Building a new stand - suggestions welcome

[gridley]

I am about to build a new wooden tank stand for our 90G tank (48" x 18"). I am open to any sugestions, tips or advice on the design.
Thanks

[parkinsn]

Have a look through these.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1688446&highlight=diy+stands

[jorjef]

Does your tank have a floating bottom or is the entire bottom pane of glass in direct contact with your stand?

[troni]

make it square!! haha and use pl premium glue

[gridley]

The tank has a floating bottom - at least I'm assuming that is what it is. There is a bottom frame and the glass does not contact the stand.

[gridley]

Have a look through these.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1688446&highlight=diy+stands

Thanks very much - these are excellent resources!

[daplatapus]

I built the one rocket engineer shows on that first link for my basement sump. It's rock solid! I added 2 braces going front to back along the middle of it so I could mount stuff to it underneath. If you wanted, you can also add a solid top of 3/4" marine plywood it's certainly not necessary unless you need 100% support under your tank. You can also wrap it with vertical T&G and add a couple doors on the front to dress it up a bit.

[parkinsn]

I built the one rocket engineer shows on that first link for my basement sump. It's rock solid! I added 2 braces going front to back along the middle of it so I could mount stuff to it underneath. If you wanted, you can also add a solid top of 3/4" marine plywood it's certainly not necessary unless you need 100% support under your tank. You can also wrap it with vertical T&G and add a couple doors on the front to dress it up a bit.

3/4 is not necessary, but having a top is nice for mounting stuff underneath definitely. That stand is rock solid for sure. Also keep in mind that its more the skin of the stand that gives the solidness than the stand it self. Left to right and front to back wobble will be there to some extent until you skin it. Not that its a big deal once you have a few hundred lbs of water on it.

It's not in those threads but I also added some of this under my stand to keep the wires clean. Looks good and it's pretty inexpensive. 2"x2" finger duct.

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr41/parkinsn/RAV-DUCT.jpg

[MarkoD]

Whatever you do, don't use MDF

[gridley]

Whatever you do, don't use MDF
I certainly agree - in fact that is ther reason for the new stand. We purchased our tank and stand used - the stand looks good - but it is MDF. I did build an internal frame which helped me be a bit more comfortable - but in the end decided that I did not want the hassel of rebilding in a few years. Hence, a slower start now, but a better, longer lasting stand.

[gridley]

3/4 is not necessary, but having a top is nice for mounting stuff underneath definitely. That stand is rock solid for sure. Also keep in mind that its more the skin of the stand that gives the solidness than the stand it self. Left to right and front to back wobble will be there to some extent until you skin it. Not that its a big deal once you have a few hundred lbs of water on it.

It's not in those threads but I also added some of this under my stand to keep the wires clean. Looks good and it's pretty inexpensive. 2"x2" finger duct.

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr41/parkinsn/RAV-DUCT.jpg
I like the look and idea of this "finger duct" - where did you buy it from?

[subman]

Any electrical supply store should carry it. The brand commonly used is Panduit. Going to get some this afternoon as a matter of fact.

[gridley]

Thanks for all the great suggestions and help. This has helped me as I think through how to build it. I hope to buy the supplies on Friday and begin the construction. Unfortaintly I have meetings from Fri afternoon through the end of the weekend and the next week is equally full. It will take me a week or two to complete it. I will pattern it on the original stand which can been seen on my Tank Journal (I think I have got the correct link here). The best picture is in the last post.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=85303

If there are any other thoughts or suggestions, please send them on.

[parkinsn]

I like the look and idea of this "finger duct" - where did you buy it from?

PM'd