judge my stand plans? (60g Cube)

[Schulks]

Hello, I have to replace my IM 50 due to an ugly seam.

The replacement is a 24" cube.

I am creating a basic 1515 extrusion stand on tnutz. My cart is below for the stand if someone has time to check it over for improvements.

Example stand: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/biotek-marine-alufab-24-x-24-x-36-lite-aquarium-stand-kit.html

tnutz cart: https://www.tnutz.com/cart-share/uDa3O


What top should I use?

How thick would granite need to be?

There is a local plastic company that could cut an HDPE sheet if I had an idea on thickness.

How thick would HDPE need to be for the 20-gallon sump too?

Any other suggestions for materials?

Edit: Wait, Could I just place the aquarium directly on the extrusions? It is braced.

 

[cdemoss01]

@TXReefer79 Is good at this!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@Troylee is another one that can give you good advice!

 

[Schulks]

Thanks, I decided to have a couple boards finished locally for my stand.
Some input could still be interesting.

 

[Troylee]

If it’s a glass tank you don’t really need anything.. if it’s an acrylic tank it would need to be fully supported with something solid.. you could basically put anything you want on top as long as it’s nice and flat!

 

[Schulks]

If it’s a glass tank you don’t really need anything.. if it’s an acrylic tank it would need to be fully supported with something solid.. you could basically put anything you want on top as long as it’s nice and flat!

It is a bottom braced glass tank. It would be cool to place it directly on the extrusions so there is no bottom. I just worry the t-slot gap in the extrusion would be unstable or bend right under the brace. Do you believe it would it work?

I don't have the aquarium and stand to view it for myself yet.
Stand shipped yesterday and tank will arrive in a couple weeks.

 

[UncommonSense]

Here’s a very similar stand build I offered some advice on!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-0-5-hdpe-thick-enough-for-my-stand-top.1111475/

 

[Schulks]

Here’s a very similar stand build I offered some advice on!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-0-5-hdpe-thick-enough-for-my-stand-top.1111475/

Thanks that was my thread too, lol. I reposted because this one received no responses. :p

 

[UncommonSense]

Thanks that was my thread too, lol. I reposted because this one received no responses. :p

Ah yes! So it is!

Well, I’d fill in the T-slot gaps in the top perimeter of the stand if it was my tank, and make darn sure it’s as plane/level across the top (especially when under load) as you possibly can! (Ideally, also adding a thin closed cell foam between tank and stand around the perimeter)

— IMHO, many (non Red Sea) silicone seam failures occur because the tank isn’t level, and plane across the stand…. The tank is essentially trying to twist constantly, which slowly peels the seams apart… (I learned this firsthand as a younger, less educated man… after I left a brand new 60g tall on a 2x6 lumber shelf with zero shelf support under one side for a year or so… I got lucky it didn’t pop!)

 

[UncommonSense]

How thick would granite need to be?

I wouldn’t go this route for the actual material that goes between tank and stand; but it would work well as a veneer!

Granite would likely end up being just as slippery as HDPE between tank and stand… in addition, it has incredible compressive strength, but is very hard/brittle!! — glass would have mechanically better properties for the application even… but both aren’t suited for the structural job!

If you have a few woodworking tools; some little strips of (finished and painted) wood in the frame top perimeter t-slot to fill in the voids wouldn’t be a bad idea… — there’s likely also an off the shelf solution for this!

 

[UncommonSense]

Example stand:

Regarding the stand itself:

This should support the weight just fine! — If you live in an area prone to seismic activity; possibly consider adding a diagonal extrusion to one or two side walls of the frame for shear strength! — plywood cladding will serve the same purpose too, if you want to go that route!

 

[Troylee]

It is a bottom braced glass tank. It would be cool to place it directly on the extrusions so there is no bottom. I just worry the t-slot gap in the extrusion would be unstable or bend right under the brace. Do you believe it would it work?

I don't have the aquarium and stand to view it for myself yet.
Stand shipped yesterday and tank will arrive in a couple weeks.

It shouldn’t… the stand will hold it just fine!

 

[Schulks]

— IMHO, many (non Red Sea) silicone seam failures occur because the tank isn’t level, and plane across the stand….

