Tank birthday, 47+ years

[Brew12]

That's good, no one wants to be a Jiboni. Almost all of the support needs to be at the corners but the middle of course needs some. A big piece of glass like on a 125 gallon tank will not sag in the middle as the 18" glass by itself can not bend on it's edge. But some support can't hurt. The bottom glass in that situation will also have great strain on it and we don't want the silicone there stretched.
I would imagine, BUT DON"T TRY IT that a 125 gallon tank could be supported just at the corners. But of course we don't want to do that as there will still be a great stress on the front and back glass. If you have an old tank that you want to throw out, try it. But keep away from it as it may crash. :eek:

A bridge doesn't collapse because of the structure over it, a tank works the same way. (almost)

Most stands are very overbuilt. I did some quick calculations on my home built 187g stand. It should be able to hold up both my Silverado and my wife's Subaru should we ever get them crushed into cubes and decide to display them.

 

[mcarroll]

It should be able to hold up both my Silverado and my wife's Subaru should we ever get them crushed into cubes and decide to display them.

Both get excellent gas mileage in that "mode". :)

 

[85173]

Both get excellent gas mileage in that "mode". :)

And ideal for parking spaces that are a "tight squeeze".o_O

 

[Chasmodes]

They're a bit boxy for me though :confused:

 

[Paul B]

I finished the stand for my new tank in my new home. It is redwood but I also coated it with Thompsons Waterseal just for fun. Now all I need is the tank. In a few days I should get my Undergravel filter. They are rare now because of that "Nitrate Factory" thing. I hope to make the reverse UG filter manifold before I move and I decided there will be no sump so I don't need to worry about that. It will basically be the same set up as I have now in a little higher tank. I will transfer everything from the old tan to this one.
I think my water cooled lights will work with a little tweeking.

 

[User1]

@Paul B Looks g0od. Sealing it was a nice touch. Might as well, right? Hope all is well with you and yours.

 

[mcarroll]

So by "dado" earlier I think I see what you mean in this photo...looks like you removed about 1/2" of material from the 4x4 post for the redwood beams to rest on, right? So the "hang off" the posts by an inch or whatever?

Is that the smallest dado you'd use?

Seems like most folks support the whole beam – how did you determine "enough"?

I was looking here:

http://www.wood-database.com/redwood/

Is it primarily the crushing strength that's being relied on there at the joint?

So if I wanted to pick another wood to use, but keep your design, I could just make sure the wood I select has a similar minimum crush rating?

Just to make an example, their "wood finder" suggests Pau Rosa, Texas Ebony and Black Locust (among others) as similar-or-more-crush-resistant alternatives when I set Crush Resist. to >6000 ft-pounds/in2. (They list Redwood at 5690 ft-pounds/in2.)

Do I have that right on any level? ;)

 

[Paul B]

Mcarrol, I chose redwood for these characteristics that are quoted in the link you posted.
Quote:
Redwood lumber is very soft and lightweight, with a decent strength-to-weight ratio. It is also exceptionally stable, with very little shrinkage or seasonal movement.

Redwood is listed next to pine in strength so it is strong enough (not the strongest wood) but I mainly picked it for stability as it doesn't warp. It is also rot resistant and stands up to moisture which is why they use it in decks. There are better woods but if I wanted to spend $500.00 for a stand, I would have made it out of steel like my stand now. (This stand cost about $100.00) This stand is very strong and light so I can carry it. The "Crush Resistance" is not that important because the 4X4 legs are rated many times the weight of the tank and each leg will carry only about 350lbs. The more important criteria is lateral strength. You don't want this stand moving sideways at all.

I chose to cut into the 4X4" legs about 5/8" as a random number, almost any depth would have given me enough strength but the main reason I did that was for lateral stability. The rails rest on that groove and are glued with water resistant glue and are bolted through with 3/8" carriage bolts.
The wood would break long before that joint moved. I only added those angle pieces in the back because that goes against the front wall and you won't see it but more so because it won't be in my way under the tank in case I want to put something under there. (I have no plans for that now)

Seems like most folks support the whole beam – how did you determine "enough"?

