How tall a stand

[nel621]

I was just given a 90 gal and wanted to make a stand. What height do you guys make your stands?Also I will be adding lots of LR and LS.It will start as a FOWLR but I will add some LPS or SPS [which ever is easier] down the road.So what is your opinion on maybe 2 Fluvals 404s or some other model.I know I will also be getting a protien skimmer,but I need info on a canister filter,no experience with these.I currently have a 30gal FOWLR but had an AquaC HOB for a 70 gal.What to do?
Thanks,Nelson

 

[acrylic51]

Height of stands are pretty standard if they are store bought....You could go to you LFS and take a measurement to get an average height and then plan your build process from there.....I personally don't like the manufactured height of stands.....Usually you have to bend over to look at stuff, and I'm not tall 5'8", but like my tanks to sit on the high side. I built my stand for my new 240 and it's 45" tall which is suitable for my needs...It just varies somewhat on where the tank is going and how you enjoy viewing the tank

 

[nel621]

Thanks for the reply.I was thinking of building my stand 36 in. tall but as you mentioned seems a bit low. My wife says to raise it much higher but I am concerned about having a 90 gal sitting on a stand so high.Also I may add a canopy down the road and don't want to stand on something to feed the little guys.Looks like its' back to the tape measure!
Thanks

 

[acrylic51]

You shouldn't worry about the 90 sitting that high.....I have my 240 higher and alot depends on how soundly you build your stands and their are alot of good pics on stand builds here on this site you just have to search.....I know RobChuck did a build of his stand for his 300 gallon and he shows some pretty good detail, and I might have the name mispelled, but DDboy is another one to look at he takes you all through the build process of his inwall as well......Again do you homework as far as structure and don't just rely on screws or nails to hold everything together...They have a way of working themselves out.

 

[birdy]

standard height for a reef ready stand like oceanic makes is 32", a lot of people like them taller, 36" is common for people to make them a bit higher. I just made a stand that is 42", tall enough to view the tank without looking down but not so tall I cannot get into the tank easily.
As far as a canopy- just build the canopy with front access either a flip open front, or doors, nothing is harder to work in that those flip top canopies with the solid front.

 

[acrylic51]

A way around the flip top lids if that's what you would plan is hydraulic hinges.....Kinda hard to find, but you can find them online and order them......

 

[bob a.]

Originally Posted by Nel621
I was just given a 90 gal and wanted to make a stand. What height do you guys make your stands?Also I will be adding lots of LR and LS.It will start as a FOWLR but I will add some LPS or SPS [which ever is easier] down the road.So what is your opinion on maybe 2 Fluvals 404s or some other model.I know I will also be getting a protien skimmer,but I need info on a canister filter,no experience with these.I currently have a 30gal FOWLR but had an AquaC HOB for a 70 gal.What to do?
Thanks,Nelson
This stand is for a 90. I dont remember exacltly but the height of the stand is less than 30 inches. I didnt want the stand too tall since it was in the kitchen and I didnt want the tank to loom over everything. I have a 30 gal sump/refugium in the bottom and I put two drawers in for small supplies storage. I didnt work from a plan since its really just a big box (a basic cabinet). I did use a solid piece of the plywood for the front and then cut out the openings for the doors and drawers. That makes for a very stiff structure which is what you are looking for. The back is mostly open but makes use of 2 6" vertical pieces of plywood in the corners and a horizontal piece that goes completely across the back and ties the sides and tops together. There is one 6" vertical piece of ply in the center of the back for additional stiffness. The open back lets me hang a remora pro on the back of the sump and have easy access to the container cup.

As for the canister filter, I would recommend against it. Its not the most convenient item to service and you want to make things as convenient as possible. Most of your bilogical filtration is best accomplished by using live rock. For mechanical filtration, you can use one of the hang on back type filters using spun poly and any type of media (carbon, other sponges) or you can filter in the sump. I would strongly recommend going with a sump since it gives you that much more water volume. You can incorporate a refugium/nutrient export section using an algae like chaeto and light it with a compact flourescent flood lamp in a standard screw base fixture. Thats what I am doing on both of my tanks and it works very well.

 

[clown52]

My stand is not very high either because I wanted to be able to watch it while I laid in bed.

 

[jdboy]

My 90g sits on a custom stand that's 40" at the bottom of the tank. It's in our living room so I wanted it to be high enough for visitors and us to be able to see it without sqatting down.

 

[nel621]

Nice stand. I hope my stand looks just as nice.Did you make the stand frame even with the tank?I have seen some plans that call for the frame lenght to be +1 inch.I thought it should be -1.5 inches to allow for the thickness of say 3/4 inch plywood wrap,thus making the stand even with the tank.