180 stand braces or not?

M_norrick · Jun 10, 2015

Hello everyone, I am currently getting a good start on my 180 gallon reef build and have a couple of questions for anyone that can help. I just built my stand for this monster tank using some plans I found on another forum. The plans state I won't need a center brace using the preferred 2 x 8's on the top railing but this makes me a bit nervous. If I came home with my house flooded from the stand giving out I believe this grown man would cry. The stand feel very rigid but just would like some assurance on leaving the braces out. The other question I have is how level does this have to be? I understand I want it as level as possible but is there any give? I used a transit to check about 20 points throughout the stand and the maximum variance is under 1/8 of and inch. Would this be flat enough for this large of a tank?

hejjo · Jun 10, 2015

If it was me I would have the center brace as long as my sump still fit. Plus with the doors on it. If the tanks is not level you run the risk of splash out from the wave maker depending which way it's leaning and or need a higher water lvl for it to flow into the over flow properly.

I had a tank that ended up not lvl after filling it and tho I didn't have any problems I could see the water lvl below the brace on the left side but not the right and I hated it. I regretted it every time I looked at the tank.

redfishbluefish · Jun 10, 2015

First off, that stand could have been built with 2x6 top boards and be strong enough for no center brace. The 2x8 knocks it out of the park. Definitely do not need any bracing. What you do want to do is skin that stand to make sure it doesn't rack.

As far as level, use shims under the stand to make it as level as you can. Remember you are putting the biggest level on top of this stand. If it's not level it will be noted in the water level in the tank....especially if you have two overflows in opposite corners.

Mr E Wrasse · Jun 11, 2015

Yep 2x6 would have been fine... I would add one center brace in the back if you're worried, that's what i did with my 135.

M_norrick · Jun 11, 2015

Thanks I feel much better about this now. I am definitely level in reguards to a 4' bubble level and have no concern about seeing a difference in the water line. I simply went the extra mile and used a transit that is true level to the world and checked various points front to back and left to right. I vary just under an 1/8" somewhere in the middle if the stand actually. May be due to a slight warp in the 2 x 8. I was mainly worried about twist of the bottom of the tank. I understand the glass does not give at all.. It breaks. Would this variance in the stand be tolerable or am I over engineering this thing?