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Hi Dennis, I'm in need of a second opinion.
I’m in the planning stages of setting up a 180g tank. I’m getting tired of having all of these smaller tanks to maintain and decided to go big! I’ve never built a stand for something of this size. I’m planning on the total weight the stand needs to support to be around a ton or so. The tank probably would not be purchased until September or October, maybe a bit later so take your time responding
The dimensions of the tank would be 72” x 24” x 24”. My current thoughts are to build (3) 24” base cabinets and join them together to form a single 72” cabinet. Each cabinet would be a 4-sided box with ¾” thick vertical supports in the front and rear. Not sure of the width of these supports yet, but probably 6”. The center cabinet may include 3 drawers instead of a door. The cabinet would basically have 1 ½” thick sides (with the addition of applied sides), and 1 ½” thick center supports where each end cabinet is joined to the center cabinet. Below the cabinets I would have a 1” thick plywood base to fit the outer dimensions of the three base cabinets. The whole unit would be supported on either 2x4’s (placed on edge, similar to how one would set kitchen cabinets) or more of the 1” ply (possibly laminated to form a 2” thick base) cut to the proper width for the height I want. I would apply base molding to cover the ply/2x base. For a top I would have a 1 ½” thick top made from (2) layers of ¾” ply laminated together probably with some sort of applied edge. The top would have a 1-1 ½” overhang.
I would be using maple ply (possibly MDF due to the cost savings) for the interior of the cabinets (painted white). For the visible parts of the cabinet, I’m thinking of either using Rift/Quartersawn Oak (possibly an Arts and Crafts inspired stand) or Cherry (for a more formal look).
The ply I would use in the construction would be the “ProPly” brand. Not sure if you’re familiar with this brand but it has a 15-ply core with a face veneer of the selected species making it essentially 17-ply. It is heavy and strong due to the multiple layers in the core. It is also expensive at around $90 per sheet, hence the thought of using MDF for the interior of the cabinets. All edges of the ply/MDF would be hidden with either a veneer edge and proper finish (ply) or with lacquer based primer, paint, and possibly a clear lacquer finish (MDF). I don’t want any water compromising the integrity of the stand.
I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this design and if you would make any changes or improvements. I would really like a second opinion as I would hate to see what would happen if the stand were to collapse. The tank will be in the finished basement of my house and rest on a cement slab with tile on top of the cement. I shouldn’t have any load issues with the floor.
Thanks for your assistance.
I’m in the planning stages of setting up a 180g tank. I’m getting tired of having all of these smaller tanks to maintain and decided to go big! I’ve never built a stand for something of this size. I’m planning on the total weight the stand needs to support to be around a ton or so. The tank probably would not be purchased until September or October, maybe a bit later so take your time responding
The dimensions of the tank would be 72” x 24” x 24”. My current thoughts are to build (3) 24” base cabinets and join them together to form a single 72” cabinet. Each cabinet would be a 4-sided box with ¾” thick vertical supports in the front and rear. Not sure of the width of these supports yet, but probably 6”. The center cabinet may include 3 drawers instead of a door. The cabinet would basically have 1 ½” thick sides (with the addition of applied sides), and 1 ½” thick center supports where each end cabinet is joined to the center cabinet. Below the cabinets I would have a 1” thick plywood base to fit the outer dimensions of the three base cabinets. The whole unit would be supported on either 2x4’s (placed on edge, similar to how one would set kitchen cabinets) or more of the 1” ply (possibly laminated to form a 2” thick base) cut to the proper width for the height I want. I would apply base molding to cover the ply/2x base. For a top I would have a 1 ½” thick top made from (2) layers of ¾” ply laminated together probably with some sort of applied edge. The top would have a 1-1 ½” overhang.
I would be using maple ply (possibly MDF due to the cost savings) for the interior of the cabinets (painted white). For the visible parts of the cabinet, I’m thinking of either using Rift/Quartersawn Oak (possibly an Arts and Crafts inspired stand) or Cherry (for a more formal look).
The ply I would use in the construction would be the “ProPly” brand. Not sure if you’re familiar with this brand but it has a 15-ply core with a face veneer of the selected species making it essentially 17-ply. It is heavy and strong due to the multiple layers in the core. It is also expensive at around $90 per sheet, hence the thought of using MDF for the interior of the cabinets. All edges of the ply/MDF would be hidden with either a veneer edge and proper finish (ply) or with lacquer based primer, paint, and possibly a clear lacquer finish (MDF). I don’t want any water compromising the integrity of the stand.
I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this design and if you would make any changes or improvements. I would really like a second opinion as I would hate to see what would happen if the stand were to collapse. The tank will be in the finished basement of my house and rest on a cement slab with tile on top of the cement. I shouldn’t have any load issues with the floor.
Thanks for your assistance.
