Custom stand for a 6 foot 180G. Am I wasting wood here?

[bleedingthought]

Ok, I'm trying to make a stand for a 180G that I'm getting ready to start putting together. One thing I wanted was to make the front pretty open with no center leg to get in the way.

• I got a hold of some rough-on pine that is 3"x6" for free and I went ahead and decided to use it for the legs (3 legs on back and 2 in front all or them turned sideways to where you see 6" from the front) and also for the top frame for the exception of the front "beam" - for that I'll be using two pieces of 2"x6" LVL that will be doubled up. That would be enough support for no center leg in the front.
  
  And then, I'll be using pine 2"x6" as support across the top connecting the LVL to the back 3"x6" as joists.
  
  Either 2"x6" or 2"x4" as the bottom of the stand but flat, like seen here for Wazzel's stand: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... 80#1069380 with probably some more added pieces going from front to back.
  
  Bottom part and top will be covered with either 1/2" or 3/4" plywood.
  
  Everything glue together and screwed with 3" screws.

Not sure what route to take on finishing it yet, I just want this to be a solid design, which it definitely seems to be.

Am I overdoing it, though? Please tear through my ideas and give me some criticism and help me make this strong and practical!!!

Thanks!

 

[trido]

180*7.8=1404 That doesn't include the tank.
I have 4x4s on the outside corners of the back of my built in. 3x6s should be fine. I would suggest a nice straight 4x6 for across the top in front. Kind of like a window or door header in a house.

Everything glue together and screwed with 3" screws.

I would recommend liquid nails for subfloors. Also, use hot dipped galvanized nails along side of the screws. Screws are great for preventing things from backing off but are very brittle and have no shear strength. If they get any sideways force they will break where a nail will not.

If you go to your LFS and look at the tank stands you will see that most of them are built with 100% plywood with no internal framing. If you build it to the point that you feel safe Im sure it will be strong enough. I can guarantee it will weigh a ton too.

 

[bleedingthought]

Trido, thanks for the help. Liquid nails is the way to go.

Yeah, I assumed this tank would be borderlining 2000 pounds on top of the stand after all is said and done. The "header" for the front will be 4x6 of laminated beam. But LVLs are really heavy, as you probably know. 8O That was the one thing, I know it'll be solid! But after 24 feet of 3x6s, 12 feet of 6 inch LVL, and about 25 feet of 2x6, the stand should be very, VERY heavy.

I figured maybe I was going way over the top, you know?

 

[trido]

I figured maybe I was going way over the top, you know?

You are over building the stand. We all do with DIY. Better safe than sorry.













Or you could hire an engineer to reduce weight....

 

[bleedingthought]

:lol:

You and ChrisRD seem to say it's alright! So, it's a deal.