Most folks make stands out of 2X4s with added pieces all around for strength and looks. I purposely tried to make it simple using the fewest pieces of wood and joints. The biggest problem with any thing carrying water is that it will get wet. Wet wood is no problem but the water that gets in between two pieces of wood is a problem and that's where it rots as that water can take months to dry if it ever does. That's why I used this design with very little wood to wood contact which I filled with water resistant Gorilla Glue.
I also soaked the bottom of the legs in water seal for 10 minutes to get it sucked all the way up into the wood because the bottom of the legs will get wet often and that is the part most likely to have a problem. The legs will sit on tiles to keep them off the floor where water may pool if I spill some and I know I will. :rolleyes:

The long rail in the foreground is a doubled piece of redwood for strength because I didn't want to do anything to cramp the space there.

All the hardware is hot dipped galvanized "American" hardware. Many people build stands with deck screws but I feel that is a big mistake. This is not furniture, it is just a support.
Now it just needs Styrofoam on the rails and it's good to go.

 

[mcarroll]

Thanks for sharing all that detail!!

The "Crush Resistance" is not that important because the 4X4 legs are rated many times the weight of the tank and each leg will carry only about 350lbs. The more important criteria is lateral strength. You don't want this stand moving sideways at all.

That sounds more like "modulus of rupture".

If I plug redwood's number (about 9000) into their Wood Finder, along with excellent rot resistance and US source, they suggest bald cypress and black locust as similar. I guess pine doesn't score as well on the rot resistance so doesn't get suggested on that particular query...I see that it does have similar strength numbers though.

The doubled piece of redwood you mentioned is the top, front rail, correct? Makes sense....limits twisting, warping or breaking, right? Partly similar to what the angle supports do in back (along with anti-racking support)?

 

[Paul B]

Did you ever price bald cypress and black locust or check the availability in 2X4s. :cool:

 

[mcarroll]

:D Nope....purely theoretical at this point. I know a little about black locust though and I know it's very slow growing....so it makes sense.

 

[Paul B]

My fish having a little lunch of clams, Mysis and LRS food.

 

[Paul B]

If you notice, especially in the beginning those "flimsy" pieces of food he likes the best is clam. I freeze it and shave off tissue thin pieces of it. He can, and does eat large pieces of it because I cut it so thin. You can't do that with a fresh clam but it is easy with a big, frozen clam. The rest of the food, mostly LRS food he also loves but some of the pieces are a little to big and while he is chewing, he seems to get mad because the other fish are eating the rest of the food. He is a big hog. :rolleyes:

 

[Chasmodes]

Cool video Paul. What does your geometric pigmy hawkfish prefer to eat? Shrimp? That is a neat looking fish, interesting behavior too. Looks like your blenny is doing well :)

 

[Paul B]

Chas, the "Geometric Pigmy Hawkfish" is a Perchlet. He eats whatever everyone else eats, just slower. I also thought it was a Hawkfish.

That little bleeny had one of the worst cases of pop Eye I have ever seen. But he got over it all by himself with no help from me. I really thought he would lose the eye as it was totally infected and white. Thats what an immune system is for.
If I were many people on here I would have soaked him in Prizapro, Epsom Salt, fresh water dip, metheline blue and a number of other things which most likely would have killed him because the stress would have lowered his natural immunity.

 

[Chasmodes]

Thanks for the clarifcation Paul. He's a cool little fish for sure, and quite colorful too. You have one tough blenny!!!

 

[Paul B]

So yesterday I had to go to a Hand Doctor. For some reason I am susceptible to this trigger finger thing (maybe I got that in Viet Nam) But as you get older, you are susceptible to all sorts of things which is why it is so exciting to wake up.
For instance last night I slept in my Grand Kids bed (with my feet hanging off the end) and my wife slept in our bed. It's OK because after 44 years married we know what each of us looks like. We do this occasionally because I "may" sometimes snore. At least my wife tells me. She doesn't exactly tell me, she kicks me and says OOOOOOoommm, go somewhere else. Thats my cue.
Old people also don't sleep during the night, they get very tired in the day but can't sleep at night so I met my wife at 2:30 this morning in the kitchen looking for melatonin and other things that are supposed to make you sleep but really don't. We both had some and went back to "beds".

