glass aquarium weight distribution

[jandree22]

my dad and I built a DIY stand for my 75. We put a center brace in the middle of the stand length and depthwise. No doubt this adds to the stability and integrity of the stand, but I'm wondering if a support in the smack middle of the stand is necessary? IIRC, glass aquariums don't actually touch the stand except for the sides/edges... that is, the bottom pane is actually raised up a bit. If so, isn't all the weight (and necessary stand support) isolated to the outside edges?

The point is, I'm plotting out possibilities to drill the tank and add a sump below in the stand, but that center support is going to really hinder that. I'll post pictures tomorrow if it helps to explain... I'm halfway accross the country at the moment :wink:

 

[Mthompson]

The center brace in larger stands merely adds to the structural integrity of the stand itself (keeping it squared). The brace helps in preventing the stand from twisting or otherwise warping under the pressure of the tank.

To solve your plumbing problem, you should plan what you want to do for the overflows, then design the stand to match that and still maintain structural integrity. i.e.- Two braces at each 1/4 length of the stand instead of one at the 1/2 length might do the trick...

I believe in overbuilding and then not having to worry.

 

[jandree22]

Thanks. I have a 20L sitting around so I'm thinking about using that, but OTOH, that may be slightly on the small side for a 75gal. My key objective is to house my heaters and open my options for a sump skimmer. Refugium will be a goodie add-on if the space permits.

As far as the overflows, I would plan on drilling out the back pane and then wrapping the plumbing back around and into the back of the cabinet.

 

[Anonymous]

You are overbuilding and wasting time. Plywood alone will make a very strong stand. Look at your cabinets and see if you can find any bracing or framing. I guarentee you, that a 75 gal will sit on your counter tops. Why build a stand with all the braces?

 

[Anonymous]

I used 1/4" oak on one stand, and 1/2" maple on another one. Would you like a 58 gallon supported by 1/2" ply? me neither. SO I built an internal frame.

and yeah, it's overbuilt. so? I know it won't fail, and i'm not really losing much...

B

 

[Anonymous]

You are overbuilding and wasting time. Plywood alone will make a very strong stand. Look at your cabinets and see if you can find any bracing or framing. I guarentee you, that a 75 gal will sit on your counter tops. Why build a stand with all the braces?

There is lots of bracing in cabinets. It's called the wall. You can put that kind of weight on a counter top because the counter top itself works to distrubute the load to the wall and the facing of the cabinate. If you built a stand like a cabinate and not attach it to the wall it would fall to the floor.