Wanted to shar me latest project

[Randy Long]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and though I would introduce myself by showing off my latest project.

I am getting a new aquarium and putting it in my bedroom, so I need a stand to put it on. I wanted something functional but good looking. I hate the bulky thing that are sold in stores.

So.

http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/tankstand1.jpg
This has to support 700 lbs of tank and water.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/72-Gallon-Stand-1.jpg
.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/72-Gallon-Stand-2.jpg
.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/72-Gallon-Stand-3.jpg

It has been stained and finished now. I'll post pics later today.

[Randy Long]

Please forgive the miss-types in the title.

[Frank Fusco]

Beautiful work. But as one who kept numerous aquariums most of his life, I hate to throw water on your idea :rolleyes: (pun), but you will get water on your stand. Water splashes and creeps, many aquariums develop small leaks from time to time. A metal frame under the sides, with a small center support will allow air to circulate underneath instead of letting inevitable moisture just set on the wood.

[Russ Filtz]

Looks good! I would think about adding some more horizontal pieces though to keep the thing from racking. With the aquarium on top, you don't want it collapsing if someone leans on it sideways!

Maybe add some lateral boards up higher like you have at the bottom-back of the outside verticals. I'd put these right under the top, and maybe even at the halfway back, not the rear. Shouldn't see them much as they are up under the top.

I know you've got the big lateral panel in the center, but it's centered vertically. For lateral racking, the further from the neutral axis (approx halfway up vertically) your supports are the better.

Just a thought.

It may feel really solid now, but with all the weight on, it may start to get wobbly.

[Bob Childress]

Welcome to the Creek, Randy!! Pics are always appreciated (and expected). :D

How big a tank? (Don't make me do the math :eek: ) Salt water or fresh?

Nice stand, but Frank's probably right about a buffer of some sort.:)

[Randy Long]

Hi,
I am an experianced aquarium hobbist and have never spilled a drop. HaHa! Not realy, so far though I have had good luck with my tanks not leaking. This will be the first tank I will have that has holes through the glass bottom for an over flow system. This will mean boring 2 3.5" holes through the stand top for the plumbing. This should let some air under the tank to dry out spills, I hope. I could bore another hole at a distand from the others to provide ventilation.

Thank very much for the comments. I will definatly keep that in mind as the project progresses.

[Randy Long]

Hi,
Hi Bob,
The tank is a 72 gallon Bowfront. About 48" x 18" x 18". THe front glass is curved.
This will be a fresh water aquarium with Discus Fish.

[Jeff Horton]

That thing will never hold up! It's going to crash to the floor and flood your house. Did you add extra floor supports?? I think you should have built it out of 2x4 frame and then skinned it with 3/4 plywood. Then you could add something........ :D Let me stop before anyone takes me serious.

Now to be serious, beautiful stand. I want to see the finished photos. When I saw aquarium stand and your drawing I instantly thought about all the questions on the Newsgroups and all fear of the weight of the tank. How so many want to use 2x4 for their stands etc. It was quite refreshing to see someone that understood that we were not talking about supporting the house, just a few hundred pounds. Racking is a much bigger concern than one failing in compression. I am sure that you have taken that into consideration.

Love the design. Nice clean lines. Just very neat. At some point I am going to replace my 65G with a probably a 120G. We designed the house so that the tank would work as a room divider and it needs to be 6' long. I have to go with a solid base on mine but I really do like yours.

[Corey Hallagan]

Rand y, that is a nice stand, I am sur eit will work just fine!

Corey

[Julio Navarro]

Very nice, I also would like to see the finished product.

The horisontal pieces look like they would be enough to handle racking. The wood looks like oak??

[Randy Long]

Hi,
When I designed this stand I was very concerned about racking or side to side sway. My first thoughts were to 2 supports across the back at the top and the bottom but when I was assembling I sat down and looked at the 2 pedestals and decides that another solution was needed.

I decided on that center brace. All the parts of the stand are 7/8" white oak. THe center brace is 16" tall, that is more the 50% of the stand hight.

The second advantage of the brace is that it is not all the way to the back, it is moved toward the front. I also attached a shelf like member to the center brace coming foward. This helps prevents twisting.

[Randy Long]

Hi,
Latest picture.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/72-Gallon-Stand-4.jpg

[Jeff Horton]

I like that lot! The style wouldn't suit my house but that is a nice looking stand. Very nice design.

Better than 2/4's for sure! ;)

[Randy Long]

I installed some plastic drawers
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/72-Gallon-Stand-5.jpg

[Jesse Cloud]

Great job. Very creative design. It always does my heart good to see something other than square angles.

Would love to see a pic when you have the aquarium in place and fishes swimming!

[David Duke]

Welcome to the Creek Randy, must of missed this the first time around........really nice looking stand. I really like the proportions and lines, I don't think you will have any problems with racking at all.

Once again welcome!!!

[Corey Hallagan]

Very nice Randy. Great work and a nice design!

corey

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Excellent work and a good solution to the stand problem. I like yours much better than most I've seen.

[Randy Long]

Hi,
Well I'm calling this project complete.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Bowfront-Tank-003.jpg
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Bowfront-Tank-005.jpg

http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Bowfront-Tank-004.jpg