Aquarium stand question

[saltynewbie]

Hello all,
I built an aquarium stand for a 125g out of 2x8 for upper framing and 2x4 for the rest of the frame. After I finished the stand and set the aquarium on it I noticed the stand was deeper than the aquarium by 2”. So I was wondering if I could just sister in another 2x8 on the back of the frame with carriage bolts? Would the be enough to support the aquarium without having to add more vertical supports to it. Or should I also sister in more vertical supports? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[John Bolden]

I'm not good with this area but I think pictures and the dimensions would help the people that do know about this stuff.

 

[saltynewbie]

Sorry the stand is 72/12 long by 181/2 wide. It should be 16 1/2 wide. I built the top frame out of 2x8 so it could be unsupported in the middle.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Sorry the stand is 72/12 long by 181/2 wide. It should be 16 1/2 wide. I built the top frame out of 2x8 so it could be unsupported in the middle.

@Lost in the Sauce does a ton of structural wood working and may be able to help you out with this.

 

[saltynewbie]

Here is a couple photos

 

[saltynewbie]

@Lost in the Sauce does a ton of structural wood working and may be able to help you out with this.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction

 

[His Coral Highness]

Seems like it would be a lot of shear force on the additional 2x8... I'd put supports under it. Won't take long and you will regret not just doing it when you had the chance when it was just an empty frame. Plus it would be an easy modification, you won't have to take it apart or anything

 

[RedoubtReef]

Hello all,
I built an aquarium stand for a 125g out of 2x8 for upper framing and 2x4 for the rest of the frame. After I finished the stand and set the aquarium on it I noticed the stand was deeper than the aquarium by 2”. So I was wondering if I could just sister in another 2x8 on the back of the frame with carriage bolts? Would the be enough to support the aquarium without having to add more vertical supports to it. Or should I also sister in more vertical supports? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Can you provide better pics of the whole stand? It might help to see how you joined the frame and what kind of fasteners you used. If I understand correctly the stand is 2" wider than the tank? That shouldn't be an issue so long as the stand was constructed correctly but better pics would help.

 

[saltynewbie]

Can you provide better pics of the whole stand? It might help to see how you joined the frame and what kind of fasteners you used. If I understand correctly the stand is 2" wider than the tank? That shouldn't be an issue so long as the stand was constructed correctly but better pics would help.

I will try to get better pictures, the stand is already wrapped in 3/4 plywood. The lower frame and legs were built out of 2x4. I used pocket screws and wood glue to attach the legs to the frame. I used 2 1/2 pocket screws to attach everything. Laid 2x6 flat for bracing along the bottom, also to attach the 3/4 plywood to for the bottom of the stand.

 

[saltynewbie]

I will try to get better pictures, the stand is already wrapped in 3/4 plywood. The lower frame and legs were built out of 2x4. I used pocket screws and wood glue to attach the legs to the frame. I used 2 1/2 pocket screws to attach everything. Laid 2x6 flat for bracing along the bottom, also to attach the 3/4 plywood to for the bottom of the stand.

I also have a 2x8 cross brace in the top frame

 

[saltynewbie]

Seems like it would be a lot of shear force on the additional 2x8... I'd put supports under it. Won't take long and you will regret not just doing it when you had the chance when it was just an empty frame. Plus it would be an easy modification, you won't have to take it apart or anything

It’s all skinned out but I could make a few cuts for more supports. Would you bolt them to the bottom frame, or would you need to run another x 4 across the bottom? Just wondering what it would take.

 

[His Coral Highness]

It’s all skinned out but I could make a few cuts for more supports. Would you bolt them to the bottom frame, or would you need to run another x 4 across the bottom? Just wondering what it would take.

I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly... So let's say the tank footprint is 60x18. You built a stand with a footprint of 60x20. So 2" (in let's say the back wall of the tank) is not directly on top of a horizontal beam. But you want to bolt a horizontal beam inside your current horizontal beam so the tank is fully on the stand.

If that is correct then I would think that you would also need to match the top with an additional horizontal beam across the bottom so you can bolt a vertical beam directly from one to the other. Or just run a screw straight down from the horizontal beam into the vertical beam.

