DIY Stand Question

[cyclops]

I am in the process of building a stand, so far I have 4 x 4 for corner post and 2 x 4 for the sides on top and bottom it is a 36" L x 15" W 48" H, what should I use for the top where the tank will sit, I am thinking 1/4 plywood but will that be strong enough for a 55G tank. Please any advice will be helpful and pics are welcom I like to see things to give me better understanding.
James

 

[dadszx7]

I've got a standard 55 gallon. My stand is very close to the same size as yours. I ran four cross supports for underneath the tank using 2x4's I didn't use plywood for the covering the shelf where the tank sits. But mine has the top of stand finished in crown molding. So you don't even see the bottom of the tanks, where the sand is.
If you need more info, just email me.
Happy Holidays
Rick

 

[f14peter]

On most tanks (At least glass ones), the contact point between it and the stand is often just the underside of the bottom trim of tank, in essence just along the rim of the tank. Thus, it doesn't appear to matter much whether the top of your stand is solid or hollow like many factory stands.
On my AGA stand which is hollow through the top and only supports the tank on its edges, that contact point was a bit narrow for my ease of mind, the edge of the stand only about half as wide as the trim on the tank. So I just put a piece of exterior plywood (somewhere around 1/2", can't remember exactly) between the tank and the stand. That way, the entire surface of the trim is at least in contact with something to support it and I can be just a tad less precise with setting the tank on the stand.
I've checked and with 90g of water, about 80 or so lbs of LR, and about 90lbs of sand, there appears to be no compression of the plywood.

 

[cyclops]

Originally Posted by dadszx7
I've got a standard 55 gallon. My stand is very close to the same size as yours. I ran four cross supports for underneath the tank using 2x4's I didn't use plywood for the covering the shelf where the tank sits. But mine has the top of stand finished in crown molding. So you don't even see the bottom of the tanks, where the sand is.
If you need more info, just email me.
Happy Holidays
Rick
Thanks dadszx7
what is your e-mail mine is cyclops512@hotmail.com

 

[jj_harrison]

I built a stand for my standard 55 out of 1.5x1.5 legs on each corner and 1x4's laying flat around the top and a band of 1x4's around the bottom and a shelf with a 1x12 and that’s it its very minimal but its been up for a while and it hasn’t crashed.

 

[misfit]

you can save a lot of room buy building it out of say 3/4 oak,cherry,maple etc ply wood.IMO for a 55 you dont need 4x4 corners.
I have 220 built out of 3/4 oak ply,glue and biskets and screws.
Go to the LFS and look how some of those stands are made and get some ideas