Acrylic tank question

[ReeferMan]

I have a stand thats 24x20 and fits tightly in the only space avialable in my tank room. I have more space where the tank would sit ontop of the stand but the footprint is the problem. My question is this: Can a 24x24 inch tank sit on this stand and hang 4 inches off on sit without stressing out the seams? I would feel more comfortable doing 2 inch on each size but were it sits it will be butted up on on side which makes this impossible.

[vaironman]

How about make a new top of 24x24 and put on top of the stand to hold the tank's base?

[ReeferMan]

guess that could be possible. Woud there still be stress points?

[vaironman]

Shouldn't be once the new stand base of 24x24 has cover all tank base and uniformly spread out the stress. Just make usre the new stand base is a thick and strong material that will hold up your tank.

[ReeferMan]

2x4's with plywood be good?

[vaironman]

I will wait for Bob YBeNormal, chip, rik, NAGA, Dandy or Bob Lanman to chime in for sound adivse on the thickness and material appropriate for your stand as it is in water weight distribution on the strength of the 2x4.

Edited May 19, 2008 by vaironman

[bprinehart]

Chris-- I would imagine 1/2" ply of any hardwood would be more than adequate for the top. I had my acrylic tank on a 1/2" sheet of red oak, and built the body from the same material. No 2x4s for internal support. Once I planed and squared it to the floor, it was rock solid. Probably even overbuilt for the 26 gallons resting on top of it. As for the legs you could probably even get away with something like 1x2s. The amount of load that a 2x4 or even a 1x2 can handle is mind boggling.

 

Check with the other guys to be certain, but more often than not we over-compensate and make stands and supports unecessarily bulky.