Do you think this will hold?

[deli_conker]

I have finished building the frame for my first DIY stand and would like som opinions on it. It is for a 30 gal tank (36x12x16). The stand I built a bit bigger in depth to provide more stability (I have a four year old and don't want her to accidentaly pull it over on herself).

The dimensions at the widest points are 37x19x30. I plan on using half inch MDF as a skin on the sides front and top.

I was hoping to get some general input on my design and hear any opinions on things that I may have missed or done incorrectly.

Here are the pics...

 

[revhtree]

Hi Deli! I am not of the builder sort, but I have put a few things together here at the church. (sets, stages, ect..) Looks like you did a great job on the stand. Looks like it will be very stable. I would offer this suggestion. If you have 2 more peices of 2x4, how bout putting 1 on each end in the middle for extra tank support. It shouldnt make it to much heavier, and can only give you more support for the middle. Well that's just my 2 cents. Take it or leave it. It looks great though. Nice a clean so far.

 

[oscarbreeder]

Looks like it should hold to me.
Good job.

You should have seen the one I made for my 180gal.
Now that thing was HEAVY!

 

[Bearfan]

We're talking about less than 500 lbs here...that will be fine. Did you screw it or nail it? If I were building it, I might get a couple of angle pieces and attach the lateral 2x4s to the end rail for rigidity. They'll run you about $0.30 each and you could hid them on the inside.

 

[deli_conker]

Did you screw it or nail it?

I used 3 inch exterior deck screws and wood glue on all joints.

I actually started putting the MDF on last night after talking to my brother with construction experience about it. The MDF is only 1/4 inch thick though. Although I had no problems standing on top of the stand last night...

 

[bungle]

I used 3 inch exterior deck screws and wood glue on all joints.

yeah, i'd guess that stand isn't going anywhere. looks great so far! be sure and post a pic of the finished stand

 

[fishfreek]

That stand would hold a much larger tank with little difficulty aswell. Very well done.

 

[Keeper]

looks great. I did a similar tank stand with MDF for a 90gal. thing weighed a ton.

 

[William]

I would have used 4x4s all the way around, but I'd rather have the thing support 8 times the weight it'll ever imagine taking then being unsafe

nice build none the less

 

[jsoong]

Excellent work. This should hold up a 30 gal without any problems!

& William, 4x4 is WAY overkill of a 30 gal stand. The compressive load rating (ie the load on a leg) for a 3 ft 4x4 (softwood) is over 15,000 lbs! <This is from my deck building book> As far as racking load is concerned (ie the sideway motion, or how wobbly the stand will be), as long as the entire frame is solid (you need to glue & screw the entire frame - or do fancy woodworking joints) 2x4's will hold as well. I wouldn't bother with 4x4 unless you have a 250 gal or something monstrous!

 

[jsoong]

Excellent work. This should hold up a 30 gal without any problems!

& William, 4x4 is WAY overkill for a 30 gal stand. The compressive load rating (ie the load on a leg) for a 3 ft 4x4 (softwood) is over 15,000 lbs! <This is from my deck building book> As far as racking load is concerned (ie the sideway motion, or how wobbly the stand will be), as long as the entire frame is solid (you need to glue & screw the entire frame - or do fancy woodworking joints) 2x4's will hold as well. I wouldn't bother with 4x4 unless you have a 250 gal or something monstrous!

 

[oscarbreeder]

I used 4x4's to build the stand for my 180gal.
I could jump up and down on this thing .

The fish in the tank will die of old age before this stand gives out...LOL

 

[deli_conker]

I'm almost done with the stand as a whole. All I have to do is put on the doors and paint it black. I used quarter inch MDF for everything. Four small hinges and a hook and eye latch and I'll be ready to start my new tank...

Thanks for all opinons.