SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Hey everyone, Tomorrow, I hope to build a stand for my ADA 60p, which is 24"x12". I plan to use this basic design: However, My tank is 24x12, & making the stand exactly to those dimensions will not leave enough room inside for a sump.Can I make the stand 28"x16" and then cover the top with 3/4" plywood to distribute the weight? At these dimensions, the tank will not be sitting on the 2x4 beams at all, but I feel like 3/4" plywood securely fastened to the top would be able to distribute the weight to the support legs on the sides. am i right, or am I headed for disaster? Thanks! Link to comment
Mojado Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 You're ok doing just one 2x4 per corner. And yeah, you can make it bigger with a solid wood top (it'll look nicer than plywood). Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 You're ok doing just one 2x4 per corner. And yeah, you can make it bigger with a solid wood top (it'll look nicer than plywood). I'm panning to sand it down and paint it, and possibly add some sort of trim. I just needed to verify that the 3/4" plywood would evenly distribute the weight to the legs. It worries me that the tank will not be supported by the frame at all, but i guess it won't be that heavy so it should be ok? Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Rip down some plywood to 4" and double the thickness of top around the edges. Then band the exposed edges of the built up top with some trim . Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Rip down some plywood to 4" and double the thickness of top around the edges. Then band the exposed edges of the built up top with some trim . I'm not a very handy guy at all. This sounds more difficult than I was planning. Is your method more for durability or aesthetics? I really just want something that will hold the tank firmly. I think I can cover up ugliness with trim and project panels and paint. Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I just built this stand 1/2/" plywood top with 3/4" plywood backing total thickness 1 1/4" Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Very nice! Sorry, I'm pretty useless with all this. What does a 3/4" backing mean? Would you suggest I do a 3/4" AND 1/2" plywood top? Link to comment
NorthGaHillbilly Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I just built this stand 1/2/" plywood top with 3/4" plywood backing total thickness 1 1/4" Thank god! A stand that's built to hold a tank full of water, not lead. The plans on RC are a great bomb proof way to build a stand for ANY tank, I did that exact design for a 6'x3' 3/4" glass frag tank,but we're looking at smaller tanks and much less weight. Theres no need to clutter up, and eat up, space with 2x4s to hold up a tank sub 100 gallons Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Definitely durability and save some money 1/2 on top cheap 3/4 backing. Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I just built this stand 1/2/" plywood top with 3/4" plywood backing total thickness 1 1/4" Can you explain/show how you did the bottom shelf? Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Very nice! Sorry, I'm pretty useless with all this. What does a 3/4" backing mean? Would you suggest I do a 3/4" AND 1/2" plywood top? On your stand I would buy one 1/2" 4'x4' piece of plywood. cut 28"x16" for top cut the drops 4" wide glue and the 4" strips to the under side of the top at the edges. that will give you 1" thick top and support under your tank. Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Definitely durability and save some money 1/2 on top cheap 3/4 backing. Still not sure what you mean by backing. Do you mean I should make the whole frame out of 3/4"? So no 2x4? Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Can you explain/show how you did the bottom shelf? this is a pic. before i made molding to band top and bottom shelf. Still not sure what you mean by backing. Do you mean I should make the whole frame out of 3/4"? So no 2x4? I would make the stand out of 1x4 the top out of pylwood On your stand I would buy one 1/2" 4'x4' piece of plywood. cut 28"x16" for top cut the drops 4" wide glue and the 4" strips to the under side of the top at the edges. that will give you 1" thick top and support under your tank. Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 this is a pic. before i made molding to band top and bottom shelf. I would make the stand out of 1x4 the top out of pylwood Gotcha. I'm definitely NOT a carpenter so I appreciate you explaining it to me I will post pics here tomorrow (unless I'm in the hospital trying to reattach a limb). Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I am a 2nd generation carpenter. I have been fabricating steel and welding for the past 15 years. Fabrication is my strong point but my communication skills suck. Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 I am a 2nd generation carpenter. I have been fabricating steel and welding for the past 15 years. Fabrication is my strong point but my communication skills suck. Glad to hear a 2nd gen carpenter gives this design a thumbs up Makes me feel better. Your communication skills aren't the problem -- it's me not knowing what I'm doing! One other quick question... the tank is only 14" high, so I'm hoping to build the stand as tall as possible without it becoming too top-heavy and unstable. I'm thinking of perhaps widening the stand to 30"L x 16"D and building it 36"H. I know putting 200 lbs on top of a structure that's taller than it is wide can be a bad idea, so should I shorten it or is 36" OK? Thanks again for your advice and input! I really do appreciate it! Link to comment
Dan R Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Glad to hear a 2nd gen carpenter gives this design a thumbs up Makes me feel better. Your communication skills aren't the problem -- it's me not knowing what I'm doing! One other quick question... the tank is only 14" high, so I'm hoping to build the stand as tall as possible without it becoming too top-heavy and unstable. I'm thinking of perhaps widening the stand to 30"L x 16"D and building it 36"H. I know putting 200 lbs on top of a structure that's taller than it is wide can be a bad idea, so should I shorten it or is 36" OK? Thanks again for your advice and input! I really do appreciate it! It will not be that top heavy with your sump on the bottom.36' should be OK. Link to comment
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