Will My Stand Hold Up?

[Wyvern]

Glad you clarified that wasn’t a cad drawing.

No problem, just didn't want anyone to interpolate the image and use it as a 1:1 reference.

 

[slythy]

You dont need the x beams or the triangulation. The tieing everything at the bottom and if you would like to add gussets for added rigidity it wont hurt.

basically you are just trying to keep the legs tied together so they stay put.

most people will over engineer it but you wont have big side loads, maybe just a little bump here or there. If you had kids body slamming it all day then maybe……

 

[attiland]

You dont need the x beams or the triangulation. The tieing everything at the bottom and if you would like to add gussets for added rigidity it wont hurt.

basically you are just trying to keep the legs tied together so they stay put.

most people will over engineer it but you wont have big side loads, maybe just a little bump here or there. If you had kids body slamming it all day then maybe……

I had to do similar with my stand I the back. You would be surprised how often it gets nocked or get side push. Yes I have a little child to added “support “

 

[rowdyreefing]

The bottom definitely needs supporting like the top in your picture provided, the legs will open/ splay out/ will just split like a gymnast, turn this picture upside down then ask if it can support your aquarium, turn this structure upside down then ask yourself, could this support my aquarium, load bearing is your aquarium, weight bearing is support

Good point. Thanks!

 

[Soren]

Thank for this. This is very informative. I will push for gussets as well as the leg tie. The adjustable feet will be sitting on LVP vinyl floor in my basement. So I don’t think there’s too much to worry about for support, other than indentions in the vinyl, correct?

The feet should be no problem on vinyl over concrete. Just use large enough feet to avoid pressure concentrations.

 

[rowdyreefing]

The feet should be no problem on vinyl over concrete. Just use large enough feet to avoid pressure concentrations.

I got the bottom tied in. I am sincerely considering killing the idea of the adjustable feet. The feet I have on it are only rated at about 400 pounds each. I’m not sure how accurate that is. I’m considering removing the adjustable feet and shimming the metal feet

 

[rowdyreefing]

Do you know the wall thickness? I assume 0.25

Yes .25”

 

[rowdyreefing]

It’s done

 

[rowdyreefing]

Do you guys fasten plywood to metal stand?

 

[attiland]

Do you guys fasten plywood to metal stand?

I would.

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

CROSS SUPPORT!

 

[Soren]

CROSS SUPPORT!

Though it would be extra security and probably a good idea for such an expensive investment, it may not be necessary in this case.
Using 2" tubes welded together will provide a fair amount of moment support, likely more than enough for a factor of safety with such light side-load or moments expected for this application.

I personally would probably have at least added gussets in some corners, but I still think the stand should work as-is (unless it suffers an earthquake, maybe).

...and, as an engineer, I still hate to see support structures with only rectangle profiles even though I know that welded steel can still provide side-load moment resistance.

 

[Sleepydoc]

Though it would be extra security and probably a good idea for such an expensive investment, it may not be necessary in this case.
Using 2" tubes welded together will provide a fair amount of moment support, likely more than enough for a factor of safety with such light side-load or moments expected for this application.

I personally would probably have at least added gussets in some corners, but I still think the stand should work as-is (unless it suffers an earthquake, maybe).

...and, as an engineer, I still hate to see support structures with only rectangle profiles even though I know that welded steel can still provide side-load moment resistance.

Well, since it’s 2” steel, it’s essentially 2” gussets, right?

I’m like you - I don’t have a good feel for how much a properly welded 2” steel frame can support, but I’d prefer some sort of gussets. I didn’t see if the OP was planning on skinning the stand or not, but. Piece of 1/4” Plywood screwed to the legs would provide plenty of bracing.

 

[Soren]

Well, since it’s 2” steel, it’s essentially 2” gussets, right?

I’m like you - I don’t have a good feel for how much a properly welded 2” steel frame can support, but I’d prefer some sort of gussets. I didn’t see if the OP was planning on skinning the stand or not, but. Piece of 1/4” Plywood screwed to the legs would provide plenty of bracing.

