Hi guys! I'm new to R2R and any advice will be appreciated. I am restarting my 90g after taking a break. I want to build a new stand and decided to make it out of wood. It will be 5 ft long and I dont want to have a center support and was wondering if anyone has a similar stand and if there was any sagging. I originally was gonna do 2x4 doubled up but now am thinking it needs to be 2x6. also I should note the top is 1.5" oak so 2x4 might work. let me know what you guys think.
Building a new stand need advice
- Thread starter Rivet
- Start date
- Tagged users None
SeaJay
Well-Known Member
2x6 is probably overkill with that thick hardwood top. If in doubt, I go overkill. Id probably use 2x6 just for the top, but I think you’d be more than fine with 2x4.
One thing I like to point out when this comes up is that petco sells a 125 on a 5/8” particle board stand. Don’t hear anything about those failing catastrophically.
One thing I like to point out when this comes up is that petco sells a 125 on a 5/8” particle board stand. Don’t hear anything about those failing catastrophically.
RobW
Valuable Member
Good looking stand.FWIW I made mine purely out of finish grade 3/4" Plywood and I have no doubt in my mind it will hold my 5' x 2 1/2' tank. I do have a center brace but it's intention is more for looks than anything else. And I don't see any issues with you using 2x6 for the top to make it braceless it's probably overkill as mentioned above but overkill never hurts.
RobW
Valuable Member
Here take a look at the base of my wall unit that I'm currently building. It is for a 280 gallon tank. If it gives you some ideas for fabrication, go for it.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/robws-280-gallon-build.572693/
RobW
Valuable Member
I started off with a base platform of 2x4's that I milled down a little with a jointer and planer. The boards were perfectly straight and true when I was done. Every joint was glued with titebond wood glue and fastened together to create interlocking corners and what not for rigidity. The only 2x6 material that I used was for the 4 corner uprights. There are a lot of photos to see in the thread I posted above. You can achieve a lot of strength in the way you put something together if done correctly. My tank will weigh over 2500 lbs with sand and rock in it. Basically 4-5 times what yours will. First of all... is your tank flat bottomed or does it sit on the upright panels of glass only? This makes a difference. Say you tank is 600 pounds and it is flat bottom and your tank dimensions are 60x24 for example. That's 10 square feet. Divide that into the weight of the tank and it is only 60 lbs per square foot. That is nothing for a 2x4 constructed stand to carry. You could use 3/4" plywood and with proper building it would carry the weight just fine. Now if the tank sits on its edges of your upright panels of glass the load is more concentrated around the edges. 2x4 construction with 3/4" plywood laminated all the way around with glue with be plenty strong enough to carry that sized tank.
RobW
Valuable Member
What are you finishing the stand with? The entire inside of my stand is getting epoxy with the scattered paint chips like on a garage floor. Easy clean up, durable, protect and seal all the wood from salt, moisture etc. The outside, however, will be finished with Benjamin Moore waterborne-alkyd paint in the same white as all my interior doors and trim in my house. Doing a little renovation so this thing will be a 100" tall x 88" cabinet like wall unit and then the base and crown wrap right around it and tie in like it is part of the wall. This picture is what the inside of the stand will have for a finish. Gives it some character!Thank You! It's getting sanded and painted up tomorrow
Last edited:
RobW
Valuable Member
nice and I like the idea of the wainscoting. My cabinet will have removable panels instead of doors but they're styled like a shaker style door.
I'm not planning on having doors. If I change my mind I'll add them later. Makes for easier access and I know I'm in the minority when i say this, but I like looking at my sump. besides I bought a Synergy Reef cl-44 that looks pretty sick. Why cover that beauty up?
