How to build and strong stand
To show how to build the stand Ill be using a 29 gallon aquarium (L=30.5 in. W=12.5 in. & H=18.5 in.) and a 10 gallon sump (L=20 in. W=11 in. & H=12 in.)
These measurements rounded to the next ½ inch.
Now that we know what is going in and on the stand let start by making a base.
The base needs to allow room for both aquariums and the support beams. So the base would be (L=54 in. W=17.5 in.)
Im using only 2x4s but the really measurements of the wood is (W=1.5 in. & H=3.5in)
Now for the front and back of the base ill be stand with the width of 1 ½ in touching the floor. These parts are not going to make the total length of the stand because, we will be adding to pieces on the side of them.
So if the stand is going to have a length of 54 in. minus the width of the 2 side piece that would equal a total of 51 in. {54-(1.5 x 2)=51}
The left and right sides of the base will make the total width of the stand of 17.5 in.
Remember that the left and right pieces will be nailed to the outer sides of the front and back pieces like so.
Now we need to add 2 more pieces on the inside of this where you will add the upright beams. Remember that there will be an aquarium in the center of the stand. Because we are using beams on the inside of the stand this will make 3 sections. The center section will be where the 10 gallon sump will be placed. The two side sections will allow storage for foods and other aquarium products.
Because there will be upright beams we need to calculate of much room in length we will have left for the 3 sections.
The stand is 54 inches long minus the 2 outside pieces and the 2 inside pieces that we are about to place all standing on their smaller sides of 1.5 inches. This will be a total of 6 inches taking away from the total length of the stand. Plus the upright beams that are also on the inside of the stand. We will only need to calculate the front or back uprights not all of them because, we only want to know how much length we will have left for the 3 sections not the width. There will be 2 beams in the corners where both the right and left side will be with the 3.5 inch sides nailed to the inside of the outer pieces making 1.5 inches taken from the length. In the center area of the base there will be beams in those corners with the 3.5 in. sides nailed to the front and back pieces. Now lets calculate the total length that will be taking away from the stand (54-( (1.5 x 2) + (1.5 x 2) + (3.5 x 2) ) = 41.
There is a total of 13 inches taken away from the length of the stand leaving only 41 inches that will be divided between the 3 sections.
The left and right sections will be equal and the center section will need to be the length of the sump plus a few more inches.
The sump has a length of 20 inches so lets make the center section have a length of 25 inches. This leaves 14 inches for the 2 side sections that will be divided so that both sides will have the same length which will be 8 inches.
Now that we know this we can add the 2 center pieces to the base
The first pieces will need to be placed 8 inches form the left wall and the next piece needs to be place 25 inches from that wall plus make sure you add the upright beams that will be between the 2 wall so really it will be {25+(3.5 x 2)=31} So 31 inches for the that first inner piece. So this is what your base will look like.
Now you need to make another base 100% just like this witch will be the top of the stand. Later we will add that in but for now lets add the upright beams. These beams will make up the total of the stand. Right now we dont now how high we want the stand. The only thing you need to know is if the center of the stand is high enough for the sump to sit. Because the sump has a height of 12 inches lets add about 13.5 inches to it leaving room to hang light over it. So lets calculate that height. To do this remember that that top and the base already have a height of 3.5 each. So {12+13.5+(3.5*2)=32.5}.
So now we need to make the upright beams with a length of 32.5 inches. You well need to make a total of 8 of these beam then place them like so.
Now do not add the top just yet because, the stand still needs more support. Now we need to add beams on all 8 of the flat faces of the upright beams. The beams will be the same height minus the 2 heights of both the top and bottom frames. So lets calculate {32.5-(3.5 x 2)=25.5}. Now remember these are being nailed to the flat faces of the inner upright beams so it will look this.
Now we can add the top. The top will fit to the upright just like the base. You will nail the inner uprights to the top frame like so.
Now the frame of the stand is complete. Time to add the ply board. The ply board in the center Im not going over. I just cut small piece to fit inside the stand. Ply board is pretty basic the take the lengths of the side that your adding it to and cut it. This is what the stand will look like after the ply bored has been added.
Now because we are adding a sump lets add holes. These holes will be place anywhere as long as there a few inches from where the side of the main aquarium will be placed. These holes should be around 2 inches in diameter. It will look something like this.
So theres your stand. If you have any questions you can e-mail me at
dustylane1989@hotmail.com or message me at that address or on yahoo. My yahoo ID is dustylane1989.
Also I used Solidworks 2008 for my designing.