Hello, I am looking to build a stand for my 180 gallon tank, with two corner overflows, does anyone have any schematics for one without center braces. Thanks!
Not positive, but I think you can get away with it if you use a 2x6 or 2x8 for the top brace. Search this subforum for stand design threads, there are dozens/hundreds of threads and posts about wood choice and bracing requirements.
Yeah I'm scanning through now. I saw that Inappropriate Reefer did something similar, just worried about corner overflow
I've seen people notch the upright (not load bearing) in the corner to accommodate corner overflows. I don't think the actual frame will be in the way.
You can use the famous "Rocketengineer" stand design. If you search him you should find it here. For sure on RC. When I had a 180 I used his design. The top was 2x6 the rest was 2x4 no center brace.
Here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1169964 I'm sure there is a thread here as well but this one is older. ANYONE can make this stand. It's very forgiving. Probably the first 2x4's I ever cut in my life was for this.
In conjunction with horizontals they help prevent racking and give the vertical supports (pink) something better to grip with. Otherwise you'd need pocket holes and / or additional screws where they meet. They (green) are the non-load bearing verticals I mentioned notching.
Youtube,,,, king of dyi I made a stand following his instructions, cost me about $40-50 in materials (wood and screws). I didn't build for a 180 gallon, it was for a 60,, but the idea is the same, he also has other videos showing the build of stands for very large tanks
hello, check out Kremco.net for aluminum extrusion that can be used for a tank and tank base. I am currently building a 75 gal tank and will have a post soon showing the assembly. Controlled Dynamics is the company with the framing system options.
Intresting, are they expensive? I don't mind spending some money, but I'd rather break the bank on coral.
No its not expensive. A nice feature is the strength of the brackets, can use less hardware/connections when building. I can get a price on the frame that was just built if you would like?
Only trouble with wood for a 6' long stand with no center brace is the necessary size of the front beam. It just takes up a large amount of your opening. As much as I like working with wood myself, I'd probably pay someone to weld up a steel stand if I was doing a 180. I hate center braces too.
