From: richb@kronos.com (Rich Braun)
Date: 23 Apr 92 20:36:02 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Tank stand plans
U29060@uicvm.uic.edu (Jeanette Chun) writes:
>Does anyone out there know where I can get plans to build a tank stand. All
>the wood ones for sale are so expensive. I know I can build one on my own,
>but I want the plans just to be safe. I mean, an aquarium can get awfully
>heavy. I'm going to be getting a 30gal (36x13) or 40gal (48x13) aquarium,
>so plans for these sizes would be preferred.
I've built two wooden aquarium stands. The first was for eight tanks,
arranged as follows:
+-----------+-------------------------+----------+
| | | |
| 10gal | | 10gal |
+-----------+ +----------+
| | 55gal | |
| 10gal | | 10gal |
+-----------+---+----------------+----+----------+
| | | |
| | | |
| 29gal | 29gal | 29gal |
| | | |
+---------------+----------------+---------------+
| | | |
The second is the one I now use for my 55-gal system. Both were designed
to handle a lot more weight than is really necessary. (The large stand
shown above was part of a 'divorce settlement' given to an ex.)
In the above diagram, all framing members are standard 2x4 lumber, with
the wide (3.5") dimension facing forward. The bottom legs are doubled
for strength (I've concluded since then that this probably isn't necessary:
most aquarium shops build their racks out of single 2x4 lumber, except
for tanks >100gal, which are often on steel beams). My 55-gal stand
uses 4x4 legs, which are IMHO mega-overkill.
For all my tank-stand construction, I use Elmer's wood glue and large
bolts with nuts and washers. Drill a hole the size of the bolt all the
way through, and counter-sink the round head (get the kind with just a
plain head and a square section of the shank to hold it in place: they
look nice even without concealing them). Cover the whole thing with
polyurethane or waterproof paint, including the bolts.
The wood glue is important. This makes the stand rigid.
Also recommended is the use of a decorative facing board along the bottom
edge of each tank. Standard 1x6 stock works OK for this purpose, providing
just the right height (when nailed to a 2x4 flush along the bottom edge)
to cover the plastic trim around the bottom of the tank. This board,
going all the way around the stand, also has a functional purpose:
earthquake protection. Your tanks cannot slide off. Water will slosh
on the floor, but the tanks will stay in place so long as the stand doesn't
tip over. (Hence another recommendation: for tall stands, anchor them
to the wall.)
-rich
From: booth@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM ("GEORGE L""BOOTH")
Date: 20 May 92 18:42:21 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Building a stand
When you consider that the compressive strength of plain old pine is
750 pounds per square inch (a 1x1 could hold up 750 pounds), the
design of the stand is not too important from a strength standpoint.
Almost any old design will not be crushed by the weight. What is
important is the stability of the design, i.e., is it braced properly
so that it stays rectangular and does not become a rhomboid. Also
important is how it supports the tank.
We had an 85 gallon tank supported on a simple concrete block and plywood
stand that was perfectly usable but not all that pretty. Cheap too.
Check out you local fish store - you will find that some stands are
made of of 2x4s and could support a Mack truck. Others are made from
1/2" particle board that looks pretty flimsy but are completely
servicable.
---------
George
From: Richard Brown
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Question about Support
Date: 23 Oct 1995 22:06:22 GMT
gazissax@.best.com (Joel and Lynn GAzis-SAx) wrote:
>I am preparing to set up a 5 1/2 gallon aquarium to hold feeder fish and am
>also looking down the road at buying some larger tanks (if my wife will let
>me!)
>
>One seemingly unnecessary expense is the support for the aquarium. My local
>pet stores sell some fancy cabinets which run $80 or more.
>
>My question for rec.aquaria readers is Has anyone every used bricks and boards
>to hold up an aquarium? What kind of wood did you use? What kind of supports
>did you add? Any disasters? Any other low-cost alternatives to special
>aquarium furniture?
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>Joel GAzis-SAx
>
>************************************************************************
>Joel and Lynn GAzis-SAx Main email: gazissax@best.com
>lynn@elan.com Visit Alsirat, the horror magazine
>gazissax@netcom.com http://www.best.com/~gazissax/alsirat.html
>jsax@igc.apc.org http://www.best.com/~gazissax/gazissax.html
>The Marx Brothers@Darkweb (Joel) Whoopi@Darkweb (Lynn)
>************************************************************************
Hi Joel,
I had a 55 gallon tank set up here at work in the office for many years
(in fact, I've only recently dismantled it and taken the tank home, the
rest is still here), and, not wanting to fork out big money on a fancy
shop bought stand, and being too lazy to build a proper one, I used the
bricks and timber method. It was actually more stable than most "proper"
fish tank stands. It worked perfectly for me, so I'll describe it just to
give you the general idea.
The bricks I used are what we call here "Besser" bricks (you probably
have an equivalent type there). They are concrete, with 2 hollows through
them, and measure 15 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 7 1/2", so they are quite stable. I
have a stack of 3 at each end, with the hollows vertically.
The timber I used is 3 1/2" x 1 3/4" pine as used for wall studs. As some
of this can be a little warped, I was careful to choose 2 perfectly
straight pieces. These are placed, one along the front and one along the
back, to correspond to the front and back sides of the tank, and standing
on their short edges (for greatest strength).
On top of the timbers, I used a 1" thick sheet of styrofoam the size of
the tank base. Then I just placed the tank on top of that. The tank is
then fully supported along both long sides.
End View
--------
| |
| Tank |
| |
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
| Foam |
-------------------------------
--- ---
| | | |
| | <------ Timbers -----> | |
| | | |
--- ---
-----------------------------------
| |
| |
| Brick |
Excuse the primitive diagram, but I hope it explains it OK.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Richard.
http://luff.latrobe.edu.au/~mssrb/
From: Richard Brown
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria,sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: Plans for Aquarium Stands
Date: 13 Dec 1995 21:02:55 GMT
Jimil Borillo wrote:
>Does anyone know of any books, magazines, or other sources for tank stand
>plans?
>
>I would like to build and design my own I just need to know the basic designs
>and layouts. I want to build it right and not find out later with 180 gallons
>of water on the living room floor that I didn't have enough support here or
>there.
>
>I know I may or may not be cheaper to buy but I'm sure building it yourself
>would be an experience as well as be self rewarding.
>
>Pls. email responses,
>
>TIA
>
>-Jimil Borillo
>
>
>jimilb@corp.sgi.com
>Silicon Graphics Inc.
>Ext. 3-4357
>
Hi Jimil,
For detailed plans of a 180 gallon aquarium stand (and the wooden 180
gallon tank, if you're really looking for a challenge), I refer you to
Rod's Aquarium Page at:
http://dialup.oar.net/~Ppressco/ .
Rod designed and built this impressive tank and stand himself, and has
laid out all the plans in his page.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Richard.
http://luff.latrobe.edu.au/~mssrb/
(my own aquarium-based home page)