Tank stand woes

[cowfish]

Advice needed.

So after having my attempt at building a stand for my 75g end in frustration (slightly warped wood and a basement floor that is about as flat as the Atlantic during hurricane season) I decided to buy a used stand. Found one on-line made of pine with a nice cherry stain for $50 and had my sister-in-law pick it up for me. Of course I forgot to ask for the exact dimensions and it turns out to be about 3 inches shorter than I thought it was. This is what I get for trying to please the wife and save a couple $s. :banghead:

Would it be okay to just place the stand on top of 2x4s (laid flat) to get the added height? I figure any minor warping or bowing in the 2x4s would be fixed by the 800 lbs sitting on top of it.

Is it possible to prime and re-stain all of the wood so that it matches (or at least comes pretty close)?

Thanks for your input,
Eric

 

[KathyC]

No reason you can't do it the way you described with the 2 X 4's. Just be sure to attached it all together somehow.

Matching the stain might not be as easy. You might put a finishing board and a molding to cover the 2 X 4's you are laying flat... Give the rest of the stand a refresher coat with a cherry stain (after lightly sanding) to rejuenenate it, but you might want to consider painting the moldings covering the 2 x 4's black as that always goes nicely with a cherry finish.
Do check with the Mrs. first though!

 

[jaa1456]

If you do the 2x4's make sure to put a nice piece of plywood ontop of them. Between the tank and stand. Myself I would not but a tank on it. It could be fine for years or it could cause the tank to crack. There is a reason that tanks have stands that match the bottom.

 

[masterswimmer]

No reason you can't do it the way you described with the 2 X 4's. Just be sure to attached it all together somehow.

Matching the stain might not be as easy. You might put a finishing board and a molding to cover the 2 X 4's you are laying flat... Give the rest of the stand a refresher coat with a cherry stain (after lightly sanding) to rejuenenate it, but you might want to consider painting the moldings covering the 2 x 4's black as that always goes nicely with a cherry finish.
Do check with the Mrs. first though!

+1
Especially agree with the last sentence

swimmer

 

[jaa1456]

Still wouldn't trust it. Ask Kathy if she is gonna help you clean up if the tank cracks.

 

[masterswimmer]

Still wouldn't trust it. Ask Kathy if she is gonna help you clean up if the tank cracks.

Why would the tank crack?

 

[jaa1456]

The biggest enemy to a tank cracking is being un level. The corners of the tank will not be supported at all. Laying 2x4's on the flat side is also the weakest part of a 2x4. An 8' foot 2x4 standing straight can hold 600lbs before breaking on the 2" side almost 900lbs and then comes the 4" side which holds about what 50 lbs before it sags. Also that is the side as where it would warp. And a tank stand is bulit to match the bottom perfect for a reason. What would be supporting the tank on the outeredges? Nothing just overhanging 2x4's that would sag and do nothing for the tank. Trust me I have been in the foundation buisness for 12 years and the reef hobby for 16.

 

[cowfish]

This blows. If I had a freakin' flat surface to work on I coulda built the stand easy. Could I put a piece of plywood on top of the stand and use that as a "work table?" I'd just be screwing boards together - no heavy wood or hammering.

 

[ScorpionSys]

The biggest enemy to a tank cracking is being un level. The corners of the tank will not be supported at all. Laying 2x4's on the flat side is also the weakest part of a 2x4. An 8' foot 2x4 standing straight can hold 600lbs before breaking on the 2" side almost 900lbs and then comes the 4" side which holds about what 50 lbs before it sags. Also that is the side as where it would warp. And a tank stand is bulit to match the bottom perfect for a reason. What would be supporting the tank on the outeredges? Nothing just overhanging 2x4's that would sag and do nothing for the tank. Trust me I have been in the foundation buisness for 12 years and the reef hobby for 16.