Yes, in a sense, the welded tubes act like 2" gussets, though technically it is more complicated. For this application, I think the '2-inch gusset' idea works well enough for an assumption. The stand should easily support the weight load causing extra gussets to just be extra security with little input cost.

Plywood skin could act as a gusset for bracing if properly framed/designed.

 

[rowdyreefing]

Well, since it’s 2” steel, it’s essentially 2” gussets, right?

I’m like you - I don’t have a good feel for how much a properly welded 2” steel frame can support, but I’d prefer some sort of gussets. I didn’t see if the OP was planning on skinning the stand or not, but. Piece of 1/4” Plywood screwed to the legs would provide plenty of bracing.

can you explain what you mean? What if I fixed the stand to drywall studs?

The stand seems extremely sturdy, but I understand 3,000lbs on it will be much different than no weight.

 

[Soren]

can you explain what you mean? What if I fixed the stand to drywall studs?

The stand seems extremely sturdy, but I understand 3,000lbs on it will be much different than no weight.

I don't mean to jump in ahead of or answer for @Sleepydoc , but I am quite certain the intention of the comment was that adding a plywood skin around the steel stand to cover the steel in a wood-type aesthetic would give some gusseting strength by the plywood itself.


If you fixed the stand to drywall studs, this would be similar to gusseting but is probably not recommendable since it is insignificant enough strength to be an unnecessary complication being attached to the wall. Drywall studs would not do much in terms of gusset strength for the stand.

If you wanted any gussets, my recommendation would easily be for trapezoidal gussets in the corners at the leg tops under the top-surface frame. These could either be 1/8" to 1/4" flat sheet/bar pieces about 2" wide and 3-6" long welded inside one leg tube surface and up to the bottom of the top frame or square tube (1-1/2" ideal, 2" works) mitered on both ends for the trapezoidal profile (about 4"-long on longest side) and welded in the same corners.

In this image, top frame is shown in green, leg in pink, and gusset in blue (either flat bar/plate/sheet or square tube).

I still think 2" square tube welded properly should not need gussets in your application, though they are a pretty simple and cheap insurance to prevent failure in support.

 

[rowdyreefing]

I don't mean to jump in ahead of or answer for @Sleepydoc , but I am quite certain the intention of the comment was that adding a plywood skin around the steel stand to cover the steel in a wood-type aesthetic would give some gusseting strength by the plywood itself.


If you fixed the stand to drywall studs, this would be similar to gusseting but is probably not recommendable since it is insignificant enough strength to be an unnecessary complication being attached to the wall. Drywall studs would not do much in terms of gusset strength for the stand.

If you wanted any gussets, my recommendation would easily be for trapezoidal gussets in the corners at the leg tops under the top-surface frame. These could either be 1/8" to 1/4" flat sheet/bar pieces about 2" wide and 3-6" long welded inside one leg tube surface and up to the bottom of the top frame or square tube (1-1/2" ideal, 2" works) mitered on both ends for the trapezoidal profile (about 4"-long on longest side) and welded in the same corners.

In this image, top frame is shown in green, leg in pink, and gusset in blue (either flat bar/plate/sheet or square tube).

I still think 2" square tube welded properly should not need gussets in your application, though they are a pretty simple and cheap insurance to prevent failure in support.

Thank you for the response. I will see how sturdy the stand is with tank and water. If it seems to have any side to side movement I will find a new welder for gussets!

 

[SaltyCrabs]

I am a weld engineer and that is definitely not safe for a 330G Tank.

Edit: seen the updated stand much better. I concur on the extra gusset support in the corners

 

[rowdyreefing]

I am a weld engineer and that is definitely not safe for a 330G Tank.

Edit: seen the updated stand much better. I concur on the extra gusset support in the corners

How many gussets? Need to be welded?

 

[Soren]

How many gussets? Need to be welded?

Again not to answer for someone else and get ahead of @SaltyCrabs , but I would gusset all of the leg tops to the top frame, and welding is the simplest and best method of attachment.