Building a stand for 150 gallon, need some advise

[everpresentnoob]

So I aquired a 150 gallon tank for my wife, but the stand it came with is rather wobbly with just the empty tank on it, so Im building a new stand. Ive built stands for other tanks, but never something that will weigh this much once filled.

Planning on using 2x4 and 2x7 lumber for it and skinning with 1/4 plywood. Typical stand design, rectangle on the ground, another rectangle under the tank, that is sitting on braced 2x4s as the vertical legs. My question is, If I build the top rectangle out of 2x7 lumber, do I need the center brace? or can it just be braced on the corners? such as the tank in the pic below. The tank is 48" long, 24" wide and 30 tall. So Id like to be able to have the two 48 inch beams unsupported in the center so i can get under the thing to the sump easier...

 

[TX_REEF]

with that style of stand construction and your tank dimensions, you should not need a center vertical brace. Love me some DIY!!!

 

[JayM]

What’s 2x7 lumber?

 

[everpresentnoob]

What’s 2x7 lumber?

Shoot, I meant 2x6 or 2x8... Maybe I'm trying to create a new generic size for dimensional lumber! LOL

 

[TX_REEF]

Shoot, I meant 2x6 or 2x8... Maybe I'm trying to create a new generic size for dimensional lumber! LOL

2x6 will do just fine in this application in my opinion

 

[JayM]

2X6 will be plenty strong. Just make sure you don’t forget to make the frame 1/2” smaller in width and depth than your tank dimensions so that when you skin it with 1/4” ply, it won’t end up a 1/2” too big.

 

[bluemon]

Might also be worth looking into Aluminum T-bracket styles. Easy to DIY and can have a lot of upsides over wood.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'd suggest following this design and the guidance in this post from Reef Central. The author of this post is Rocket Engineer, who is an engineer by trade, and who is also an active member here on R2R if you were to need his help. In this post, he discusses what lumber to use (2x4 vs 2x6, etc.) for what six tanks, and if you'd need a center support or not.

https://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964
Good luck!

 

[everpresentnoob]

That's actually exactly the stand I plan on building. I've done that style for a couple 20 longs and my daughters 30 gallon. But they don't weigh 2k when full so I figured I'd ask here first. Lol

 

[UMALUM]

I've seen 2 x 4 hold tanks twice that. Just make sure especially if using pine to acclimate it to the environment where it will live before squaring it up and making your final cuts. The last thing you'll need with a full tank is to loose a 1/4 off anything.

 

[everpresentnoob]

Oh I will do that. Definitely. And I need to find someone localish that has a joiner to square up the lumber for me.

 

[hatfielj]

The key with building a tank stand is to get a perfectly square box and perfectly flat top. Then, you have to make sure the stand is level on your floor. The bottom of the tank must have equal support across the entire surface to avoid stress in the seams. The type of wood you use isn't as important as making sure everything is square and level. The bigger the tank, the more important this becomes.

 

[Fish Fan]

That's actually exactly the stand I plan on building. I've done that style for a couple 20 longs and my daughters 30 gallon. But they don't weigh 2k when full so I figured I'd ask here first. Lol

I understand your concern, but check in the Reef Central thread I linked above, Rocket Engineer addresses what size and length tanks will require 2x4, 2x6, or 2x8 horizontal rails. And, if you need his help here, just type (at)Rocket Engineer here on R2R, and I'm quite certain he'd be happy to help you.

Good luck!

 

[W31Olds]

Unless you're on a slab, I would also take a look at your floor to ensure adequate support.

 

[7digits]

Oh I will do that. Definitely. And I need to find someone localish that has a joiner to square up the lumber for me.

I used 90° clamps

 

[Fish Fan]

Oh I will do that. Definitely. And I need to find someone localish that has a joiner to square up the lumber for me.

You can use a table saw like a joiner with a simple shop made jig. Let me know if you have questions about woodworking, I can likely help: