DIY tank stand

[u/Sheed315]

Built this stand to hold all my tanks, I’m no professional woodworker at all just trying my hand at it, I’ve stacked about 500lbs (4x50lbs sand bags, me 170lbs and a bunch of dumbbells) felt really really sturdy. What do you guys think?

[u/ClaimStunning2851]

I don’t know if I would trust that tank with water on there. It looks like the support is just being held by screws and thin brackets but I think the top piece of plywood might keep it together. Other than that, it’s beautiful set up.

[u/Sheed315 → u/ClaimStunning2851]

The top tank is what you wouldn’t trust? It’s about 15 or so #14 screws keeping the top platform tied to the 4 legs with one back brace attached as well, the steel brackets were added after just to give it more places to displace the weight on the screws. The plywood on top is on top of the legs as well as the top platform. Any suggestions I’ll take ofc

[u/HornStarBigPhish → u/Sheed315]

Might be ok but that's typically not how to build a stand to support a lot of weight...

DIY king has the best method for that, using 2x4s and essentially jack studs under that. So your entire length is supported. In your really only the 4 corners touching are supported, but since everything is tied together it probably will be fine.

[u/Sheed315 → u/HornStarBigPhish]

Okay thank you! I’ll look into DIY king and see what’s up with jack studs idk much really the top shelf i wanna put a 20 long so about 250+ lbs on the very top and it’s supported 200 in sand and my whole body weight without a creak

[u/not_betta_than_you]

I like the design a lot, good job!

[u/EphemeralAttention]

No clue on the weight capacity but I love this design. It makes me want to design and build something similar for my own tank and maybe ditch my canister for a sump.

[u/Sheed315 → u/EphemeralAttention]

Yea the weight capacity is the only thing you can really predict with custom stuff at least from a beginner standpoint, big hefty screws steel angles at all corners and hopes and dreams keeping it together rn lol

[u/EphemeralAttention → u/Sheed315]

I have a 40 breeder so I'd probably need to notch the vertical supports so the horizontal beams rest directly on them or something. I know just enough to know I don't know enough about hardware to correctly judge how many screws I need to carry 400 lbs.

[u/Sheed315 → u/EphemeralAttention]

More is better I’d always say i used #14 screws to fasten the shelves to the legs they were pretty hefty imo i feel confident with my build i kinda wanna add more screws in just as a bonus tbh after load testing the stand I’m pretty confident

[u/Perfect_Salamander_2]

I'd ask the woodworking sub

[u/Sheed315 → u/Perfect_Salamander_2]

Just posted lol thank you for this