DIY Stand for Tank and Sump that are Same Width

[Hugh Mann]

According to RocketEngineer’s write up, especially on smaller stands, those pieces are optional. While supporting some weight, the primary function is to serve as an anchor point for the cladding, which I am not using on the smaller stands. The 4 main supports can easily support 5x the tank weight for the 55 and 12x for the 20.

As a single 2x4x8 warped like a wet noodle is currently $10.00CAD, I opted to cut down on materials where possible.

 

[workhz]

I’ll have to re-read what he wrote but my understand is the as designed corner is 3 pieces. 2 carrying load and one to help put things together. On yours, unless I just can’t see it properly I’m only seeing 1 carrying load (mins you, I’m on my phone right now).

 

[Hugh Mann]

Holy heck. So after much bumblefluffing about, I finally have the stand done (mostly). It is as square and level as I could possibly make it. Moved it into position, and I knew the floor there wasn’t level, but over the width of the stand it adds up to about 5/8ths of a difference. It also has a bit of a dip in the floor, so the bottom lengthwise beam isn’t sitting flat on the floor the entire length. (Straight edge says it’s not warped, it’s the floor). It’s otherwise pretty level lengthwise.

So anyways, anyone have any suggestions on how to go about correcting this? Can a gap that big be shimmed? Would I be better off trying to find some 5/8 plywood to cut a spacer for the whole length?

I’m even toying with the idea of rebuilding the front legs and just making them longer. Though I have concerns about wouldn’t that throw the stand out of square and weaken it?

Really at a loss here, this kind of stuff is beyond my scope of knowledge and I know if I don’t do it right it’s going to cause all sorts of problems for future me, and I have enough of those already.

 

[workhz]

I used plastic shims. I’d also say that the weight is completely at the corners so the area in between isn’t as critical.

How level is it left corner to right corner

 

[Hugh Mann]

I used plastic shims. I’d also say that the weight is completely at the corners so the area in between isn’t as critical.

How level is it left corner to right corner

Rather level. Not perfect, but very very close.

 

[workhz]

Someone can correct me but all the horizontal bottom pieces are doing are keeping things square and keeping the vertical pieces from flaring out like Bambi on ice.

I say shim and make sure it doesn’t wobble.