T-slot stand advice

[cartery]

Hello!

I've gotten great advice on here before and it's influenced my design. I now have the stand built and the tanks (75g display, 40g sump) mounted and filled for testing. However, if I push on the stand there's a slight wobble, probably of just a few millimeters, but I don't have to push very hard. It seems to happen in any direction and is happening with the display full. I'm looking to add some supports, but I'd like to add them in the most effective way.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what kinds of supports to add and where?

The stand is made out of 2040 t-slots from zyltech. The connections are both plates and brackets (https://www.zyltech.com/12x-90-2028-aluminum-corner-brace-angle-bracket-for-2020-extrusion-black/). The diagonal struts are 2020 t-slot and attached with flat corner brackets from Amazon.

Thank you very much!

 

[masterofstuff124]

Something I don't see mentioned enough around the aluminum extrusion builds, is the need for perfectly square Cuts. I had a similar issue on my first stand build, but its a small 15 gallon. I just shimmed the corners for level like I would a wood stand. I spend the time now to square up my saw and my builds are flat now. On a larger tank i think Im just going to go for the fancy feet that have a built in leveling mechanism. I saw them in a Tidal Gardens video about stands. I assume there are smaller ones for 2040. I guess the floor might also not be flat. (garages/concrete pads are usually angled for draining? not sure) Awesome looking build!

 

[shakacuz]

first glance i can see a slight unleveled area by the towel in the first/left picture, so this could be why it wobbles. personally, i'd add horizontal tslots at the back and sides(depending if you're using the sides to access the sump, too)

 

[JoJosReef]

Following

 

[IceNein]

That's a pretty tall stand! I really think if you put horizontal cross braces in on the sides half way down that it would add a lot of rigidity.

 

[cartery]

That's a pretty tall stand! I really think if you put horizontal cross braces in on the sides half way down that it would add a lot of rigidity.

Yeah, it is tall... I wanted to view it from standing but didn't think very hard about what that would mean structurally. Are you suggesting something like what I've drawn in red?

 

[cartery]

first glance i can see a slight unleveled area by the towel in the first/left picture, so this could be why it wobbles. personally, i'd add horizontal tslots at the back and sides(depending if you're using the sides to access the sump, too)

Someone else said something similar regarding horizontals. Something like what I've drawn in red?

I'm not sure I see the unleveled area you're referring to, but it is absolutely slanted.

 

[shakacuz]

Someone else said something similar regarding horizontals. Something like what I've drawn in red?

I'm not sure I see the unleveled area you're referring to, but it is absolutely slanted.

yes. just like that :)

i have included the area, circled in black, in which i believe there to be some unleveled spaces. could just be lighting/shadows playing mind tricks.

 

[cartery]

Something I don't see mentioned enough around the aluminum extrusion builds, is the need for perfectly square Cuts. I had a similar issue on my first stand build, but its a small 15 gallon. I just shimmed the corners for level like I would a wood stand. I spend the time now to square up my saw and my builds are flat now. On a larger tank i think Im just going to go for the fancy feet that have a built in leveling mechanism. I saw them in a Tidal Gardens video about stands. I assume there are smaller ones for 2040. I guess the floor might also not be flat. (garages/concrete pads are usually angled for draining? not sure) Awesome looking build!

Thank you!

I'm not sure what you're referring to with the leveling feet. Something like this? https://www.zyltech.com/anti-vibration-leveling-rubber-feet-4-pack/.

The floor is definitely not flat. My whole house is basically angled for draining lol

 

[shakacuz]

Thank you!

I'm not sure what you're referring to with the leveling feet. Something like this? https://www.zyltech.com/anti-vibration-leveling-rubber-feet-4-pack/.

The floor is definitely not flat. My whole house is basically angled for draining lol

if your home is angled, then you definitely need adjustable feet for the tank(and even more so to keep the tank from wobbling once full). although keep in mind the amount of weight it will be holding. you need to size up accordingly.

 

[BZOFIQ]

You need gussets or few fabricated 45 degree braces that go on the inside.

The 2 pieces in the back of the stand mounted at 45 degrees aren't doing anything for you they way you have them mounted.

 

[masterofstuff124]

seems like a ton of weight to put on "threads" but atleast these are rated for the loads of some LARGE aquariums.

 

[twentyleagues]

Yeah I would add some bracing front to back and along the horizontal. That stand is very tall, as water is added it will probably get worse.

 

[kalare]

Horizontal braces will not do much for lateral (side to side) rigidity. You need more angled braces in more directions with very stiff connections. Gusset plates aren't that great and can allow movement. Try to use fasteners that require milling the pieces.

 

[cartery]

You need gussets or few fabricated 45 degree braces that go on the inside.

The 2 pieces in the back of the stand mounted at 45 degrees aren't doing anything for you they way you have them mounted.

I just bought a miter box and a hacksaw and have started adding 45 degree cuts to the current struts that I have. I'll mount them internally.

 

[Sassafras]

Nothing like perfectly square cuts and anchor fasteners for keeping a T-slot stand square. Like kalare said, the extrusions require milling to accept the fasteners. This and strategically placed 45 deg angle braces will make for a very strong, stable, level and rack-resistant stand.

Anchor Fastener Examples​

 

[cartery]

Nothing like perfectly square cuts and anchor fasteners for keeping a T-slot stand square. Like kalare said, the extrusions require milling to accept the fasteners. This and strategically placed 45 deg angle braces will make for a very strong, stable, level and rack-resistant stand.

I like the idea, I just don't know if I can retrofit this thing. I suppose I'd have to mill it myself, which I could probably figure out... I think I'll start with adding 45 deg angle braces and the horizontal supports people have suggested and see how it feels. Thanks for the input!

 

[cartery]

seems like a ton of weight to put on "threads" but atleast these are rated for the loads of some LARGE aquariums.

This is super cool, but I'm not sure how I would attach this given my design. I wonder if there's a base plate that would make it so this can be put onto the long side of a 2040 beam

 

[masterofstuff124]

tidal garden has some kind of plate. I assume its something custom from their manufacturer of the stands alufab. Sadly this is the state of Aluminum extrusion stands for aquariums. lots of mixed conventions and opinions. High expectation of fabri-cobbling. We could really use a good rocket engineer style thread like we had for wood 2x4 stands. It also doesn't help that there are a ton of different style of extrusion and dimensions. While there are many aquarium stand manufacturers using extrusion I'm not interested in that. Im ready to start a 3030 build but im stuck on this feet issue...


ahh i see alufab offers much of their part catalog. and I think i see the correct plate. I need to comb through all this but looks promising.

 

[masterofstuff124]

Looks like misumi has a ton of options and ratings in the 1000s of lbs