blainep
Jun 25th 2007, 09:01 AM
As per a request, DIY tank stand.
This stand is meant to hold two 48 inch long tanks at about fifty gallons each.
This stand could easily be modified to fit smaller or slightly larger tanks.
For tanks that are longer than 48 inches, extra supports should be considered to help handle the extra weight.
First consideration is weight, fifty gallon tanks are going to weigh about 500 pounds when full.
Two tanks, that's about 1000 pounds !!! Make sure your floor can handle the weight !!
Three or four hundred gallons of aquariums is going to have the same weight as mid size car !
Materials list.
5 - 2x4s 8 feet long
4 - 2x6s 8 feet long
2 - 24 inch by 48 inch pieces of 5/8ths plywood. Most lumber yards will sell pre cut pieces of plywood, so you won't need a full sheet.
Wood glue
75ish - 2 1/2 inch wood or deck screws.
50ish - 1 1/4 inch wood, drywall or deck screws.
Shims for leveling. example - door frame shims.
Paint, sand paper and wood filler for finishing.
Tools list
Tape measure
Pencil
Square
Level
Saw - hand saw or power saw. If using a hand saw, I would suggest a miter box to help make straight cuts.
Electric drill or screw driver, with bits to fit the screws in the materials list.
Paint brush
Rags or Paper towels
Cutting and assembling the pieces.
The Shelves.
Cut 2 2x6s to 48 inch lengths.
Cut the remaining 2 2x6s into 8 21inch pieces.
Arrange the 4 of the 21 inch pieces with 2 of the 48 inch pieces into a ladder shape. Apply a small bead
of glue to the contact points and screw the pieces together using 2 - 2 1/2 screws at each joint. This should leave
you with a 24 inch by 48 inch rectangle frame.
Apply another bead of glue around the top of the frame and set the plywood on it. Make any adjustments you need to
have the plywood sitting evenly around the top of the frame and then screw the plywood to the frame using the 1 1/4 screws.
4 or 5 along the longer sides and 2 or 3 on the shorter sides. Then 2 or 3 screws into each of the center pieces of the frame.
Wipe off any excess glue, set the shelf aside and build the next one, the same as the first.
The legs.
You may want to change the length of the legs and support struts to suit your own needs.
I made the legs of this stand 41 inches long. This came from the considerations of:
11 inches - thickness of the shelves.
18.5 inches - height of the bottom tank.
10 inches - approx space between top of the bottom tank and the top shelf.
1.5 inches - space between bottom shelf and the floor.
Cut 4 - 2x4s to 8 - 41 inch pieces. Take 2 pieces and put them together lengthwise to form an 'L' shape.
Apply a bead of glue between the 2 pieces and screw them together with 4 2 1/2 inch screws. Be sure to make
both ends flush (even).
Wipe off any excess glue and repeat untill you have 4 legs.
The Struts.
Using the last 2x4, cut 4 pieces 28 1/2 inches long. ( 28.5 inches = 18.5 inches bottom tank height plus 10 inches space to the top shelf)
It is important to make sure all 4 struts are exactly the same length !!
The Spacers.
These are just small pieces of 2x4 that you have left over. Cut or find 4 pieces about 4 to 6 inches long. Choose a shelf to
be the bottom shelf and screw one piece to each bottom corner of the shelf. This will lift the bottom shelf 1 1/2 inches off the
floor. This will provide air space and make the bottom tank a little easier to siphon for water changes.
Now is the time to sand and paint all the pieces you have cut and built.
Next, grab your favorite cold beverage and admire your work so far, while you wait for the paint to dry.
Assemble the stand.
While you are assembling the stand, it is handy to have someone there to help out a little.
Once the paint has dried, move the bottom shelf into it's position where you want it.
Check to ensure the shelf is level. If it is not, add shims under the spacers as needed.
Get the legs and position them one at each corner. One at a time, push the legs up against
the corner of the shelf and drive one 2 1/2 inch screw thru the leg into the shelf.
Do not drive the screw all the way in yet, you may need to adjust the leg a little later.
Once all 4 legs are attached, position the struts on the shelf, inside the 'L' of the leg.
Attach the strut to the leg with 2 - 2 1/2 inch screws.
Once all 4 struts are attached, get the top shelf and place it inside the legs, on top of the struts.
Push one leg tight against the top shelf and push the top shelf down against the strut.
Drive one screw thru the leg into the top shelf.
Repeat for the other 3 legs. Again, don't drive the screw all the way in.
Using a level, make sure the legs are standing straight up. If they're not, gently push them straight
and drive a second screw thru the leg and into the top and bottom shelf to hold the leg straight.
Once the legs are straight, tighten up all those screws you left a little loose and proceed to
drive screws thru the legs into the shelves, 2 screws on each angle of the legs into the shelves.
This should mean 8 screws in each leg.
Assembly should now be complete. Use a little wood filler to cover the screw heads and touch up the paint.
