aquarium stand

[utahcutter]

my husband wants to build a stand for my salt water aquarium. It's going to be 48" long by 18 1/2" wide by 2'6" tall. It needs to support the weight of approximately 700 lbs. Right now I'm think of making the structure for it out of plain jane 2X4s at the for coners and a support at the center point. Then finishing it with something that looks half way decent. Any better ideas out there?

[Rich]

Let me ask the experts. I have a friend that has many many aquariums. I'll see if he has a free plan that he has used before.

[utahcutter]

Thanks that would be excellent help :D . I know the ones the aquarium companies make don't look all that sturdy, but they must work cause they sale lots of them. Unfortunatly my tank is a custom build and won't fit on any of them.

[Rich]

Ok. Here it is straight from the source. I input the numbers for the tank at the link below (garf.com) and it shows a 2x4 construction. I would probably replace the corners with 4x4's as suggested below. And inset the frame as shown at garf.com. Let me know if you need anything else - glad to help.

The measurements you gave me calculate out to a 112 gal tank and water itself weights 8lbs per gal. Plus the weight of the tank and the lights, and the items within the tank.

My estimate on the final weight of the tank assuming this is a glass tank would be 1,300lbs. This is assuming the tank is glass (acrylic tanks weigh less), they use rock in the proper suggested amounts of 1lb per gal and that they put a sand bed of approx 200lbs (4-6" depth).

I would use 4X4's for the verticle supports and have 1 on each corner and then one in the middle of the span.

http://www.garf.org/tank/buildstand.asp

Take a look at the above. Also take a look at my DIY forum http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewforum.php?f=14 feel free to browse around for other links/ideas. IMO you can never overbuild an aquarium stand simply because of the weight that we are talking about and the need for it to be structurally sound so as to not have any one section settle and cause the tank to go out of level.

[utahcutter]

Thanks, we'll give it a try. maybe post a pic when it's all done. Maybe it'll be an excuse to go buy the table router the hubby's been lusting after.

[Rich]

hah.. funny you mentioned a router table. I've been looking at making one - trying to find a decent phenolic insert that's not too pricey. Over the years I've been able to work around getting a router table - but I think it's about time.