DIY Stand Question

mpatient · Jul 22, 2019

Planning my 90g stand build. The tank is 48x18x25 and stand will have molding to cover the bottom frame. My question is that I know the stand will not be built to the exact measurements of the footprint, but how much "wiggle room" should I leave between the tank and the molding? 1/8, 1/4, 3/4, 1in?

Max! · Jul 22, 2019

Not sure what you mean. Like you're disguising the edges of the tank with molding and you want to know how much area to leave inbetween your tanks border and your makeshift border?

mpatient · Jul 22, 2019

yes that is correct.

Max! · Jul 22, 2019

I would say less is more right? You'd want your tank to fit as snug as possible just to limit the amount of things that could fall down in there

Goodair · Jul 22, 2019

leave a 1/2 between the gaps, you don't really notice it.

Max! · Jul 22, 2019

Max! said:
I would say less is more right? You'd want your tank to fit as snug as possible just to limit the amount of things that could fall down in there

When I build my stand for my 125 the gap killed me. I ended up using filler to get rid of it.

BornHandy · Jul 22, 2019

I always do about an 8th on all of mine. I've built in the neighborhood of 20 or so over the years, and never had any trouble at 1/8th.

GThompson · Jul 22, 2019

The same here. As little gap as possible

don_chuwish · Jul 23, 2019

I'd measure the tank bottom trim as exactly as possible, then make the top of the stand only 1/8" larger in each direction. Meaning a 1/16" gap all around. Shoot for any tighter tolerance and you'll likely run into trouble. You can also attach that trim after the tank is on the stand. Makes it easier to plant the stand and you can fine tune the fit.

Billdogg · Jul 23, 2019

don_chuwish said:
I'd measure the tank bottom trim as exactly as possible, then make the top of the stand only 1/8" larger in each direction. Meaning a 1/16" gap all around. Shoot for any tighter tolerance and you'll likely run into trouble. You can also attach that trim after the tank is on the stand. Makes it easier to plant the stand and you can fine tune the fit.

^^^This^^^

Big gaps will trap stuff - like that fish that jumped. They also bug me, but I can be just a little OCD about things like that. I built my wife and I matching Cherry desks for our office. One of them is ~1//16" smaller than the other and it still bothers me if I think about it too long.

BornHandy · Jul 23, 2019

Billdogg said:
^^^This^^^

"it still bothers me if I think about it too long."

I can relate to that...

SwiftStorm · Aug 15, 2019

What is the optimal overall height of the tank and stand combo? I'm starting a 75 gallon peninsula build and was originally thinking of making the stand 32" tall. That would make the total height of 53" tall. I will have lights between 6 and 8 inches above that. My wife and I are fearing that this will be too short for viewing.

I also don't want the tank too tall for cleaning? Any ideas?

Thanks

Max! · Aug 15, 2019

Coincidentally, my cube sits at exactly 53 inches tall. I like the ability to see through the rock work at such an angle rather than having a head-on view of the tank. For reference I'm 6'. The tank is also in my bedroom so most of the time it's being viewed I'm sitting / laying down. I wouldn't raise it anymore than 6 inches - if any at all.