Rebracing stand

[rayn]

If you have followed my build thread, you have noticed I have a 240 acrylic tank coming. Well the tank is here! Tank is downstairs, canopy is downstairs, stand...not so much.

We live in a 100 year old house, full lath and plaster walls, the fancy smancy 6" stains trim wood work, oak hardwood floors...means I can't year walls down for a tank install like I would have at my old house.

So the issue is to get the stand downstairs and useable still. Talking with my buddy, and then getting confirmation from the seller, the idea has come to cut the stand in half. May worry is that it still needs to hold the tank later at some point. Now every other tank I own is glass and the weight is supported by the bracing, acrylic is supported throughout the bottom...my understanding. So if I cut it in half, resupport the middle, and add another layer of plywood...will it hold?

 

[rayn]

Anyone? I really don't want to destroy a stand like this by doing it wrong.

 

[twilliard]

I would say you have a good plan in action.
While apart you can easily add support bracing to mend the two halfs.
Then yes plywood top

 

[rayn]

Sweet. I trust people on this site more when it comes to stuff like this.

 

[twilliard]

Plan well on how you are going to brace it
I did the same thing for a 125 years ago.
Use mdf board for the top

 

[rayn]

Mdf rather then another sheet of plywood? Current is a 3/4" oak veneer 5 ply plywood top. I was considering the same again, unless mdf is better. Is it for compression?

 

[twilliard]

Mdf has more leeway to forming with the base structure.
I like to think of it as a sponge. It will form to the bottom of the tank to match any inconsistencies from the bottom of the tank.
Less stress points

 

[rayn]

That's what I was wondering. Sweet, gives me hope and a plan. As I go about rebuilding, I will post up what I do to make sure it is built well enough.

 

[Feltman]

Not trying to argue your point as I have no experience in the matter but I was wondering how does the mdf hold up to water that is going to spill over time.

 

[twilliard]

Not trying to argue your point as I have no experience in the matter but I was wondering how does the mdf hold up to water that is going to spill over time.

This is why we seal it

 

[rayn]

Not trying to argue your point as I have no experience in the matter but I was wondering how does the mdf hold up to water that is going to spill over time.

Besides the seal bit, I generally try not to spill much water at all. If the tank drains to the sump, there isn't much that I get wet around the stand. But, you never know what might happen.

 

[twilliard]

Besides the seal bit, I generally try not to spill much water at all. If the tank drains to the sump, there isn't much that I get wet around the stand. But, you never know what might happen.

You dont have to seal all of it. Just the outside edges.

 

[Feltman]

I guess I'm just a klutz seems like every water change something ends up wet.

 

[melev]

MDF isn't ideal around water, but if you REALLY seal it then you'll be okay. If moisture gets into it, it will swell. Two things happen: the surface will become uneven, no longer supporting the tank properly, and 2) the wood itself is now weakened.

If you still want to use it, paint it or varnish all surfaces, and add repeated coats to the edges as well as the holes you drill for the plumbing. Any spot that can get wet needs to be 100% protected so it will endure the life of the setup.

Good luck on the install.