Fabricating a steel stand

[Robbbadd]

Anyone have any tips or tricks in stand fabrication ... my plan is to use 1.5” 1/4 thick steel tube. The tank is a 48x24 120 gallon, so my plan is to have vertical support at the 12” point on the 48” span to leave access to the sump... I planned on no vertical support on the 24” span, and cross supports on the top and bottom.

 

[SeaJay]

With 1.5” 1/4” wall tube I don’t think you really need any vertical support, maybe some gussets to leave the whole span open for access underneath.

 

[HolySmoke]

I am a union ironworker and agree with what he said. ^

Quarter inch wall tube is really overkill and the stand will be quite heavy when you are done. However that being said it will be much easier to build without having to worry about the heat turning the tube into a banana. I would skip the uprights and put a 4 to 6 small gussets to stop it from racking in both directions.

I also would price out the difference between steel and extruded aluminum. I would much rather have a stand in the latter but cost will probably be almost double depending on prices. If you check ebay you can find some sellers who have extruded aluminum really cheap from leftover lots or projects.

The tank I have now has an extruded aluminum stand and it really is awesome. They sell all sorts of hardware that slide into the slots and you can do some really neat stuff without welding anything.

Only way I would ever use steel for a reef tank stand is if it was really large or built into a wall with a dedicated fish room.

Just my .02 Dont let me talk you out of a fun DIY project if that's your idea of fun. I try not to touch metal when I get home hehe

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

that is WAAAY overkill. 1/4" metal tubing is super burly. I would cut the wall thickness in half and put in a support.

Like holysmoke alluded to, all the normal welding protocols will apply. Like don't go nuts and start welding the crap out of it in one place because when it cools you will stand back and say what the heck? how did THAT happen.

ask me how I know.... LOL

 

[X-37B]

Here is my 120 stand.
2" vertical and bottom.
3" top. No center support just 2 on the top.

 

[HolySmoke]

Here is my 120 stand.
2" vertical and bottom.
3" top. No center support just 2 on the top.

I gotta say that is really clean my man. I may take back what I said about a steel stand lol. Do you have any pictures of it skinned?

 

[X-37B]

I have not skinned it yet.
I like the open look. So does the wife as she is the welder in the family and the one with the talent.
It is coated with por 15 stuff is awesome.
Wife coated it too.
She is an artist by trade and does metal art too.

 

[HolySmoke]

Really cool. I always wanted to dabble with metal art myself but never have made the plunge. You are a lucky man

 

[X-37B]

Really cool. I always wanted to dabble with metal art myself but never have made the plunge. You are a lucky man

Here is a freehand weld she did.

 

[HolySmoke]

Here is a freehand weld she did.

Wow that is incredible. You weren't kidding when you said she is a metal artist.

Meanwhile I'm in the booth practicing tig welding bc it's been a while.

 

[X-37B]

Yea she has some talent. Been drawing since she was 4, so its in her genes. Couple years ago she took a welding class at the college and has been at it for only a couple years.
This took less than 2 hours and is done with sharpies.

I almost went with the T slot stand as I think they look great except for the cost. I did use them for my t5 fixture. Siliconed 2 pieces to the trim and used door sliders. I can slide the fixture back to work on the tank and its only 4" off the water.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Here is picture of my steel stand.. panels are held on by magnets that click to the corner braces.