But as I was saying about the thrill of old people waking up, you never know what is going to hurt. I had a dream last night that I was dancing with Christie Brinkley, but it could have been Govenor Chris Christy, my memory is foggy.
I was swinging her around and I think I also picked her up a few times to throw her over my head. On second thought I am sure it was Gov. Chris Christie because this morning I can't move my wrist. At my age, even dreams cause injury.

I didn't go to the doctor for that because those dream injuries generally heal by the next nights dream where I may be an orthopedic surgeon working on Evel Kneval .
I went to that hand guy for the trigger finger. I told him I am moving in a few weeks and really need my right hand so what are my options. For people who don't know what trigger finger is, it is when you open your hand to like slap yourself awake or block your wife's hand from slapping you and one of your fingers stays closed. Then you have to take your other hand and use that to open your finger.
It is an easy operation and I had it done on other fingers 3 times, but I still have 8 more that will probably get as we are not supposed to live past about 37.
But he said ,after the operation you can't lift anything heavier than a tea cup and I also have mugs, platesand coral banded shrimp to pack so the operation is not an option right now. So we decided to do a steroid injection.

This didn't work on my other three fingers but it was free so I said, what the heck. I also forgot how it feels when he sticks this needle into the palm of your hand. I was lucky because this time he didn't have that cute assistant there so I could scream without being to embarrassed. The last time I had to go all the way to my car and close the windows before I screamed.

This Monday I have to go and have a tune up on my knees. I probably need new knees as industrial construction is not kind on your knees. When I get my new knees I want those good Home Depot Pressure treated ones so I can go through metal detectors. The same thing happened yesterday at the Knee guy. Instead of operating (for the 6th time) he will inject me with this grease mixed with Prixapro after fresh water dipping them.
I also may have to quarantine one knee from the other one for 72 days. The needle that they inject this Goo into your knee looks something like a turkey baster and it has a crank on it. Not a pleasant feeling either.

The whole point of this story is when I was driving home there was this gray foreign car in front of me going very slow. About 50 feet from the corner the car makes a right turn. Of course this was a sidewalk and he crashed into a "no parking sign" and bent it over. I put on my emergency flashers and got out to see if he was OK. At first i didn't see anyone in the car and figured it was parked and started moving. But I remembered following him for a while. I looked closer and this ancient little guy was in the drivers seat looking through the steering wheel. He looked to be about 100, (I think he was texting) I asked if he was hurt and I assume his wife, but it could have been his nurse, BFF, heart doner, driving instructor or Karate teacher was in the passenger seat. He put the car in reverse and backed up into the oncoming traffic. I ran to the back of the car to stop the cars because i don't think this guy could hear me yell STOP!.

I ran to the front of his car and took a picture of his license and he drove off at two MPH.

I called 911 even thought I felt real bad for the guy, but he was going to kill himself, me or the Rock singer he had with him.
Unfortunately there is no age limit for driving but I think they should at least give you a test to see if you can remain conscious long enough get to a corner before you make a turn.

 

[norfolkgarden]

So yesterday I had to go to a Hand Doctor. For some reason I am susceptible to this trigger finger thing (maybe I got that in Viet Nam) But as you get older, you are susceptible to all sorts of things which is why it is so exciting to wake up.
For instance last night I slept in my Grand Kids bed (with my feet hanging off the end) and my wife slept in our bed. It's OK because after 44 years married we know what each of us looks like. We do this occasionally because I "may" sometimes snore. At least my wife tells me. She doesn't exactly tell me, she kicks me and says OOOOOOoommm, go somewhere else. Thats my cue.
Old people also don't sleep during the night, they get very tired in the day but can't sleep at night so I met my wife at 2:30 this morning in the kitchen looking for melatonin and other things that are supposed to make you sleep but really don't. We both had some and went back to "beds".