Perhaps, similar to this tank failure?



xD this is my current tank I am replacing. I sure hope it doesn't pop in the next few weeks. lol

I tried really hard to level the stand so maybe it is from corner chip there. The chip doesn't reach the silicone or even half way through the glass. But It could also be from moving the tank for storage a few times, not sure..

This should support the weight just fine! — If you live in an area prone to seismic activity;

I am in Kentucky so no seismic activity here. Adding a top could be good for structure tho.

Ah yes! So it is!

Well, I’d fill in the T-slot gaps in the top perimeter of the stand if it was my tank, and make darn sure it’s as plane/level across the top (especially when under load) as you possibly can! (Ideally, also adding a thin closed cell foam between tank and stand around the perimeter)

Sadly, no woodworking tools here. I have a local woodworker making a couple pieces for the top and bottom but I'm still considering directly on the extrusions because that would look very cool.
I'm almost certainly using the wood top out of precaution.
I wonder if anyone has tried this before.

 

[UncommonSense]

Perhaps, similar to this tank failure?

Oof! That does look like a tank support failure, if there isn’t a chip there! It looks pretty ragged from the photo, but I can’t really tell!

How is the stand constructed? A single lumber corner “leg”? — if the lumber spans are help up purely by screws, they can sag over time, which can make a corner “leg” the highest point in the stand…

 

[UncommonSense]

Sadly, no woodworking tools here. I have a local woodworker making a couple pieces for the top and bottom but I'm still considering directly on the extrusions because that would look very cool.
I'm almost certainly using the wood top out of precaution.
I wonder if anyone has tried this before.

Hmm… I’m having a hard time envisioning what you’re describing… like a wood exterior trim for the horizontal aluminum extrusions?

re: your granite idea; I just had a thought! What about using a granite or marble large format tile as your exterior cladding for the stand?

 

[Schulks]

Oof! That does look like a tank support failure, if there isn’t a chip there! It looks pretty ragged from the photo, but I can’t really tell!

How is the stand constructed? A single lumber corner “leg”? — if the lumber spans are help up purely by screws, they can sag over time, which can make a corner “leg” the highest point in the stand…

There is a chip in the corner of that corner but it is only the corner. It does not reach half way through the glass pane or near the silicone. Still, it could still be a cause.

This is the stand. It is quite sturdy.


Yes the glass needs cleaned really bad but skimmers clean!

Hmm… I’m having a hard time envisioning what you’re describing… like a wood exterior trim for the horizontal aluminum extrusions?

re: your granite idea; I just had a thought! What about using a granite or marble large format tile as your exterior cladding for the stand?

I mean the woodworker is finishing a piece to lay flat over the top of the aluminum stand, horizontally. Another piece to lay flat and support the sump below and cut to go around the aluminum stand legs.

I've planned to leave the stand unfinished because I think it looks cool. It is also one less thing to think about while figuring everything else out. I really like the large tile idea though. That could look great and they don't seem too expensive.
I would like access on at least 2 sides of the stand and it looks like 24"x24" panels would weigh around 32 lbs. Maybe I could build some lifting handles in the design.

 

[UncommonSense]

There is a chip in the corner of that corner but it is only the corner. It does not reach half way through the glass pane or near the silicone. Still, it could still be a cause.

This is the stand. It is quite sturdy.


Yes the glass needs cleaned really bad but skimmers clean!



I mean the woodworker is finishing a piece to lay flat over the top of the aluminum stand, horizontally. Another piece to lay flat and support the sump below and cut to go around the aluminum stand legs.

I've planned to leave the stand unfinished because I think it looks cool. It is also one less thing to think about while figuring everything else out. I really like the large tile idea though. That could look great and they don't seem too expensive.
I would like access on at least 2 sides of the stand and it looks like 24"x24" panels would weigh around 32 lbs. Maybe I could build some lifting handles in the design.

Aaah, that makes way more sense now!!

Your chip should be fine honestly; I’ve repaired worse! — nice stand! Quite stout!

Hmm… what about just using proper home (exterior) door hinges mounted to a plywood backing for the two 24”x24” tiles you’d like to serve as doors? They should readily handle 32lbs! — just take your time hanging the “doors”, and they’ll swing beautifully!

Edit: you can also have your stone tile doors “inset”, in between the aluminum extrusion legs; showing off the monolithic stone block look, and the aluminum extrusion at the same time!