Tank Stand Help

[Martin S]

Am thinking about ordering a new tank, and after an initial quote for a 39" x 24" x 24" being just too expensive, I am waiting for a price for a 39" x 24"D x 18"H. The manufacturer will only supply a cabinet, but just wanted to check there is no reason why I couldn't get a wooden or metal stand for this tank to keep the cost down.
I could, over time, add doors etc and make it look more like a cabinet.
Thanks
Martin

[MatsP]

Sure, if you have a basic skill with power-tools and carpentry, a set of 2 x 4" planed and square-edged will to a base cabinet shape and you can get cabinet doors for kitchens to fit onto the base cabinet.

The top should probably be made from 18mm ply.

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Mats

[Martin S]

Thanks Mats
Guessed as much, just don't want to up the price by having to pay out for a cabinet that I don't really want/need.
I'm OK with powertools - was thinking of 6 x 2" legs with the 4" screwed in place around the top of the legs. Something like this but nowhere as complicated! Actually, just like A on here with a ply top.
Thanks
Martin

[MatsP]

I have 37 x 93 mm legs on my stands in the fish-room, and I have 200 liter per shelf there. You are talking of a lower height with only one tank of about the same volume as two of my shelves. So 2 x 4 (47 x 100 mm) should be fine. Obviously, 6 x 2 (150 x 47) would work too, no problem at all - just more cost and weight, which I don't think is needed.

The design in the link first looks good. The second link didn't seem to work for me.

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Mats

[Martin S]

Mats,
Sorry, I meant 6 x [2" square] legs - I think with 6 legs it should be enough, of I use design A in my second link, with the added 18mm ply top.
Thanks again
Martin

[MatsP]

That'll probably work. A wider piece of wood allows you to hold a bit more torque by placing the screws further apart (or whatever you use to hold it together - glue [waterproof!] and dowels work quite well, but screws are easier). And 2x4", you would only need two at either end, I'd say.

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Mats

[Martin S]

Was just thinking 6 so would have somewhere for the doors to close against, but guess I could just run a baton down between the two 'rails' and get away with 4 legs. As I will have a solid top too, am sure it will be enough.
Thanks again
Martin

[MatsP]

Well, if you have a piece of 2"x2", then I suppose it won't hurt to attach it at the middle. I sort of misunderstood the concept, and thought you wanted to have three "legs" on each short side, not one in the middle of the long side. I would still use 4 x 2" x 4" for the corners, and a slimmer piece in the middle. To provide the best stability in all directions, I would put the 2 x 4 with the wide side towards the wall at the back, and rotated 90 degrees at the front. This way, one set of legs provide stability "left to right", and one set "front to back" stability. This is NOT how my stand works, but I think if you are doing a stand for a single tank, that's the best solution.

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Mats

[Martin S]

See, now that just shows how poor my carpentry skills (or is it just my aging brain ?) must be as you've lost me now!
Do you not think the plans for A and B here are sufficient for my needs?
Martin

[MatsP]

For some reason, my browser doesn't get to the link you show - not sure why.

Here's a drawing of what I had in mind - sorry for it not being very precise, but I used MS Paint - not the most high-tech drawing program ever produced!

The green rectangles are the 2 x 4" that holds the plywood at top. The black rectangles are the legs. Note that the front and back legs are rotated in different directions [which is what I was trying to explain]. Also, to make sure the joints are strong, the side and front pieces join in a different way than the back pieces - so the joint is over the leg!

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Mats

[Martin S]

OK, thanks Mats
Well, will have to have a think about this and after my holiday, decide what i am going to do.
This is the image I was talking about - i hope you can see that now:

Thanks again
Martin

[MatsP]

That looks like a workable solution too. It's a bit simpler logistically than my idea - which is often a good thing!

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Mats

[Birger]

Martin, I will post a picture later of how I build my wooden stands. They are similar to what you have drawn with a few slight changes, picks up the weight better and stiffens it up laterally. Material size can easily be beefed up or slimmed down depending on the weight of what goes on it. It is simple but effective. Pictures pending.

