150g fowlr

I'm concerned with two things:

i) holding sideways stress if the aquarium is pushed sideways. I'm assuming that you're going to be wrapping the sides with plywood or using some other method to assure that kind of stability? I know in theory that the 4x4s and 2x4s are flat and all -- and all that weight pushing on flat surfaces provides stability -- yet if ever all of that extreme weight starts getting going sideways past a certain point then it's all over. I'd make sure there's adequate resistance to sideways force if you haven't already planned on something.

ii) uniform support for the aquarium to rest on. The horizontal 2x4s don't provide as strongly uniform of a support when laid flat like that. I personally use the top horizontal 2x4s turned sideways on edge (as illwill was saying below) for the aquarium to rest on to provide more uniform support. You don't want the glass to be stressed on an surface that doesn't provide uniform support. It'll all look good until a small child bumps their little toy against it when nobody is looking then BOOM.

And I do more than what I've said above. It's difficult for me to say all of what I would change and what I would add because my method of building a tank stand is different, pretty much from the bottom up. For example, I cut an 'L' notch in the top of the vertical 2x4's for the horizontal 2x4's to rest in on-edge. I'd have to write a manual which I supposed more qualified people than me have already done.

 

i give it about 6 months then you get corals anyways. i love the tank so far. just make sure that you have enough support. good luck

 

i think i have thought of way to address all of the concerns with the stand, what if i just added a horizontal 2 by 4 to all for sides right up underneath the flat 2 by 4's? that would solve the side motion and also add the more uniform weight distribution. (i dunno if im explaining it well but i will post oa pic of what im thinking to see what u guys think) also thinking about pulling out the 2 by 4's in the middle and just putting another 4 by 4 what do u guys think about that? just worried about trying to get that 55 out is my main concern

 

lol, thanks...well i have a 20 gallon long that i have a couple corals in it so i might put some corals in the tank that are very low light or something but this tank is for sure gone to be for the fish.

 

Hmmmm ... I kinda like that. Never thought of that in the past. Interesting idea since the vertical weight is still resting on the 2x4s mounted on the tops of the vertical 2x4s (not on the side mounted 2x4s). Once you did that you could then add 2x4s cut to fit between each vertical 2x4 to sort of 'trap' the vertical 2x4 from moving sideways?

But I'm not a mechanical engineer. I'm not the right guy to ask. I'm the sort of guy who can spot something wrong, and can build some things on my own risk, but may not be able to tell you what's right for you, or may not explain it right. These are huge forces. So please check whatever I say cause I can certainly be wrong. And I'm not just trying to cover my arse, I mean it sincerely.

One other thing that I just noticed -- sorry. Those 4x4's look like pressure treated wood?? I'm not sure that fumes won't come out of that once it's moist and warm, and wrapped up inside a cabinet, and that's maybe not going to be good for a reef?? The chemicals in that wood are designed to kill anything and everything that moves. I'd be tempted to use non-pressure treated.

 

I like this method when working with 4x4's. you could leave the front open like it is, but would need something wider than a 2x4 to support the weight ( like a 2x8 ) of a full 150.

75 Gallon Aquarium Stand

~Will.

 

Good find!

That's what I'm talking about when I mentioned cutting the 'L' so that the 2x4s can rest in that.

That's close to how I built my 58 gallon stand.

And, notice that he's using plywood that's going to add more stability.

Not too sure how to modify it to move up to 150 gallons? Huge difference.

Mc5486 I'm beginning to think that you need to find a proven plan to build a 150 gallon stand. We're prolly theorizing around a bit too much here?

 

ok...so i am back...sry it took so long but as u can see every thing has been changed...i have 2 closed loop pumps and a 75 gallon refugium plus have basically a room dedicated to my sump now also...noticed i did not add a pic of my frame but it has been completely rebuilt...any close-up pics let me know...hopefully i finish every thing up soon!

 

I really like the look of it so far. You did an awesome job on the closed loops.

I will say one thing, because others will if I don't. The rubbermaid sump will have to be replaced eventually. Most say they get less than a year out of it before it breaks. At farm stores you can get heavy duty rubbermaid tubs for cattle that are the same size, but will last for ever.

 

I think the rubbermaid is just curing live rock

looks like a good set up thus far mic5486

Steve