Aquarium Stand Questions for 240 Cube.

[Quah]

I was planning on using 2 x 4's and 2 x 6's and building the stand with supports at each corner of the cube and then one in the middle will this give me enough strength? If there is somewhere you guys can point me or perhaps better options than a wooden stand please let me know.

Thanks,
Quah

 

[jsker]

Steal/stainless steal stands are and option
[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] could you guys help out please

 

[Quah]

Steal/stainless steal stands are and option
[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] could you guys help out please

I've thought about those but have no idea of where to go to get one fabricated.

 

[Eaj1001]

2x4s have a compression strength of 4800 psi. You can build a very strong stand if you have a little framing understanding. It is crucial to the strength of a stand to have good bracing and corner strength. A good birch top plate and bottom plate will help tie it together with good stability..I've built several..a little research goes a long way and will save you hundreds.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'd use this general design with the top boards (Red and Yellow) made of 2 x 6's......all the rest, 2 x 4's.

 

[jsker]

I've thought about those but have no idea of where to go to get one fabricated.

You would have to find yourself a welder there to work with. The basic design is support for 4 corner were most of the weight rests with wood or steal. Depending on the size of the tank you can add a center support. @Eaj1001 is correct with the 2 X 4 psi stress and the is a end to end stress. I used 3/4 for my cabinet, and designed my cabinet accordingly. I would not ever use 2 x 4 's in a cabinet for the reason it is a waist and I have the tooling to be a snob:eek::).

I will say that @redfishbluefish basic design is right on for the use of a simple build with a 2 x 4 corner support with basic tools. If you are going set the tank on top of the wood supports and not down in, you would not need the center support. Instead you should a support from the red board to the orange board.

I am not a steal guy:) I do know how to weld but I would not call myself a welder, I have been building with wood since I have been a tot, was a journey men carpenter in my collage day and own a millwork shop amoung the many hats. If I were to do a open stand I would definitely call a friend to weld and do a metal stand and have the stand power coated to prevent rust

 

[justin heathcoat]

just google metal fabrication in your area that should lead you inthe right direction but i can tell you it wont be cheap.

 

[dbl]

I would use the plans @redfishbluefish posted above. Very simple, very strong design and can be built with the most basic tools. The full set of instructions are found here among other locations. It's a widely used and proven design.

http://neptunesneighborhood.com/stand.html

 

[Quah]

Thanks, yes I was thinkingredients of using that mt stand I found a similar design online from Rocketengineer. I just wasn't sure that it could be fully supported made out of wood and left open. I do plan to sit the tank on top so I will add those middle supports.

 

[Quah]

2x4s have a compression strength of 4800 psi. You can build a very strong stand if you have a little framing understanding. It is crucial to the strength of a stand to have good bracing and corner strength. A good birch top plate and bottom plate will help tie it together with good stability..I've built several..a little research goes a long way and will save you hundreds.

Where is a good place to research basic carpentry approaches and techniques to betterms understand PSI, what materials to use, etc. Not just for tank stands but for anything.

 

[jwilliams860]

2x4 for the uprights will be plenty and you could use it for cross members, if you wrap it in 3/4" plywood it will be very rigid also, think ahead as well, and how everything will be positioned under the stand, alot of real estate under there goes a long way.
Side note most of the commercially built stands just use 3/4" plywood and have ripped pieces of the same plywood for the uprights.

 

[Eaj1001]

Where is a good place to research basic carpentry approaches and techniques to betterms understand PSI, what materials to use, etc. Not just for tank stands but for anything.

Lowes has a basic framing manual it has everything for basic construction covered...the blueprint redfish bluefish posted is perfect though. If you take your measurements and use his post you'll build a nice strong stand. I would use wood screws instead of nails in case you didn't know that already.

 

[Bloody.Knuckles]

I vote steel. I paid about $150 for the materials for my tall oversized over built stand for my 150 gal. Post an ad for a welder who wants to do side work, get an estimate, and if it's over $600, then buy a welder and DIY