Birger

[Martin S]

Thanks Birger.

[Shane]

Martin,
You might also find it worthwhile to check with a local welder on the cost of making a metal (wrought iron) stand. Many shops will have enough spare angle iron laying around to get most of the job done. I had several stands made by a welder, including a 12 foot long three shelf high job, and was amazed at how inexpensive the final price came out to be. Other bonuses include that I can move even the largest wall length stand all by myself, the stands take up far less space then wood stands would, and they will last much, much longer.
Call a welder and get a quote. You might just be very suprised.
-Shane

[Martin S]

Martin,
You might also find it worthwhile to check with a local welder on the cost of making a metal (wrought iron) stand. Many shops will have enough spare angle iron laying around to get most of the job done. I had several stands made by a welder, including a 12 foot long three shelf high job, and was amazed at how inexpensive the final price came out to be. Other bonuses include that I can move even the largest wall length stand all by myself, the stands take up far less space then wood stands would, and they will last much, much longer.
Call a welder and get a quote. You might just be very suprised.
-Shane

Thanks Shane - hadn't considered that option.
Having spoken to my LFS, the cost of of the new tank I wanted (39" x 24" x 24" / 100 x 60 x 60) is just way out of my current budget (even with discount), and the chap who makes tanks is away now for a week, but he is going to try and reduce the width/depth down so it doesn't need a double base. Was hoping to over 18" depth, so may be able to go up to 20/21 and wil probably stay at 18" high, if only to keep the cost down. Will see what comes back and go from there, but it looks like I'll have to wait until after my holiday now anyway (Saturday).
Thanks all
Martin

[MatsP]

These guys have VERY nice prices, but it's quite far away - they do deliver, I think it's £55.
http://www.acaquatics.co.uk/bare_aquari ... uarium.htm

I'll check my LFS's prices tomorrow.

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Mats

[Shane]

These guys have VERY nice prices,

I guess like many things price is relative. They want 22 quid for an 18" X 12" X 12". This is roughly a standard US 10 gallon (20" X 10" X 12"), which can be had at any pet store for about US $10.00... or 5 pounds.

What seems strange though is, while the small tanks appear very expensive, the bigger tanks (48" plus) are priced about the same as in the US. The very biggest (i.e. 60" plus) are far less than a similar size tank in the US. Go figure.

Compare prices here
http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

-Shane

[MatsP]

Ok, so the tiny tanks aren't that great prices - but the bigger ones are, and that's what Martin was looking at.

And it would be £6 - which is definitely low cost for a 10g glass tank in this country. The goldfishbowl in Oxford lists a Clearseal 18 x 12 x 12 at £18 pounds, and clearseal tends to be the lowest glass tanks - they are probably a few pence less at Pets at Home, but around 3x more than in the US...

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Mats

[Birger]

I am not saying better or worse than a steel stand, I am showing these pictures because they are similar to what your diagram was showing. I could build either but I can whip these wooden ones up in no time, are easily customized, and can be taken apart without much trouble.The biggest difference between your diagram and these is the way the front horizontal members are joined, keeps the load bearing on the posts and the stand would never fold sideways on you.I always fit the tanks specifically to sit directly above the horizontal members. Of course the bigger the tanks the beefier the material. I have been shifting things around so please excuse the mess and the wires

[Birger]

[Birger]

[Martin S]

Thanks Birger - good pictures of the important parts ot the design.
Think will have to come back from my holiday, move my existing tank, and then set up a new one a slightly later date than I'd hoped, but will get there, and all the design ideas will be really useful.
Thanks again guys
Martin

[Martin S]

These guys have VERY nice prices, but it's quite far away - they do deliver, I think it's £55.
http://www.acaquatics.co.uk/bare_aquari ... uarium.htm

I'll check my LFS's prices tomorrow.

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Mats

They are really good prices aren't they. Thanks Mats I have emailed and asked for a quote, and will be interested to see what your LFS comes back with.
Thanks again
Martin