But the 2x4s can't really bend sandwiched between concrete and the bottom of the stand can they? I do see them rotting though that could be an issue down the road.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

jaa he was going to put the stand on the 2x4's then the tank on top of the stand and was saying that any warping of the 2x4's when he bought them would be taken away by the stand and tank being on top of it. Someone else here that had posted a reply built houses for years and is familiar with foundations and structural components as well- am not talking about myself I have a fair amount of knowledge of the strength of wood and of building construction due to my job BUT I aint sayin who the builder is either lol

 

[masterswimmer]

jaa he was going to put the stand on the 2x4's then the tank on top of the stand and was saying that any warping of the 2x4's when he bought them would be taken away by the stand and tank being on top of it. Someone else here that had posted a reply built houses for years and is familiar with foundations and structural components as well- am not talking about myself I have a fair amount of knowledge of the strength of wood and of building construction due to my job BUT I aint sayin who the builder is either lol

:p

 

[albano]

...slightly warped wood and a basement floor that is about as flat as the Atlantic during hurricane season...

This is the KEY sentence...if the floor is NOT level, the stand MUST be leveled, no matter who made it, or how high it is! The 2X4s would be fine as a full perimeter 'base support' (on either face or sides), HOWEVER, if they're warped, you won't be able to level them, since they will 'straighten' out, with the weight of the water. It will be hard to judge true level with a warped base.You must level the stand, before filling the tank.

 

[FLUKE411]

If the floor is cement how about some quiklevel? If your floor is not too bad you could even it out with that at least for the area where the stand will be. Just my 2? :teeth:

 

[artie1209]

A bag of Quick level 28$
2 straight 2x4s and some cedar shims 10$

getting it right the first time Priceless!!!

 

[cali_reef]

The biggest enemy to a tank cracking is being un level. The corners of the tank will not be supported at all. Laying 2x4's on the flat side is also the weakest part of a 2x4. An 8' foot 2x4 standing straight can hold 600lbs before breaking on the 2" side almost 900lbs and then comes the 4" side which holds about what 50 lbs before it sags. Also that is the side as where it would warp. And a tank stand is bulit to match the bottom perfect for a reason. What would be supporting the tank on the outeredges? Nothing just overhanging 2x4's that would sag and do nothing for the tank. Trust me I have been in the foundation buisness for 12 years and the reef hobby for 16.

I don't think you understand what he is trying to do.

You are thinking him doing something like the picture?

This is a picture of a self proclaimed "professional" reefer's 180 gallon set up where he had the tank setting on 3-4 2x4's across a frame that's the wrong size. The funniest thing is people actually think he knows what he is doing\talking about nowdays.

 

[jaa1456]

I thought he was gonna put them in between the tank and stand. And his post said the tank is longer than the stand. So still there is no support for the outer edges. And yes you would need to use some floor level cement. And 2x4's can warp on a basement floor as well. Just my opinion from experience. If you don't trust my experience on foundations then stay away from The new Yankees, Giants and new Citifiled for the Mets. As well as the new Freedom Towers. As I did the foundation for all 4. Not to mention numerous lower profile buildings throughout the city. And he new Intrepid Pier. As for that tank above WOW that takes some balls, those boards are laying on the weakest side.

 

[jaa1456]

Wheres the reef in hat tank? That looks like a stores sales tank

 

[albano]

his post said the tank is longer than the stand.

i decided to buy a used stand. Of course i forgot to ask for the exact dimensions and it turns out to be about 3 inches shorter than i thought it was.
Would it be okay to just place the stand on top of 2x4s (laid flat) to get the added height?

size IS important!

 

[FLUKE411]

Hey jaa1456, so do you know where Hoffa is? LOL

 

[Awibrandy]

I used 3 - 4 X 4 laid front to back under the legs of the iron stand my 120 is on now to add some height to the tank. We did this last summer. So far so good, also neither of my 2 tanks are level due to my 98 year old house is out of whack, and neither stand was leveled during installation. So far it's been 3 years for the 155 bow, and approximately 2 years for the 120.:bigeyes2:

You guys are scaring me...