DIY Stand Thoughts

[foodshape]

I finally committed myself to setting up my first saltwater tank, a 75g (ordered). I have built a couple of stands before, using designs I can honestly say I thought up from scratch (though it turns out that one example at least is a concept others have arrived at independently). Both these have been succesful, and being a 'low-tech' carpenter I'm inclined to stick with what I know can be done with my limited tools. Trying to decide which way to go...
In the first case a massively solid stand under my 150g mixed african cichlid tank:
http://www.cichlidforums.com/showthread.php?26502-New-Stand-in-Progress
In the second case a much more minimalist, low material low cost approach affording an unobstructed access below the tank (as in, ideal for a sump!). This is a 3' two-tank stand
http://www.cichlidforums.com/showthread.php?41932-Inexpensive-3-Two-Tank-Stand
Both designs have been in service for several years now whithout showing a hint of weakness or flex. For the new 75g I am really leaning toward the second approach (with a few improvements) as the open concept allows me to easily slip a nice big 40g breeder tank in there for a sump/refugium (and service, or if necessary remove it without troubles). I'd be basically extending the design in the second example above by 1'... Any engineers out there feel I'm asking for trouble?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Your second, "low tech" stand has been thought of before by ADA... Aqua Design Amano. It's nothing new, and quite interesting. Although, I probably would have opted to use Formica or some other covering instead of painting it black. Black formica or even vinyl would have made it look much cleaner. Not really any tools involved with black vinyl covering - just contact cement, time, possibly a flush router bit...
As far as the design goes, You would be supporting the tank on three sides instead of two - by extending it out another inch. The weight should always be evenly distributed across the stand to keep anything from bowing or breaking. While it's certainly possible to keep tanks that are 30g and under with only two sides touching a stand (I honestly don't recommend it) anything over 30g should be supported on all four sides evenly and that weight should be distributed equally though the wood.
I really like ADA style stands - they are simple, unique, and fit a more "modern" style of stand, especially paired with European hinges. However, I think that you should aim to keep a 30g under the tank instead of a 40g breeder - and go ahead and build it in the original ADA style without modification.
You don't necessarily want to cram as much sump underneath a tank as possible - it will severely limit your equipment choices in the future, unless you can stick them inside your sump without problems. But, more than likely over time you may want additional pieces of equipment on the tank, and a smaller sump will help you do that. A larger volume of water does not necessarily mean better water quality either... just sayin'

 

[foodshape]

Snake, thanks for the suggestion on formica or vinyl. For the new stand I would indeed be shooting for something better than the utility plywood look. I also have some thin birch finishing plywood I can use (similar to the 1st example I posted). Anyhow there is still time for that decision. There will be doors on the front, possibly with european hinges (again, similar to the 1st example, I already have the material left over from other projects). I think I'd need to use 2x3's or 2'4s for the front corner posts instead of 2x2's though for the euro-hinges, but that's not an issue.
I appreciate the insight regarding sump size. Of the two standard 30g sizes I'm familiar with, a 30Br has the same footprint as a 40Br but is not as high, and a 30L has the same length (36") but is narrower (12" instead of 18"). I'm guessing space gained along the length of the stand rather than the width would be more useable for equipment, no? ...in which case I'd be unclear on why a 30g (either kind) would be your choice, vs, say, a 20L or a 29, which are both 30"x12". My thinking was for the protein skimmer (not selected yet) to be in-sump, along with the return pump, hopefully still leaving space to incorporate a refugium in the sump. I'm a noob at sumps as well as SW though and am all ears! If the pros of putting a pump outside the sump outweight the cons please do advise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/394027/diy-stand-thoughts#post_3506791
As far as the design goes, You would be supporting the tank on three sides instead of two - by extending it out another inch.
Not sure I follow you there - extending what out another inch? The back plywood downwards? Just fyi, the reason I built that stand with feet is that it is in my basement - it's an old house and the concrete floor is uneven. The new stand will also be on that floor (thin carpet over less than even concrete) - I figure a flush stand bottom that has to be shimmed in several places to make it level is no better that a stand with legs anyhow... Let me know if I misunderstood you.
Many thanks, regards,

 

[snakeblitz33]

Well, you never really stated what you really wanted out of the stand... I personally prefer stands that are stained - either oak, birch or high quality pine. I don't really know what your finish is going to be - which is what is more important to me at first than the structure. A 75g really isn't a whole lot of weight, so there is room to make some adjustments. When I said "As far as the design goes, you would be supporting the tank on three sides instead of two" I forgot what I was talking about and drifted off into the "parent coma" that comes with having an almost 1 year old daughter. lol, so disregard that statement.
The sump that I was thinking of was actually a 29g standard. Thank you for the correction. Yes, it is a little shorter than a 30g - but it's also a little taller, which will give you some wiggle room when you turn your return pump off. The longer 30g tank would be fine as well to use. In fact, I would probably go with the 30g long anyways. You would have a little room on one side of the stand for a reactor or a water reservoir for an auto top off unit - and you would have a longer run time for microbubbles to pop. You would also have a little more room for a refugium. All around positives of using a 30g long over a 29g. I used a 20g long for my sump on my 75g reef - and now I wish I went with a 29, personally. I have to have that little extra room on the end of my stand next to my sump for a calcium reactor, CO2 bottle and an ATO reservoir. However, with the 20g long tank (30"x12.5" base) I have a little room on the side of the sump to fit a light for an algae scrubber, as well as a phosphate and carbon reactor.
It's all a matter of personal preference, equipment that you are going to use, and what backups and redundancy programs you are going to use. I am using a calcium reactor, ATO reservoir, CO2 bottle, Diablo XS160 skimmer in my sump, an in-sump refigum as well. All the while, I am trying to find a place to put an Apex controller pretty soon. AHH!!! Yeah, I'm an equipment freak. lol. Some people are in it strictly for the livestock... my interest kind of shifted more towards the equipment over the years.

 

[foodshape]

Ok, the picture is coming together, thanks for the extra input. Don't know how much extra equipment I'll end up going for over time but off-hand an ATO at least is pretty likely - we like to take 3-week trips every few years and I can see a reliable unit being pretty essential there.

 

[snakeblitz33]

3 weeks is a long time to leave a tank - your looking at a minimum of 1.2g per day of top off water. That's about 25g of water that you need in your reservoir - plus evaporation from the reservoir if it isn't sealed. That's like having a separate 30g aquarium next to your tank just so that it can be topped off while you're gone! Or, you could have someone come over and top off the reservoir a few times while your gone.
Just pointing a few things out for yah.

 

[foodshape]

Appreciated.

Luckily no big trips planned for this year (just took one) so no doubt I'll get a handle on how much evoporation I need to deal with in time for the next one.