Building a stand (questions)

[Pavonatech]

Preface: I'm a college student, and bring my tank from home to my dorm and back roughly once every 6 months.

I'm looking at picking up a 25 gallon lagoon, but the stand is roughly the same price as the dang tank. I have to tools to build my own, but I don't trust that something I build will hold under the pressure. Anyone got any advice as to this?

 

[declanisadog]

How pretty do you need it to be? you can't go wrong with 2x4's.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Most of the DIY stands that we build in the hobby are seriously over-built. I'm not a structural engineer so I personally prefer to over-build, but still, the people in the hobby who know their stuff about wood strength and loads are quick to point this out.

I will say you should add up your costs very carefully if you do choose to go the DIY route. It can easily end up costing more than a store-bought stand. I'm fairly certain mine did. But, if you follow almost any of the common stand blueprints out there, almost any DIY stand is going to work just fine. Keep in mind that most store-bought stands use 3/4" (or thinner) particle board. Almost any DIY stand using 2x4s is going to be plenty strong.