Quick DIY Tank Question...

amnesiac · 06/16/2018, 03:11 AM

Hey all. I want to build a cheap wooden stand for a 3'x6' frag tank. It'll be around 700lbs worth of weight. I plan to use one of the million designs out there to build it, but the problem I'm having is with the center vertical support. You see, I don't want any

So my plan was to run 2x6 lengthwise on the top of the stand and 2x4 for everything else. Will doing this allow me to skip that center vertical support or does it need to be 2x8 (or 2x10)??? Sorry if I'm not explaining myself clearly.

billdogg · 06/16/2018, 05:25 AM

IMHO, using 2x6 for the top frame is more than enough. You could also just use doubled up 2x4's if more space underneath is at a premium.

amnesiac · 06/16/2018, 05:29 AM

Hey, I didn't think about that. Would doubling up prevent any sagging towards the middle?? It should right? I mean it's not a lot of water relatively speaking.

Sacohen · 06/16/2018, 06:50 AM

There is a design out there by rocketengineer that does not have a center brace.

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Kmack0415 · 06/19/2018, 02:58 PM

If you look up 2x span chart you can look up specs for decking spans of 2x, if you are doing a 6 foot tank I would think a 2x6 would be fine with no center support but I'm no structural engineer lol so I can't give you a definitive 100% answer on that

06/16/2018, 03:11 AM	#1
amnesiac Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: vail, az Posts: 88	Quick DIY Tank Question... Hey all. I want to build a cheap wooden stand for a 3'x6' frag tank. It'll be around 700lbs worth of weight. I plan to use one of the million designs out there to build it, but the problem I'm having is with the center vertical support. You see, I don't want any So my plan was to run 2x6 lengthwise on the top of the stand and 2x4 for everything else. Will doing this allow me to skip that center vertical support or does it need to be 2x8 (or 2x10)??? Sorry if I'm not explaining myself clearly. __________________ ...........why dont you remember my name? Current Tank Info: 125 gal

06/16/2018, 05:25 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IMHO, using 2x6 for the top frame is more than enough. You could also just use doubled up 2x4's if more space underneath is at a premium. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/16/2018, 05:29 AM	#3
amnesiac Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: vail, az Posts: 88	Hey, I didn't think about that. Would doubling up prevent any sagging towards the middle?? It should right? I mean it's not a lot of water relatively speaking. __________________ ...........why dont you remember my name? Current Tank Info: 125 gal

06/16/2018, 06:50 AM	#4
Sacohen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 1,778	There is a design out there by rocketengineer that does not have a center brace. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Mixed Reef

06/19/2018, 02:58 PM	#5
Kmack0415 Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Imperial, mo Posts: 95	If you look up 2x span chart you can look up specs for decking spans of 2x, if you are doing a 6 foot tank I would think a 2x6 would be fine with no center support but I'm no structural engineer lol so I can't give you a definitive 100% answer on that