Does A 20 Gallon Tank Stand Need Support?

[Doc7]

Please review picture below, stand I just built for a 20 gallon high, and let me know if I need more horizontal support?? The legs are each composed of two 2x6s, and 2x4s make up the top pieces.

I'm not expecting a guaranteed engineering answer but a "suggestion".

 

[Piti]

Level? Sturdy?

If I were to build something like that, I would put a shelf midway so you can store stuff and so the stand doesnt go all baby deer legged when everything is added. That plus I HIGHLY reccoment a flat top (And maybe something to prevent the wood from getting wet.

 

[Mark Z.]

I agree with Piti on the "deer legs."

I think it would support the weight, but I would be afraid of it tipping over. Adding horizontal 2x4s between the legs should help. Maybe also brace it to the wall or the floor somehow to keep it from accidentally tipping over?

 

[saltynay]

Get someone around 90kgs to sit and wobble on it for 10 mins and check for movement or bowing.

Looks like you need to get a planar out to smooth off those top joints. I would put 2x4 spacers in between the legs it will make it more attractive and give additional support

 

[Doc7]

The legs do move a bit in the horizontal directions, up to 1/4" or more each... so I will be adding middle braces and a plywood shelf, as well as an upper shelf, today.

I think i'm up to 700 dollars sunk into a 20 Gallon High. Whoops...


How important is water proofing for the next few months before I can take it outside and stain or paint it? Do i need to put a plastic sheet on top of this for now before I put the tank on it?

 

[saltynay]

what wood are you using?

 

[Doc7]

what wood are you using?

whatever home depot 2x4s are??

there's a triangle on one that says "FIR" inside it ... so probably Fir unless that means something else. Not pressure treated, the guy said i didn't want that in my house.

 

[Piti]

SPF wood - Soft wood - Used to build houses, so a simple stand should hold up. And please tell me you're kidding about the $700. I know what you are feeling, because I've repaired furnature, and sometimes it seems cheeper just to but new, but all I see is a single 2/4 being used (sort of thing) And remember, if it's a 2/4, its actually a 1.5/3.5

I hope you can have some pride over something you built though, because that is the point.

 

[Doc7]

LOL that money includes $300 on the tank and food and chemicals I bought the first day, test kit, more kinds of food (I was impatient and bought a bunch of it at the most expensive fish store in New Jersey, Absolutely Fish in Clifton...where they also jacked me up for $15 per Cory Sterbai, 20 dollars for fake log, and another 20 dollars for 2 things of food), a new aquaclear 30, air pump, etc. And now 37 so far on materials for the stand but that includes cutting fees and nails etc. I just bought a level but not really fair to include that in the price of the stand as I will have it forever.

I am headed back to the store now (went earlier but had to leave it to shovel the girl's car out) to get plywood and another 2 x 4, for a mid-shelf and a top shelf, plus cutting so another 30 bucks into the stand but I will be proud of it when it's done. I'm just going to cover the top in plastic for right now, assuming I get the tank on it sometime in the next couple of weeks, and then empty down the tank again to stain or otherwise waterproof it.

It's not in the center of the bubble on the level but still in the lines. Will check again after I nail the top flat piece of plywood on, which I did decide to go with after deciding that I don't particularly like the height matching of all the joints and don't have sanders etc to really make it perfect.