New Stand Build

[JohnC86]

I have 2 125g stacked on a stand I built. I used 2x6 for the horizontals no center supports just on the ends has been running since 2019 no bowing or deflection.

I was just thinking that I used 2x8 for my 12' x 20' dock so 2x6 should work, thank you and thank you #NC AL

I’m doing something like this for my next build, a 150 gallon tank. I’m glueing up multiple layers of plywood, fingers crossed this holds, but I think it will. Here’s what I have so far, I’m still working on the stand. The full weight of the tank will be supported by 3/4”+3/4”+1/2” plywood. I’m also trying to eliminate the center brace. The black pad in the photo is the tank's mat, so that's the footprint of the tank.

That also looks really nice. I'm curious if it holds, but my son is a mechanical engineer and he said that would hold far more than you need (as long as it doesn't come unglued).

 

[Fish Fan]

I was just thinking that I used 2x8 for my 12' x 20' dock so 2x6 should work, thank you and thank you #NC AL

That also looks really nice. I'm curious if it holds, but my son is a mechanical engineer and he said that would hold far more than you need (as long as it doesn't come unglued).

Yes, it really is overbuilt, but I wanted to be sure. I believe most home made tank stands are overbuilt, just take a look at the flimsy stuff sold at a pet store, but by and large those stands do hold up.

I've put about 1/2 gallon of Titebond III waterproof wood glue into that stand, I have no concerns about delamination.

Thank you for running it by your son! I ran it by a friend of mine who also happens to have a degree in rocket engineering (but not the member I mentioned above) and he gave me a lot of flack about the plywood having voids, but this is actually a pretty decent ply with minimal voids.

Fingers crossed lol!

 

[twentyleagues]

I believe a 100 gallon tank stand could be made form just 3/4" plywood. I have a 75 gallon on a 3/4 plywood stand, been setup close to 13 years (freshwater) with no problems.

If you look to the left in my pic above thats a 180g on a custom plywood stand that was professionally built. I dont trust myself to do that.

 

[Fish Fan]

If you look to the left in my pic above thats a 180g on a custom plywood stand that was professionally built. I dont trust myself to do that.

I mean, you did a great job on the other stand, so why not?? We're not building spacecraft, just tank stands here :)

 

[twentyleagues]

I mean, you did a great job on the other stand, so why not?? We're not building spacecraft, just tank stands here :)

When it comes to cutting plywood I dont have the right tools or space. At my old house I built a plywood tank but had a neighbor that did all the cuts for me so it was super tight and done right the first time. It was When I got serious into breeding Tanganyikan cichlids. Instead of having 10 40g breeders I just built 2- 8'x30"x24" plywood tanks and put dividers in them.

 

[Fish Fan]

When it comes to cutting plywood I dont have the right tools or space. At my old house I built a plywood tank but had a neighbor that did all the cuts for me so it was super tight and done right the first time. It was When I got serious into breeding Tanganyikan cichlids. Instead of having 10 40g breeders I just built 2- 8'x30"x24" plywood tanks and put dividers in them.

You know, I have often thought of a plywood tank. What did you use to waterproof it, and did it hold up?

 

[twentyleagues]

You know, I have often thought of a plywood tank. What did you use to waterproof it, and did it hold up?

Pond shield and fiberglass mat. Yes for the 2 years before I had to move. There was no way to get these out of the basement so saw and sledge hammer and it took a long time to tear them apart.

 

[RocketEngineer]

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey, there he is now! Thank you for joining in here, I'm sure we all appreciate your help!

 

[RocketEngineer]

Hey, there he is now! Thank you for joining in here, I'm sure we all appreciate your help!

grumble grumble Young whippersnappers trying to steal my thunder grumble grumble. :zany-face:

 

[Fish Fan]

Pond shield and fiberglass mat. Yes for the 2 years before I had to move. There was no way to get these out of the basement so saw and sledge hammer and it took a long time to tear them apart.

Thank you for the reply! Funny you say Pond Shield, I've been looking at that product recently as I'm kind of thinking about a little garden pond on the deck, and I'm thinking of basically building a wooden box. A pond liner would be cheap and easy, but leave a lot of wrinkles. It would be ideal if there was some kind of paint on solution to waterproofing the wooden box.

 

[Fish Fan]

grumble grumble Young whippersnappers trying to steal my thunder grumble grumble. :zany-face:

Not so young here, but definitely trying to steal your thunder :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Would you have any comment on the plywood contraption I posted above? I'm pretty confident, but it's not too late to add a center support if you think I'd need it. I'd prefer to not have one if it's safe.

Thank you in advance!

 

[PPBlimpy]

This is the stand I just recently recently finished, well frame is finished, I haven't skinned it yet.

Once the tank is up and running I am going to do more of a built in type design to close off the 1.5 feet from the edge to the wall as a storage cabinet for the electronics etc. Will also build a canopy that goes to the ceiling in that room.

96"x30" foot print and 40" high

 

[RocketEngineer]

Not so young here, but definitely trying to steal your thunder :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Would you have any comment on the plywood contraption I posted above? I'm pretty confident, but it's not too late to add a center support if you think I'd need it. I'd prefer to not have one if it's safe.

Thank you in advance!

My concern with plywood is water/moisture infiltration into the plys. If the plywood isn’t made for wet locations, I’m not confident it won’t swell and come apart. Now, folks have used it successfully and from the looks of things, that’s strong enough. Just be sure to do a really good job sealing the sheet edges.

 

[Freenow54]

I am impressed with how the finished stand turned out, looks really nice! Thank you for the idea of the plexiglass for salt creep, I have some leftover starboard that I think I will use.

Very good paint as well I think stopped rot thanks good luck. Osage Orange lapped boards finished with Danish oil

 

[Fish Fan]

My concern with plywood is water/moisture infiltration into the plys. If the plywood isn’t made for wet locations, I’m not confident it won’t swell and come apart. Now, folks have used it successfully and from the looks of things, that’s strong enough. Just be sure to do a really good job sealing the sheet edges.

Thank you much! For sure, everything will be caulked, primed, painted and sealed as best as I can. I have had other stands made from plywood hold up well over many years of use, so hoping for the same here.

Thanks again!

 

[PPBlimpy]

pond armor was mentioned above, I was toying with the idea of using it to water proof the bottom of my 96x30 stand above, I ran 3/4 ply on the bottom with 2x4 supports to raise the sump, i have a 125G sump that goes in there and if i spill/ have a leak the bottom can hold approx 60g, and there is air space so i can suck it out with a wet/dry and run fans to dry things up quicker.

 

[Freenow54]

I believe a 100 gallon tank stand could be made from just 3/4" plywood. I have a 75 gallon on a 3/4 plywood stand, been setup close to 13 years (freshwater) with no problems.

yes my top is 3/4. But glad I built the base the way I did. My basement flooded because of my sump pump, and I had to jack it all up and move it around multiple times

 

[Freenow54]

Thank you much! For sure, everything will be caulked, primed, painted and sealed as best as I can. I have had other stands made from plywood hold up well over many years of use, so hoping for the same here.

Thanks again!

I have another with a 65 on it basically plywood but 1/2 inch is fairly thin here since we got screwed into the metric system a 1/2 inch sheet is closer to 3/8

 

[Fish Fan]

I have another with a 65 on it basically plywood but 1/2 inch is fairly thin here since we got screwed into the metric system a 1/2 inch sheet is closer to 3/8

I would use 3/4" plywood, if building a plywood stand. The 1/2" stuff is getting pretty thin for a larger tank.