Built a DIY 60b/75 gallon stand out of 2x4s and test filled it 3/4 full. Seems to wobble relatively easily but from what I’ve heard this amount of wood is very over built and safe. Wondering if I should add support somewhere (where?) or if this is normal.
Stand is 49x19x37 tall
Posted by NioToTheMoon2007
29 Comments
Where ya putting it? I’d level it out exactly where you intend to use it. Floors will vary, it might be over carpet, etc. Add some sturdy shims under the “feet” if necessary. Otherwise, you’ll be good once it’s sturdy and level.
If you add some plywood to the two sides and back that thing would be a lot sturdier.
Even thin panels of MDF attached to the frame should remove that wiggle if you glued and screwed everything(don’t use MDF!).
if it’s a free standing center of the room maybe. if small children are involved, hell no.
if its against 1 wall, its probably fine. if kids are involved absolutely not.
if its in a corner with 2 walls should be fine. if kids are involved it should be alright.
if its between three walls it’s fine, if kids are involved you should be alright.
i personally would add a mid line bracket or a diagonal strut between.
Throw two 45 braces in. One on each end.
Plywood on top and across back will fix that
Put some cross bracing, you can also brace it from the top, diagonally to the floor on the inside. We do the same thing except right side up to brace bulkheads at work
skin it with ply or mdf and it stops moving.
Definitely too much wiggle. Toss a couple corner braces on it. You can easily make them out of wood, or pick up some commercially available ones. There are a lot of ways to do it
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Brackets-30x30x38mm-Bracket-Furniture/dp/B09DQ2DYGS/ref=sxin_21_pa_sp_phone_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.a62f0758-451c-4d03-92da-580a618553e6%3Aamzn1.sym.a62f0758-451c-4d03-92da-580a618553e6&crid=TX3KLSXGZPF4&cv_ct_cx=corner+braces+for+wood&keywords=corner+braces+for+wood&pd_rd_i=B09DQ2DYGS&pd_rd_r=ccaddd8d-d6e8-4687-9fe0-043a6fa48c96&pd_rd_w=O5rO8&pd_rd_wg=V8HQj&pf_rd_p=a62f0758-451c-4d03-92da-580a618553e6&pf_rd_r=ZG3XA6QECRV16KWXJJ74&qid=1789431891&sprefix=corner+braces%2Caps%2C220&sr=1-1-e169343e-09af-4d41-85b1-8335fe8f32d0-spons&aref=sU7DtRFjr3&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1
As others have said adding walls with plywood is a good move. At that point you’re halfway to cabinets as well.
Ya it’s fine
The shorter braces that go in-between the vertical 2×4 upper and lower frames, were those easy to get in and screwed in place or was it snug almost to the point of needing a rubber mallet to get them in place. If those braces are to short even by just a 1/8 of an inch they won’t actually be supporting any weight. I’ve made that mistake before, I cut them just a smidge long and then sand them down till they fit with the help of a rubber mallet. That tends to greatly stiffen things up along with any side paneling. If it’s going against a wall, and you don’t mind, you can also run a long deck screw through the back legs that are against the wall into an existing stud. If you have a base board that isn’t flush to the wall I would recommend some sort of rubber pad like a yoga mat to fill the space before screwing it in place. The yoga mat is thick enough to fill the space and squish down to become semi rigid like a rubber bushing, but it also won’t leave any imprints on the wall or mark up the paint it’ll conform to any texture on the wall. It will also lessen any vibrations transferred into the wall because of the filter, at least from my experience
Plywood or whatever wood you plan to cover it with will take care of it
Brace it lol
Skin it with 3/8 plywood
Totally fine on carpet. At no point will anything rock your tank that much when it’s being used so no dramas.
I think so, looks good. I would place very very thin wedges at the front of the tank so if it ever decided to go, it would be backwards toward the wall (and would rest against the wall vice toppling fwd into a tsunami wave into the house apt). Good luck.
Your garage floor probably isn’t flat. Anchor the thing to the wall if you’re concerned once it’s in the house
Have you not screwed the legs to the upper lower frame? I don’t see any screws there.
Nope. I’d drain the tank and throw some high density Styrofoam underneath the tank to level it out and throw a metal bracket on each corner of the stand under the tank.
No. You essentially did butt joints with 4 screws which are acting as a hinge. Center points only have 1 2×4.
Podrías reforzarlo con escuadras p perfiles metálicos la pieza en L olvide su nombre así le darás mas firmeza
Add wood backing on the inside
Hey, I made one of these. I would suggest getting another 2×4 and cutting it to add braces middle way up, horizontally That fixed a lot of problems I was having. I also added two extra 2×4 at each leg but I think i it was overkill for my 30g.
Add some crosss members
I’d say it’s ok. My tank wobbles when I clean the glass even though it’s very sturdy so I’d keep that in mind. If you’re worried you can always add some horizontal beams across on the legs and add some flat panels in front to hide the legs but if I’m being honest the stand seems sturdy enough.
Depends on kids or your level of clumsy. I have the spacial awareness of an inflatable air dancer. So I couldn’t not keep a tank on this.
Keep screwing in more wood until it doesn’t do that anymore. You’ll sleep better.
I would add some diagonal bracing or a sheet of something like MDF or even thin plywood would help add sheer strength to it, and then would consider it fine.