I need help with reinforcing my stand

[blueluv]

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/espiritudentrimi80/Mobile%20Uploads/1BBE8273-E854-47CB-A611-CD41981049C6_zpswkeqyadx.jpg (http://s357.photobucket.com/user/espiritudentrimi80/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1BBE8273-E854-47CB-A611-CD41981049C6_zpswkeqyadx.jpg.html)
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/espiritudentrimi80/Mobile%20Uploads/1465AD16-67E4-45DA-A9EF-1A74D2D14ECC_zpsvnv5y6m0.jpg (http://s357.photobucket.com/user/espiritudentrimi80/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1465AD16-67E4-45DA-A9EF-1A74D2D14ECC_zpsvnv5y6m0.jpg.html)
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/espiritudentrimi80/Mobile%20Uploads/360374E1-7683-444D-8ED6-1B8F1B337266_zpsc3t5fn81.jpg (http://s357.photobucket.com/user/espiritudentrimi80/media/Mobile%20Uploads/360374E1-7683-444D-8ED6-1B8F1B337266_zpsc3t5fn81.jpg.html)

[Bill63SG]

Im no carpenter,but at the top 2x4's,the tank should be resting on the 2" side,not the 4" side.This will bow,so your going to need to put another 2x4 underneath them,skinny side,2" side up all the way around.

[blueluv]

Im no carpenter,but at the top 2x4's,the tank should be resting on the 2" side,not the 4" side.This will bow,so your going to need to put another 2x4 underneath them,skinny side,2" side up all the way around.
Thank you for responding
Good point Bill. I will do just that to prevent it from bowing. How do I prevent it from teetering? I was thinking of adding 2x4 to the bottom legs , all the way around. What do you think ?

[Skip]

what size tank you putting on there?

[blueluv]

what size tank you putting on there?
75 gallon

[MKD]

are you going to do skin or not? if you do skin front, back (back only need in the middle), sides and top, you should be fine.

[blueluv]

are you going to do skin or not? if you do skin front, back (back only need in the middle), sides and top, you should be fine.

Hey Tony. Thank you for your response. Please excuse my ignorance. I don't understand your explanation and what do you mean by skin ?

[MKD]

No worry Christopher . I meant woods cover the sides.

[blueluv]

No worry Christopher . I meant woods cover the sides.
I'm not going to cover the sides. I want reinforce the stand so it will support the weight and prevent it from wobbling.

[MKD]

agree with Bill and make sure bottom shelf secure and support what you put on. Hopefully not another tank or sump, if you're planning then i dont think it'll support both tanks .

[DC Discus]

I've built all my stands using version of RocketEngineer's design on reef central;

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964

There's a ton of pages of info, it's probably easier to google "rocketengineer aquarium stand" and you'll see a bunch of pictures of DIY stands. Honestly I wouldn't put a 75 gallon on that stand. The top boards need put on edge, the shelf lowered to the ground to get more ground contact points, another set of upright 2x4 to L off the current legs to reduce wobble, and skinning it would help a ton. Also, wood glue and quality deck screws are a must, it looks like the boards are nailed together? Glued joints is very strong. Sorry to be negative, I'm just super paranoid of falling tanks out here in earth quake land and would hate to see something fail.

Cheers,
DC

[Larry Grenier]

You've gotten really good advice so far and I'm assuming nothing really heavy will be on the lower shelf. Definitely lots of wood glue & deck screws. Add a 3/4" sheet of plywood across the entire top all the way to each edge. It will become much more rigid that way even if there is no skin. Even if you don't want to skin the whole thing, doing just the back and sides will make a big difference as-well.

[Loosir]

Hi blueluv,
What you are concerned about is "racking" this is when there is no crossbracing. If you were to add a diagonal piece of wood or tension rod from corner to corner of the back of the tank it will "triangulate" and stabilize the structure. A plywood or "skin" does this too. Have you ever seen the ikea shelves with a wire x on the back? Same principal.

