Making tank stand

[Cookie]

Hi Peeps

Picking up my 5x2x2 tank tommorrow, so over the coming weeks i'll need to make a stand for it.
Does this sound right all 75mm x 75mm timber, with 20mm marine ply for cabinet top and base floor for 3x 1 1/2ish x 2 sump/refugium (2 x 1.5 x 1.5 sump if i have refugium)


Do you think i need more strutts top to bottom.

Cheers
Simon

[Cookie]

ps all untreated timber

[Tangman]

Yes 75x75mm timber will be ok and a 20mm sheet on the top and bottom is also ok also you have enough strutts in, i would also add the ply on each end and the back so as to stiffen up the frame so it does not collapse sideways or end ways. How are you jointing the timber frame together are you butt jointing and then gluing and screwing together or are you half lap jointing and the gluing and screwing, either way is ok just make sure the top length of timber is sat on top of the upright post so you get more strength in downward pressure and it makes it better for fastening the top sheet of ply to. Keep taking pics as you progress and then they can be used for your tank build write up and put in members tank section. Twiggy

[Macca]

I would use 75 by 50mm myself and box it in with 10mm marine ply and give it a right good sealant with either varnish or gloss. If you can afford your version then fair enough but IMO it is not necessary.

[Cookie]

Macca, after the lot i bought this weekend i can't afford a tissue to sneeze in :D after picking tank up today will probably stick to 75x75 :)

Tangman if a lap joint is where cut a notch in the two bits to be joined, then thats what i'm doing :D all will be wood glued and screwed :)

Also anyone know how to remove silicone'd glass as tank was once drilled (4 75mm holes) that have been covered by a sheet of glass over the two holes either side.

Ta
Simon

[Tangman]

Hi Simon you cant beat being OTT when your building tank stands as a 5x2x2 will weigh in at around 750 kilos. When you say remove silicone do you mean off a sheet of glass or when 2 sheets are stuck over each other. If its the latter you need to get a thin blade and cut away around the edges then when you have a lead in get some really thin strong wire a strand taken out of a bowden brake cable is ideal and wrap it around 2 pieces of wood one at each end of the wire so you can use the wire as a saw to cut through the silicone between the 2 pieces of glass. Then when you have it separated clean it off with a blade and then with meths until its back to glass. Twiggy

[reefergeek]

Focus has some really cheap wood treatments at the min bought some paint yesterday £3.50 a pot 75% off

[Cookie]

Tangman

Hope this pic shows what i mean, basically the tank was pre-drilled but the guy covered over holes with some glass 18" by 6" If i understand right cheese wire sort of thing should cut through.


Reefergeek
Cheers for that, might pop in there tomorrow, now how much to cover a 6' by 3' by 2' 8" stand

Simon :D

[Tangman]

Hi yes cheese wire will do that but it might be a bit thick so a strand out of a bowden cable will be thinner so getting between the 2 pieces of glass. Twiggy