DIY Aquarium Stand

[arch aquatics]

Originally Posted by lohachata if we were talkin 1200 or so pounds here i would agree on doubling up on the supports...but for a couple of 20 gallon tanks i really don't think it is needed..

+1

the 40 breeders have the jack leg under the middle row and a 2 x 4 axial radial strength when it is less than 25" is amazing! It will be easier to show how this rack works once i get tanks in it so you can easily see what goes where!

Tomorrow i am going to try to get them painted but i also got a 1200 specimen fish shipment coming in so it may not happen till Tuesday.

Then gotta run the drain line....yadda yadda yadda .....fish room coming together....yadda yadda yadda....it never ends!

[Chrispixx]

Originally Posted by lohachata if we were talkin 1200 or so pounds here i would agree on doubling up on the supports...but for a couple of 20 gallon tanks i really don't think it is needed..

Better over engineered than under.

[lohachata]

ralph....how much room is there on the middle shelf ? from top of board to bottom of board...i am gonna need a ladder for the top row aren't i ........lol..

[arch aquatics]

No Loha, the total rack height is 49.5 inches plus another 12 for a 20 long/other "shelf" tank = a total of 61.5 inches or 5 foot 1.5 inches!

now im a giant but even my wife can reach to her eye level to work in tanks!

ofcourse mine are getting jacked up on cinder blocks for a drain line on the auto changer but then again i am 6'6" but it will still make this tank 5'9" total height once its on them.

its a very workable design for our needs of retro fitting racks to assorted tanks.

[emc7]

My only concern is the clearance over the bottom tank. You really only "need" enough space for your hand, but the tighter it is, the more of a pain it is to do anything.

[snyderguy]

So I kinda gave up on the building my own stand and ended up just going out and buying a metal shelving unit. Let me know what you think...

[emc7]

Those should do the trick. Only thing I might do is put a water-resistant paint or clear-coat on the shelves. Plywood is very strong dry, but can warp a lot if you get it wet.

[arch aquatics]

paint it exterior black and it will blend away LOL

[snyderguy]

Not sure if it's actually plywood. Might be. But I do know it's already been treated for water resistance. I'm still careful about getting it wet though.

[georgedv]

Regarding Lohachatas rack design...I think its exactly what I have been looking for. However, I want to place 55gal tanks at the bottom level. That would force the distance between uprights to 49". Supporting the bottom level would be no problem, since I can slide supports underneath. I just question the strength of the mid and top levels.

I want to place 29gal highs on the mid level and 20gal highs on the top level. Can anyone say how feasible that is and/or suggestion on to convert that design to make my dream rack come true.

Thanks to all in advance....I'm sure you understand how important this is to me.
George

[grogan]

Thanks guys for this post. I too am planning to build a rack system. I was thinking of using a 55, 40l, 33l, and 33l sump. I would plumb the 3 into the sump and simply have 1 heater, 1 pump, and 1 CO2 diffuser. Yup, I'm going to build my own plant grow out system and start cultivating plants for sale. I like the idea of bringing the bottom tank out for ease of maintenance. It would also give me access to the plumbing behind the tank without having the rack spaced from the wall. This a rough sketch: