240g Stand Design Review

[seldon]

Hey all, I finally pulled the trigger on a new 240 Gallon tank. I am building the stand myself and wanted to get a sanity check. I ran the design through several online calculators and I think my design will be good. That being said I wanted to run it by the community in case I missed something. The tank dimensions are 84x30x24. I am estimating a filled weight of around 3,000 lbs. I am using 4500 lbs in my design. The essential design is a 2x6 top frame that is braced on both ends as well as in the center. I have a screenshot of the CAD drawing below.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

seldon

 

[BZOFIQ]

Looks perfect but do add another piece in the inside corner of the "leg" to tie the top & bottom frames with posts.

Have fun building.

 

[rwreef]

I am building a 84"×30"×25" tank currently and here is my design for my stand frame. I will have a fish room.. nothing under stand..

 

[seldon]

Looks perfect but do add another piece in the inside corner of the "leg" to tie the top & bottom frames with posts.

Have fun building.

Good point, thanks for the feedback. My intent was to use pocket screws there. Additionally the sides will be skinned with plywood and I am building a cabinet face frame for the front. That is how my previous stand was built so no issues there. However, this is quite a bit bigger so I want to confirm that will still be good.

I am building a 84"×30"×25" tank currently and here is my design for my stand frame. I will have a fish room.. nothing under stand..

I will have a fish room behind mine as well, but i was planning on putting some shelving for misc. storage under it, but no equipment. Thanks for sharing. Am I reading that correctly that that is basically all 2x4 construction?

 

[BZOFIQ]

This is just quick but perhaps explains what im trying to show.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Good point, thanks for the feedback. My intent was to use pocket screws there. Additionally the sides will be skinned with plywood and I am building a cabinet face frame for the front. That is how my previous stand was built so no issues there. However, this is quite a bit bigger so I want to confirm that will still be good.


I will have a fish room behind mine as well, but i was planning on putting some shelving for misc. storage under it, but no equipment. Thanks for sharing. Am I reading that correctly that that is basically all 2x4 construction?

If you are skinning the whole thing with plywood then it's overkill and you have nothing to worry about.

 

[rwreef]

Good point, thanks for the feedback. My intent was to use pocket screws there. Additionally the sides will be skinned with plywood and I am building a cabinet face frame for the front. That is how my previous stand was built so no issues there. However, this is quite a bit bigger so I want to confirm that will still be good.


I will have a fish room behind mine as well, but i was planning on putting some shelving for misc. storage under it, but no equipment. Thanks for sharing. Am I reading that correctly that that is basically all 2x4 construction?

Correct, all 2x4 construction and I will face it with 1x4 to make shelves etc...like this. The top/bottom will have 3/4" plywood

 

[BZOFIQ]

Before I went with Alu stand from FramingTech I was going to build my own with plywood entirely. Plywood is stronger than dimensional lumber.

If you like working with plywood, perhaps this can help you. If you skin below frame with plywood too, you can park a tank (army or hobby type) on it.

I kept it in my folder of finds, maybe you can benefit from it.

 

[seldon]

This is just quick but perhaps explains what im trying to show.

That makes sense, they are like RocketEngineer's screw strips.

If you are skinning the whole thing with plywood then it's overkill and you have nothing to worry about.

Partially, the back will be open and the top is just he cabinet face frame. The sides will be solid.

Correct, all 2x4 construction and I will face it with 1x4 to make shelves etc...like this. The top/bottom will have 3/4" plywood

Very nice, I like the look.

 

[Gtinnel]

I built a similar stand frame for my 125 and I don't know how much weight it'll hold but I would be comfortable putting more than double the weight I have on it.

Also if I understand your sketch correctly I wouldn't think that the center support on the top running down the length of the tank wouldn't be necessary. The 2x6's going from front to back on the top should be plenty strong over a 2 1/2 ft span.

Also on mine I used coated decking screws instead of normal drywall screws to reduce the risk of corrosion being an issue

 

[seldon]

Before I went with Alu stand from FramingTech I was going to build my own with plywood entirely. Plywood is stronger than dimensional lumber.

If you like working with plywood, perhaps this can help you. If you skin below frame with plywood too, you can park a tank (army or hobby type) on it.

I kept it in my folder of finds, maybe you can benefit from it.

That is quite an interesting design. I bet that would be quite sturdy. I could essentially get a sheet or two of plywood and rip in into strips that would make up the pieces.

I built a similar stand frame for my 125 and I don't know how much weight it'll hold but I would be comfortable putting more than double the weight I have on it.

Also if I understand your sketch correctly I wouldn't think that the center support on the top running down the length of the tank wouldn't be necessary. The 2x6's going from front to back on the top should be plenty strong over a 2 1/2 ft span.

Also on mine I used coated decking screws instead of normal drywall screws to reduce the risk of corrosion being an issue

That's good to know. As for the center support, I may be able to remove it if I take out my safety factor, but with it, the calculations show that the shear strength is exceeded on the beams.

 

[don_chuwish]

I've done several DIY stands out of wood and have been happy with them. But for something this large, and considering the overall expense going into it, I'd probably get a steel fabrication shop to make the stand. Not because of strength, but because of it having more open space inside.

 

[RocketEngineer]

One comment on the screws: do NOT use framing/deck screws in pocket holes. Pocket holes should have a flat bottom hole and use screws with a flat surface under the head. If you use a regular framing screw that is meant to sink flush into the board in a flat bottom pocket hole, you risk splitting the end of the board and loosing all mechanical strength. Kreg makes coated and stainless screws for most applications like this. Please use the proper screw for the job. Penny smart and dollar foolish is not the way to go.

Good luck.

 

[seldon]

I've done several DIY stands out of wood and have been happy with them. But for something this large, and considering the overall expense going into it, I'd probably get a steel fabrication shop to make the stand. Not because of strength, but because of it having more open space inside.

I did consider a steel and aluminum extrusion stand. The problem is it essentially has to be built in place due to access restrictions which is hard to do with the steel unless I'm willing to weld it in place. The aluminum extrusion stand would allow me to do that, but it's quite cost prohibitive.

One comment on the screws: do NOT use framing/deck screws in pocket holes. Pocket holes should have a flat bottom hole and use screws with a flat surface under the head. If you use a regular framing screw that is meant to sink flush into the board in a flat bottom pocket hole, you risk splitting the end of the board and loosing all mechanical strength. Kreg makes coated and stainless screws for most applications like this. Please use the proper screw for the job. Penny smart and dollar foolish is not the way to go.

Good luck.

I'm way ahead of you there, but that is a great point for those that do not know. Thanks for the input!

 

[RocketEngineer]

Very good. Carry on.

 

[DanConnor]

Not sure what access restriction you are dealing with, but I wanted a 37" tall stand for my 48x36 footprint tank and it wouldn't fit through the door- I just had 2 short steel stands made, on fits on right on top of the other

 

[BZOFIQ]

I wanted 46" tall stand so either onsite built on the aluminium profile stand were only options. There is no way I could have carried 83x32x46 downstairs. Tank is only 24" tall so I hope it can be carried sideways when it arrives.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Another user here....sorry dont remember the username, did it where he had a steel stand built in sections and then bolted together on the spot. That is also a great idea to have a tall stand in places where carrying it in is not an option.

Perhaps not for the OP but somebody can benefit.