Urgent request for advice - temporary stand for a 75g - Aquarium Advice

Scoot · 03-10-2007, 10:08 AM

I need to setup a 75 gallon tank temporarily, to move everything to while we get new carpet. It'll be in use until August when we move.

I dont' want to buy a new stand, so I'm looking around the house. I have a very very strong cedar chest that could easily support the weight (it weights about 100 pounds by itself and is all hardwood), but its about 5" shorter than the tank.

Is it a problem to have 2 1/2" inches or so sticking out over the ends of the stand? Doesn't seem like on a 48" wide tank 4 or 5 inches would be a big deal... maybe it would be.

Also - I could set a piece of hardwood over the top of this that would be as big as the footprint of the tank...

tecwzrd · 03-10-2007, 12:14 PM

I wouldn't do it without 1/2" plywood underneath just to be on the safe side. Chests aren't designed to hold up 800+ lbs so that would be risky also IMO. See if you can find a used stand or build a proper stand fairly cheaply.

Scoot · 03-10-2007, 12:27 PM

This "chest" is about 1.5 feet tall, and made of solid 3/4" x4" cedar planks, vertically placed, all around, with a half inch layer of pine on the outside. I have no doubt whatsoever it could support the weight.

But.

Not sure I'm going to use it though, my 100 pound estimate was low. Its over a hundred, and I can't lift it by myself

This is temporary, I dont' want to buy a stand, and can't find a used one readily - I've got 3 days to complete this move. Might hit up home depot and see if they have any storage boxes that look up to spec.

Marc118 · 03-10-2007, 12:30 PM

If its just while your carpet is being put down why not just put it on the floor somewhere? Kids?

Scoot · 03-10-2007, 12:32 PM

I thought about setting it on the floor, but I don't have a drilled setup, so that would make water flow to the sump/fuge tricky at best.

It's going into a basement corner (steady temps, yeah!) until we move in July. So it needs to be somewhat servicable for the next 4 months.

I don't plan on moving it back. First, too much work, and stress on the fish. Second, it's new carpet. I don't want to sink the carpet in where the stand is.

Really, the stand only needs to be a foot or two high. Enough to have it higher than the sump. A couple strong boxes would work. I just don't have time to build anything.

MT79 · 03-10-2007, 05:30 PM

I would not use it b/c it doesn't support the ends of the aquarium.That may cause stress in the middle. Not using a stand that supports all the edges of the tank would most likely also void any warranty you may have on it.

Scoot · 03-10-2007, 05:57 PM

I added 1" of plywood across the top of the chest. Only an inch of the plywood is sticking out on each side of the chest, I'm confident that it's supported pretty well.

I'll let you know if I'm wrong

MT79 · 03-10-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

I'll let you know if I'm wrong

The good 'ol school of hard knocks method lol. Good luck

Scoot · 03-10-2007, 06:14 PM

I added 1" of plywood across the top of the chest. Only an inch of the plywood is sticking out on each side of the chest, and the tank is entirely on that. I'm confident that it's supported pretty well.

I'll let you know if it turns out I'm wrong

**ellisz** · 03-10-2007, 07:48 PM

When I do my 180, I am planning on having the carpet cut to go around the tank. If I ever move it, I will just have a piece patched in the spot the tank was. I did this at my last house and it worked great. When we moved, you could not tell a tank was ever there.

03-10-2007, 10:08 AM	#1
Scoot Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 661 Images: 12	Urgent request for advice - temporary stand for a 75g I need to setup a 75 gallon tank temporarily, to move everything to while we get new carpet. It'll be in use until August when we move. I dont' want to buy a new stand, so I'm looking around the house. I have a very very strong cedar chest that could easily support the weight (it weights about 100 pounds by itself and is all hardwood), but its about 5" shorter than the tank. Is it a problem to have 2 1/2" inches or so sticking out over the ends of the stand? Doesn't seem like on a 48" wide tank 4 or 5 inches would be a big deal... maybe it would be. Also - I could set a piece of hardwood over the top of this that would be as big as the footprint of the tank... __________________ 180G build thread 180G All-glass with dual megaflows in a custom stand AquaC EV-180 skimmer 250 pounds LR 160 pounds aragonite Custom acrylic sump from GlassCages.com 2xPCX-40 return pumps 2x250MH 14K, 2x175MH 14K - PFO lighting, 2x65W PC No-name 36W UV Water General 125GPH RO/DI Filstar XP3