Grab your favorite cold beverage and admire your handywork.
This stand is meant to hold two 48 inch long tanks at about fifty gallons each.
This stand could easily be modified to fit smaller or slightly larger tanks.
For tanks that are longer than 48 inches, extra supports should be considered to help handle the extra weight.
First consideration is weight, fifty gallon tanks are going to weigh about 500 pounds when full.
Two tanks, that's about 1000 pounds !!! Make sure your floor can handle the weight !!
Three or four hundred gallons of aquariums is going to have the same weight as mid size car !
Materials list.
5 - 2x4s 8 feet long
4 - 2x6s 8 feet long
2 - 24 inch by 48 inch pieces of 5/8ths plywood. Most lumber yards will sell pre cut pieces of plywood, so you won't need a full sheet.
Wood glue
75ish - 2 1/2 inch wood or deck screws.
50ish - 1 1/4 inch wood, drywall or deck screws.
Shims for leveling. example - door frame shims.
Paint, sand paper and wood filler for finishing.
Tools list
Tape measure
Pencil
Square
Level
Saw - hand saw or power saw. If using a hand saw, I would suggest a miter box to help make straight cuts.
Electric drill or screw driver, with bits to fit the screws in the materials list.
Paint brush
Rags or Paper towels
Cutting and assembling the pieces.
The Shelves.
Cut 2 2x6s to 48 inch lengths.
Cut the remaining 2 2x6s into 8 21inch pieces.
Arrange the 4 of the 21 inch pieces with 2 of the 48 inch pieces into a ladder shape. Apply a small bead
of glue to the contact points and screw the pieces together using 2 - 2 1/2 screws at each joint. This should leave
you with a 24 inch by 48 inch rectangle frame.
Apply another bead of glue around the top of the frame and set the plywood on it. Make any adjustments you need to
have the plywood sitting evenly around the top of the frame and then screw the plywood to the frame using the 1 1/4 screws.
4 or 5 along the longer sides and 2 or 3 on the shorter sides. Then 2 or 3 screws into each of the center pieces of the frame.
Wipe off any excess glue, set the shelf aside and build the next one, the same as the first.
The legs.
You may want to change the length of the legs and support struts to suit your own needs.
I made the legs of this stand 41 inches long. This came from the considerations of:
11 inches - thickness of the shelves.
18.5 inches - height of the bottom tank.
10 inches - approx space between top of the bottom tank and the top shelf.
1.5 inches - space between bottom shelf and the floor.
Cut 4 - 2x4s to 8 - 41 inch pieces. Take 2 pieces and put them together lengthwise to form an 'L' shape.
Apply a bead of glue between the 2 pieces and screw them together with 4 2 1/2 inch screws. Be sure to make
both ends flush (even).
Wipe off any excess glue and repeat untill you have 4 legs.
The Struts.
Using the last 2x4, cut 4 pieces 28 1/2 inches long. ( 28.5 inches = 18.5 inches bottom tank height plus 10 inches space to the top shelf)
It is important to make sure all 4 struts are exactly the same length !!
The Spacers.
These are just small pieces of 2x4 that you have left over. Cut or find 4 pieces about 4 to 6 inches long. Choose a shelf to
be the bottom shelf and screw one piece to each bottom corner of the shelf. This will lift the bottom shelf 1 1/2 inches off the
floor. This will provide air space and make the bottom tank a little easier to siphon for water changes.
Now is the time to sand and paint all the pieces you have cut and built.
Next, grab your favorite cold beverage and admire your work so far, while you wait for the paint to dry.
Assemble the stand.
While you are assembling the stand, it is handy to have someone there to help out a little.
Once the paint has dried, move the bottom shelf into it's position where you want it.
Check to ensure the shelf is level. If it is not, add shims under the spacers as needed.
Get the legs and position them one at each corner. One at a time, push the legs up against
the corner of the shelf and drive one 2 1/2 inch screw thru the leg into the shelf.
Do not drive the screw all the way in yet, you may need to adjust the leg a little later.
Once all 4 legs are attached, position the struts on the shelf, inside the 'L' of the leg.
Attach the strut to the leg with 2 - 2 1/2 inch screws.
Once all 4 struts are attached, get the top shelf and place it inside the legs, on top of the struts.
Push one leg tight against the top shelf and push the top shelf down against the strut.
Drive one screw thru the leg into the top shelf.
Repeat for the other 3 legs. Again, don't drive the screw all the way in.
Using a level, make sure the legs are standing straight up. If they're not, gently push them straight
and drive a second screw thru the leg and into the top and bottom shelf to hold the leg straight.
Once the legs are straight, tighten up all those screws you left a little loose and proceed to
drive screws thru the legs into the shelves, 2 screws on each angle of the legs into the shelves.
This should mean 8 screws in each leg.
Assembly should now be complete. Use a little wood filler to cover the screw heads and touch up the paint.
Grab your favorite cold beverage and admire your handywork.