Any build steel stands?

[opakapaka]

Might be upsizing to a much bigger tank (app. 200 gallons) and just wanted to see who builds steel stands for a reasonable price?

Let me know if you can or know of someone who can, thanks.

 

[Craigar]

Your in box is full
I can build steel stands! What are you looking for open steel stand or enclosed?


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[opakapaka]

Whats the difference between the two? I was thinking of something about 3-4 feet high, tank dimensions are 84"x24" so the stand would need to be somewhere around 88"x28" for about a two inch gap around the tank. Thanks.

 

[Boogie]

I'm thinking he meant if you want the stand to be just a stand or a display too. Think alot of folks use the steel as the bones and then wrap the stand in wood skin

 

[Craigar]

Well underneath will be seen if it's open to enclose it u would need to either use metal or wood! What's making you want to go metal?


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[opakapaka]

Eventually its gonna be an in wall, so i rather it be open. For now the basement is bare therefore I would like to be able to move it easily into its final spot once that is accomplished.

 

[lpsouth1978@msn.com]

I have steel stands on 2 of my tanks and have built one for a 135 that a friend has. We just had an ABS plastic shroud made for them by a local plastic shop. It is light weight and comes off of the stand VERY easily, we have it attached with velcro. They look very clean and modern.

 

[Craigar]

Whats the difference between the two? I was thinking of something about 3-4 feet high, tank dimensions are 84"x24" so the stand would need to be somewhere around 88"x28" for about a two inch gap around the tank. Thanks.

Just a question is there a reason you would like a 2" gap all the way around? I would suggest 2x2x1/8 square tubing as the structure but with that we would have to put a Sheet of metal over the top to catch the supports if you could live with 1" gap it would be a better stand in my opinion but it's just a question so I know how to price out metal


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[opakapaka]

That should be fine, a 1" lip around. I figure I could use a sheet of plywood over the top instead of metal, that should be ok right?

 

[Walter White]

Just a question is there a reason you would like a 2" gap all the way around? I would suggest 2x2x1/8 square tubing as the structure but with that we would have to put a Sheet of metal over the top to catch the supports if you could live with 1" gap it would be a better stand in my opinion but it's just a question so I know how to price out metal

Just my oppinion but this seems a little overkill. I have built several metal stands now and for a 200g 1.5"x1.5" 11 guage (1/8th") is more than sufficient. Also I have never used a metal sheet over the cross braces. I just make sure that there is a cross brace about every 16" or so and just use 5/8-3/4 plywood over the top. The plywood will act as cushion of sorts for any minor imperfections in the structure.

Also keep in mind the dimensions. If you end up going with something too wide it wont fit through the door. This does not seem the case here as he said 24" x 84" but something to keep in mind as I made this very simple mistake once. This is a nice solution for two pieces I designed for another person. The Idea came from a stand that AGE built for one of their large tank customers.

Again not saying my way is the best just my experience. On a stand this size you will save allot weight and money by not going overboard on materials.

 

[Craigar]

The reason I say 2" is in my design I would only have 3 sets of legs also at the base to disperse the weight over a larger footprint on the wood sub floor I would only have 6 total legs compared to 8.


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[Cake_Boss]

The reason I say 2" is in my design I would only have 3 sets of legs also at the base to disperse the weight over a larger footprint on the wood sub floor I would only have 6 total legs compared to 8.


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

I realize I didn't complete my engineering degree, maybe you did. Anyways, to distribute the weight evenly across all legs, you could put "shoes" on the legs. Even better, a bottom piece to maximize the weight distribution.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Craigar]

Withmy design the whole fooutprint of the tank would ave even distribution as there would Benoit pressure points onthe stand as the legs would be welded to the to a 8'x2 square frame that the legs would sit on


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[Walter White]

Just curious how will you level the stand? Shims? If i understand you correctly i made my very first stand the same way and it worked great but only because i was lucky enough to find the one place in my entire home where the floor was actually level.

 

[dv3]

alright ...who's welder is bigger?...lol

 

[Walter White]

Well mine is pretty little but it gets the job done.

Seriously I'm not trying to be an @ss or anything I'm just curious. As I said earlier, im not saying how I do it is better and I'm always looking for areas to improve. I truly want to see how Craigar would approach it and understand it. It sounds to me with his car experience that he has allot more welding experience than I do, but I don't know how many tank stands his built. He maybe thinking of things I have not. IDK

Craigar please don't take any offense to my questions. If I come off that way I do sincerely apologize. My intent is not to discredit you or anything but to point out some things that I did myself the first time around that I would have changed. For example I used 2x2 1/8th steel I used a single lower frame with no leveling feet, etc.

 

[Off The Deep End]

My welder is bigger.... naner naner boo boo!

 

[Craigar]

I'm not saying my way is the best way either but it's how I would build it if it were mine for leveling iv done it many ways ive welded nuts to the inside if the frame and used bolts with metal feet on them to level it I've uses shims it all has it's place Im a undercarriage and fabrication speacialist for CAT. I work with welders and metal all day long. Me personally I would rather have larger tubing and more wide open area under in the stand but that's just my opinion. It's all what your looking for


300 gallon mixed reef
90 gallon bowfront fowlr

 

[dv3]

there ya have it folks ...i think we all know who has the biggest welder now ....lol

 

[Off The Deep End]

You may have the biggest welder but can you do this?
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