But as I was saying about the thrill of old people waking up, you never know what is going to hurt. I had a dream last night that I was dancing with Christie Brinkley, but it could have been Govenor Chris Christy, my memory is foggy.
I was swinging her around and I think I also picked her up a few times to throw her over my head. On second thought I am sure it was Gov. Chris Christie because this morning I can't move my wrist. At my age, even dreams cause injury.

I didn't go to the doctor for that because those dream injuries generally heal by the next nights dream where I may be an orthopedic surgeon working on Evel Kneval .
I went to that hand guy for the trigger finger. I told him I am moving in a few weeks and really need my right hand so what are my options. For people who don't know what trigger finger is, it is when you open your hand to like slap yourself awake or block your wife's hand from slapping you and one of your fingers stays closed. Then you have to take your other hand and use that to open your finger.
It is an easy operation and I had it done on other fingers 3 times, but I still have 8 more that will probably get as we are not supposed to live past about 37.
But he said ,after the operation you can't lift anything heavier than a tea cup and I also have mugs, platesand coral banded shrimp to pack so the operation is not an option right now. So we decided to do a steroid injection.

This didn't work on my other three fingers but it was free so I said, what the heck. I also forgot how it feels when he sticks this needle into the palm of your hand. I was lucky because this time he didn't have that cute assistant there so I could scream without being to embarrassed. The last time I had to go all the way to my car and close the windows before I screamed.

This Monday I have to go and have a tune up on my knees. I probably need new knees as industrial construction is not kind on your knees. When I get my new knees I want those good Home Depot Pressure treated ones so I can go through metal detectors. The same thing happened yesterday at the Knee guy. Instead of operating (for the 6th time) he will inject me with this grease mixed with Prixapro after fresh water dipping them.
I also may have to quarantine one knee from the other one for 72 days. The needle that they inject this Goo into your knee looks something like a turkey baster and it has a crank on it. Not a pleasant feeling either.

The whole point of this story is when I was driving home there was this gray foreign car in front of me going very slow. About 50 feet from the corner the car makes a right turn. Of course this was a sidewalk and he crashed into a "no parking sign" and bent it over. I put on my emergency flashers and got out to see if he was OK. At first i didn't see anyone in the car and figured it was parked and started moving. But I remembered following him for a while. I looked closer and this ancient little guy was in the drivers seat looking through the steering wheel. He looked to be about 100, (I think he was texting) I asked if he was hurt and I assume his wife, but it could have been his nurse, BFF, heart doner, driving instructor or Karate teacher was in the passenger seat. He put the car in reverse and backed up into the oncoming traffic. I ran to the back of the car to stop the cars because i don't think this guy could hear me yell STOP!.

I ran to the front of his car and took a picture of his license and he drove off at two MPH.

I called 911 even thought I felt real bad for the guy, but he was going to kill himself, me or the Rock singer he had with him.
Unfortunately there is no age limit for driving but I think they should at least give you a test to see if you can remain conscious long enough get to a corner before you make a turn.

Good luck with the knees.
From friends operations I have been told hip replacements are good for about 20 years.
Knees I don't know about.

Lol, but I Googled thumb joint replacement a few years ago. Apparently that is a thing now and the thought gave me great comfort.
Maybe in a few more years.

Unless it's an overuse injury and just plain old worn out, there are exercises (simple/boring/tedious but useful) you can do to strengthen the knees.
Lol, You know you're getting older when your exercises are 'chair' exercises.

Its just a matter of doing them.
Kind of like just a matter of not eating my latest donut...

Hope the move planning is going well.

 

[Paul B]

The move is going slow. I am not sure how a 5 month construction job could be 4 months over run already. I wish they would have just given me the land and I would have built the thing myself.

My knees had 5 operations like many people and there is no cartridge or meniscus left to operate on. I need knees but need the time for the therapy after and someone to care for my fish. Maybe in the winter.

The fingers is just arthritis filling the hole where the tendon slides. They have to open it up using probably a Dremmel:eek:

 

[Breadman03]

I’m just sitting here picturing Paul sealing the car trunk and extending the radiator lines to heat seawater while driving.