Work bench/basement sump stand strong enough?

[Biglurr54]

So I am building a work bench (32x80) which I will enclose and insulate. It's going in my basement and it will house a 75 gallon sump for my main display. It will also provide me with a space for working and storage of all thing aquarium. The 75g will be on the top. The bottom will be a large shelf for the carx, chiller, ato container, and spare parts. The top will all be insulated with 4 inch polyiso as the basement is dirt and drafty. I will have a large door to open to access the sump/ working area.

My question is will my design hold the weight of a 75g full.

It will be made of 2x4s and the joints will be pocket screws. The legs will be attached with either 1/4 20 bolts or 4 3"#8 screws.

The top and shelf will be covered in 1/2 pine plywood and sealed.

 

[Mandelstam]

I would try to get an upright in each of the corners of the sump so to not put any load directly on any screws.

 

[Larry L]

I'd worry about it racking side to side or front to back. Skinning the back and sides with plywood, or adding diagonal braces, would help with that. The nice thing is that the plywood or bracing can be added later, if it turns out to seem unstable after the frame is built.

 

[Biglurr54]

I will include some diagonal braces. That would only help. I completely agree.

 

[Biglurr54]

Ok, quick redesign. I like this much much better. I have cross beams (joists) on the ends of the tank and 2 in the middle. The cross beams on the ends of the tank have legs under then instead of screwed to them. That will transfer the load straight down. I will add diagonal braces on the back and sides to prevent any racking.

The bottom shelf will be slightly oversized so the legs will be continuous. The shelf will hang off the legs basically.

The blue is the tank foot print. The red is the legs.

 

[Redleg]

I would use pocket screws for this. You would be better off with 16 d nails. You are dealing with shear forces on these joints and pocket screws are more likely to fail than screws.

 

[Redleg]

** wouldn't **

 

[Biglurr54]

Any joint that is pocket screwed is supported or not load bearing. The pocket screws just hold the joint together.

It's coming along. Still needs a back and sides and insulation.

 

[Biglurr54]

Insulated with 4 inch poly is foam board. Enclosed on three sides. Getting painted.

 

[Shad Quill]

How's the build going

 

[Biglurr54]

I'm in the painful cycling stage.

I created a build thread for the whole system.

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/379567/

 

[Biglurr54]

Here's the sump up and running!