[blueluv]

You've gotten really good advice so far and I'm assuming nothing really heavy will be on the lower shelf. Definitely lots of wood glue & deck screws. Add a 3/4" sheet of plywood across the entire top all the way to each edge. It will become much more rigid that way even if there is no skin. Even if you don't want to skin the whole thing, doing just the back and sides will make a big difference as-well.
Thank you for your advice. What do you mean by skin ?

[blueluv]

Hi blueluv,
What you are concerned about is "racking" this is when there is no crossbracing. If you were to add a diagonal piece of wood or tension rod from corner to corner of the back of the tank it will "triangulate" and stabilize the structure. A plywood or "skin" does this too. Have you ever seen the ikea shelves with a wire x on the back? Same principal.

Can you post an example of crossbracing ?

[blueluv]

Thank you all that chimed in to help out. I appreciate it. Also I will not be placing anything heavy on the bottom shelve. If anyone else has anymore advice please feel free.

[Altum Nut]

When your all set and confident with your stand build...never forget the security blanket. What I really mean is use a 1/2" thick high dense Styrofoam sheet between tank and stand to absorb any possible stress points from settling of stand once filled with water.

...Ralph

[Altum Nut]

I have attached a typical stand build you can refer too....note the top rails resemble rafters/joist in a home roof or floor and are set as Bill suggested to take the load.

...Ralph

[Bill63SG]

I have attached a typical stand build you can refer too....note the top rails resemble rafters/joist in a home roof or floor and are set as Bill suggested to take the load.

...Ralph

There you go,a picture is worth a thousand words.

[blueluv]

I have attached a typical stand build you can refer too....note the top rails resemble rafters/joist in a home roof or floor and are set as Bill suggested to take the load.

...Ralph
Thank you for help Ralph


There you go,a picture is worth a thousand words.
Thank you for help Bill

[blueluv]

Thanks again to all for your help. I will reinforce my stand as suggested in the comments. If you all don't mind giving me a little reassurance. With all the suggestions made here...will it hold the weight of my 75 gallon aquarium?

[rickztahone]

pm'd back :)

[MKD]

if you do skin that means cover the sides than it will support fish tank or you have to redo it. Better save than sorry. Expert please correct me if im wrong.

[rickztahone]

Plywood CAN make good use of structural support if it is fully wrapped and many screws are used in my experience. As I explained to blueluv though, this design would not have been my first choice. In fact, the stand I currently have reminds me of this one actually. I will actually be builiding another one completely, or, I will reinforce the current ones by inserting skeleton 2x4's and supporting top piece with cross bars.

[blueluv]

pm'd back :)
Thank you. I read your pm, very informative


if you do skin that means cover the sides than it will support fish tank or you have to redo it. Better save than sorry. Expert please correct me if im wrong.
Thank you. All good ideas. I will have to do some thinking. If I have to build a new stand , this will set me back from buying discus from Discus Hans but as mentioned better safe than sorry.

[Loosir]

Can you post an example of crossbracing ?

Here's a photo, without the X the shelves would wobble.

This was just to help you understand crossbracing, please continue to follow the others advice.
Thanks
Geoff

http://www.wire-furniture.com/pics/Metal_Tube_Rack_p008-l.jpg

[Altum Nut]

Another thing to remember is...making sure the final resting place for your stand should be perfectly level or you will have to shim the bottom corners of stand. I will always check the floor first before my build and measure twice - cut once all 4 support post and build off of that.

...Ralph

[5ZVP]

Believe or not 2x4s are an overkill if the stand is properly designed. This is a picture of my stand and it is holding a 75 gal tank. It only uses 4 2x3s for the uprights and the rest are 1x3s and plywood. I went will Oak all around and it is solid. For your stand I would suggest you dado the uprights so that the cross members slip in and use the uprights for load bearing and stability. I would also suggest add siding (plywood). Once you add the siding and nail it all down it will provide a lot more stability. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzHd9CHPK8jpb2pzejlCRHhrV2s/view?usp=sharing