03-10-2007, 12:14 PM	#2
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	I wouldn't do it without 1/2" plywood underneath just to be on the safe side. Chests aren't designed to hold up 800+ lbs so that would be risky also IMO. See if you can find a used stand or build a proper stand fairly cheaply. __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

03-10-2007, 12:27 PM	#3
Scoot Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 661 Images: 12	This "chest" is about 1.5 feet tall, and made of solid 3/4" x4" cedar planks, vertically placed, all around, with a half inch layer of pine on the outside. I have no doubt whatsoever it could support the weight. But. Not sure I'm going to use it though, my 100 pound estimate was low. Its over a hundred, and I can't lift it by myself This is temporary, I dont' want to buy a stand, and can't find a used one readily - I've got 3 days to complete this move. Might hit up home depot and see if they have any storage boxes that look up to spec. __________________ 180G build thread 180G All-glass with dual megaflows in a custom stand AquaC EV-180 skimmer 250 pounds LR 160 pounds aragonite Custom acrylic sump from GlassCages.com 2xPCX-40 return pumps 2x250MH 14K, 2x175MH 14K - PFO lighting, 2x65W PC No-name 36W UV Water General 125GPH RO/DI Filstar XP3

03-10-2007, 12:30 PM	#4
Marc118 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 766	If its just while your carpet is being put down why not just put it on the floor somewhere? Kids? __________________ Come Join The Dark Side

03-10-2007, 12:32 PM	#5
Scoot Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 661 Images: 12	I thought about setting it on the floor, but I don't have a drilled setup, so that would make water flow to the sump/fuge tricky at best. It's going into a basement corner (steady temps, yeah!) until we move in July. So it needs to be somewhat servicable for the next 4 months. I don't plan on moving it back. First, too much work, and stress on the fish. Second, it's new carpet. I don't want to sink the carpet in where the stand is. Really, the stand only needs to be a foot or two high. Enough to have it higher than the sump. A couple strong boxes would work. I just don't have time to build anything. __________________ 180G build thread 180G All-glass with dual megaflows in a custom stand AquaC EV-180 skimmer 250 pounds LR 160 pounds aragonite Custom acrylic sump from GlassCages.com 2xPCX-40 return pumps 2x250MH 14K, 2x175MH 14K - PFO lighting, 2x65W PC No-name 36W UV Water General 125GPH RO/DI Filstar XP3

03-10-2007, 05:30 PM	#6
MT79 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: philadelphia. PA. Posts: 2,653 Images: 23	I would not use it b/c it doesn't support the ends of the aquarium.That may cause stress in the middle. Not using a stand that supports all the edges of the tank would most likely also void any warranty you may have on it. __________________ Mike

03-10-2007, 05:57 PM	#7
Scoot Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 661 Images: 12	I added 1" of plywood across the top of the chest. Only an inch of the plywood is sticking out on each side of the chest, I'm confident that it's supported pretty well. I'll let you know if I'm wrong __________________ 180G build thread 180G All-glass with dual megaflows in a custom stand AquaC EV-180 skimmer 250 pounds LR 160 pounds aragonite Custom acrylic sump from GlassCages.com 2xPCX-40 return pumps 2x250MH 14K, 2x175MH 14K - PFO lighting, 2x65W PC No-name 36W UV Water General 125GPH RO/DI Filstar XP3

03-10-2007, 06:14 PM	#9
Scoot Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 661 Images: 12	I added 1" of plywood across the top of the chest. Only an inch of the plywood is sticking out on each side of the chest, and the tank is entirely on that. I'm confident that it's supported pretty well. I'll let you know if it turns out I'm wrong __________________ 180G build thread 180G All-glass with dual megaflows in a custom stand AquaC EV-180 skimmer 250 pounds LR 160 pounds aragonite Custom acrylic sump from GlassCages.com 2xPCX-40 return pumps 2x250MH 14K, 2x175MH 14K - PFO lighting, 2x65W PC No-name 36W UV Water General 125GPH RO/DI Filstar XP3

03-10-2007, 07:48 PM	#10
ellisz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 2,664 Images: 9	When I do my 180, I am planning on having the carpet cut to go around the tank. If I ever move it, I will just have a piece patched in the spot the tank was. I did this at my last house and it worked great. When we moved, you could not tell a tank was ever there. __________________ 180 gal Display, 100 gal basement sump, 33 gal refugium, 3x250 MH, 2x160 VHO actinics, zoos, some softies, LPS & lots of acros and other SPS. 100 gal prop tank plumbed into main system w/ 2x96 PC lights and 1x150 MH,

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