Am I imagining this correctly?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

You would be fine to sister another 2x8 on the back rail of your stand. Although I'm sure it's not how you wanted it to end up it will add what you need.
I'm a hardwood flooring contractor and a licensed residential builder, this is the same process we use if I need to stiffen a floor joist. By tying the two together one can't move without the other moving. Any load on your added rail will be transfered to your supported rail, it can't move without moving the other which is supported. If it'll keep you up at night add a couple supports.
Congrats putting together your own stand!

 

[mike550]

Hello all,
I built an aquarium stand for a 125g out of 2x8 for upper framing and 2x4 for the rest of the frame. After I finished the stand and set the aquarium on it I noticed the stand was deeper than the aquarium by 2”. So I was wondering if I could just sister in another 2x8 on the back of the frame with carriage bolts? Would the be enough to support the aquarium without having to add more vertical supports to it. Or should I also sister in more vertical supports? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

So if I understand this, your tank is now resting on the cross members rather than directly on the 2x8 perimeter of your frame?

That would make me nervous as @His Coral Highness points out that’s a lot of sheer on the glued and screwed joint. The cross pieces aren’t intended to carry load, but keep things together. That said, you could put a vertical 2x4 beneath the cross member and let it span between the cross members and your outside frame. Basically trying to build a strong “cripple” for your frame

 

[redfishbluefish]

First, 2x6 would have been more than enough to hold the 125 tank without a center leg/brace. So you're set when you upgrade to a much larger tank.

Now as far as the stand being too wide, simply put a couple cross braces on it and top with 3/4 plywood and you'll be just fine. The cross bracing is what is shown in blue in the picture below. Just make it flush with the top frame. I would think 3 cross braces are more than sufficient.

If you still want to do the sistering of another board along the length, a 2x4 with glue and screws would be sufficient as long as you again, top with 3/4 plywood. Think of the plywood as a cantilever with the main support all of an inch of so away.

 

[saltynewbie]

I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly... So let's say the tank footprint is 60x18. You built a stand with a footprint of 60x20. So 2" (in let's say the back wall of the tank) is not directly on top of a horizontal beam. But you want to bolt a horizontal beam inside your current horizontal beam so the tank is fully on the stand.

If that is correct then I would think that you would also need to match the top with an additional horizontal beam across the bottom so you can bolt a vertical beam directly from one to the other. Or just run a screw straight down from the horizontal beam into the vertical beam.

Am I imagining this correctly?

You are imagining it correctly. I took some photos hope they can help.

So if I understand this, your tank is now resting on the cross members rather than directly on the 2x8 perimeter of your frame?

That would make me nervous as @His Coral Highness points out that’s a lot of sheer on the glued and screwed joint. The cross pieces aren’t intended to carry load, but keep things together. That said, you could put a vertical 2x4 beneath the cross member and let it span between the cross members and your outside frame. Basically trying to build a strong “cripple” for your frame

Actually as it sits now I can just straddle the 2x8 beams by about a 1/4”. I would like to slide the front of the tank forward and sister another x 8 the full length of the stand.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

First, 2x6 would have been more than enough to hold the 125 tank without a center leg/brace. So you're set when you upgrade to a much larger tank.

Now as far as the stand being too wide, simply put a couple cross braces on it and top with 3/4 plywood and you'll be just fine. The cross bracing is what is shown in blue in the picture below. Just make it flush with the top frame. I would think 3 cross braces are more than sufficient.

If you still want to do the sistering of another board along the length, a 2x4 with glue and screws would be sufficient as long as you again, top with 3/4 plywood. Think of the plywood as a cantilever with the main support all of an inch of so away.

Well said and great drawing! I agree, 2x8 framing is more than need and gets the op ready for the next tank upgrade!
I suggested sistering with another 2x8 purely because that's what was already used. Bottom line is they can add a cross brace ,cripple, or sister the rail, all will work. Everyone's got good suggestions, take the easiest path for you out of these and get your tank filled!!

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Great stand btw, looks awesome!!

 

[saltynewbie]

Great stand btw, looks awesome!!

Thank you. Had to build to match the home decor. Per the little lady of the house

 

[saltynewbie]

Well said and great drawing! I agree, 2x8 framing is more than need and gets the op ready for the next tank upgrade!
I suggested sistering with another 2x8 purely because that's what was already used. Bottom line is they can add a cross brace ,cripple, or sister the rail, all will work. Everyone's got good suggestions, take the easiest path for you out of these and get your tank filled!!

So could I just sister without plywood or would plywood make it more sturdy?