than a foot starts to be a problem.
Tolak
simonbrown403
Fish Herder
It would be better to use 2"*4" as dorkhedeos suggests to span large gaps, but we are only talking about a 4' tank so 2"*2" is more than enough with or with out the addition of the center up right.
I built my kiddies bunk bed out of it which all three of my kid bounce on and some times there older brother as well and its still standing.
The trick is the way in which you construct it, you have to think about which way the forces are working, and two frames with center supports and 6 uprights between the top and bottom will support it no problem.
But with the addition of the back, sides and top and bottom you have increased the rigidity and mechanical strength enough to support a large car. (your stand will be supporting around 250 to 300kg with a 55gal tank and decor)
The tools you would need for the idea i sent you is hammer, drill screw driver A large hand screw driver would do, sand paper.
You can get the wood cut at you local wood yard, more often than not free of charge.
All you need to do is work out a cutting list.
I built my kiddies bunk bed out of it which all three of my kid bounce on and some times there older brother as well and its still standing.
The trick is the way in which you construct it, you have to think about which way the forces are working, and two frames with center supports and 6 uprights between the top and bottom will support it no problem.
But with the addition of the back, sides and top and bottom you have increased the rigidity and mechanical strength enough to support a large car. (your stand will be supporting around 250 to 300kg with a 55gal tank and decor)
The tools you would need for the idea i sent you is hammer, drill screw driver A large hand screw driver would do, sand paper.
You can get the wood cut at you local wood yard, more often than not free of charge.
All you need to do is work out a cutting list.
Well the stand is offically built and the tank looks so much bigger now since I can see it at eye level. Thanks to everyone that helped me with this. I have already taken the pics of the stand but can't get developed till I get some more money. So you'll have to wait for pics but they will be here and once I get them developed I'll let you guys know so you can go to the members aquarium pic section and look for my thread. Its going to be a big thread because I'm posting pics of every tank and fish I have on that thread. 
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