What if?

[Jose Berry]

so there I was staring at my old 225 gallon aquarium stand that measures 96”x32”x60” (LxWxH) amazed at how large it is and yet mad that it barley scrapes through the door. Then it got me thinking what if?

So to you do it your selfers, what if I invented a way for us large aquarist to have a stand that can collapse so it can fit trough any door. Width wise...also a possibility to include hidden handles so at a push of a button it would pop out and we could carry the dang thing

 

[Reef-junky]

Could make it out of something that comes apart as well. Like

 

[Jose Berry]

Yes, I would mainly make it out of wood. The upper slats would be be able to pivet up and down the main point would be two built in threaded inserts so that you can screw the slats back. The lower sides and middle would be the adjusting point. Now how much of a collapse depends on what the lower and middle would be made of.

Problems with weak slide rails is that when you move the stand you could bend the rails causing the stand to be uneven and or break. Because of uneven lifting. I could counter this by making the stand rollable minimizing the amount of pick up. The stand would have to be empty upon moving and tank removed.

Another method is cylinder rotational adjustment. Typically doors are 32-34” with the exceptions of double doors.

So if a user had a tank stand that was (Lx38”xH)
User would need a collapse by 4or 6inch. By twisting the cylinder outer shell you could then move the frame in closer.

 

[Jose Berry]

I’m thinking for strength and ease would a chair cylinder hydrolic operated thing work?

 

[Reef-junky]

Sounds like a neat idea but I would be concerned about the stand collapsing under the weight of the tank if it’s made to fold up. Anyway if you make a working prototype post pictures.

 

[Dancingmad]

Market penetration would be tough - out of fear alone I wouldn't consider a collapsible wood stand.

Hydrolics wear out pretty quick too. I don't like the idea of my tank being able to lean into turns. Visual approximation provided below.

 

[Reef-junky]

Market penetration would be tough - out of fear alone I wouldn't consider a collapsible wood stand.

Hydrolics wear out pretty quick too. I don't like the idea of my tank being able to lean into turns. Visual approximation provided below.

LoL

That would be my fear as well

 

[Jose Berry]

I agree, although the main support for these tanks I think would be with detachable wood. The y could be reinforced with a center beam to support such activity