[New2Reefs]

Hey there everyone,

I really need some help. I just got my tank back--I had it drilled and a center overflow installed. I have a wood stand that has a wood center brace running down the middle. However, the bulkheads in the tank bottom will not screw on properly because of the width of the center brace. The company that brought my tank back said I could notch out a space in the wood for the bulkheads to fit, but I'm worried this will compromise the integrity of the stand, and I don't want 150 gallons of water on the floor. I was thinking of having a structural engineer come out and take a look before I did anything. What do you guys think I should do? Please help!

[Samper]

Without pics it's hard to say. Is it possible for you to brace it yourself on either side of the board after you notch it?

[Samper]

Also how many other supports are underneath the tank? If there are more of them besides that center one you might be ok depending on how many and the location of them.

[New2Reefs]

Thanks, guys, for the replies! I'm not sure if I could put wood supports on either side of the center brace if I notch it--the stand top is completely open except for this one center brace running vertically down the middle. This one board is 3" wide, and I think I'd need only about 1/4" notched out on either side to accommodate the bulkheads. The back of the stand is open except for one wide board about 6" running down the middle. The top of the stand is completely supported around the edges and has 5 boards on the sides and two wide boards on either side of the front cabinet doors. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera, so I can't post pics; I hope I'm explaining everything okay. Thanks so much for your kind input!

[Poseidon]

I'm sure you will be fine to notch out a 1/4" on each side. That brace is probably there to keep the stand from seperating, not to hold the mass of the tank.

[Reefland]

I agree, knotching out 1/2" of the brace won't impact anything.

[New2Reefs]

That's great! I think that's what I'm going to do. Now I've got a plan: I'll notch out what I need to accommodate the bulkheads, then over the weekend I'll go to the Home Depot and have them cut two oak boards so I can place them on either side of the notched-out center brace (I'll be able to do this after all after thinking about it some more and looking at the stand very carefully). Even though I'm a single gal who's got a decent amount of tools, I think I'm going to have my friend Ed do the job for me--don't want to screw it up--then I'll have him and my cousin Bill lift the tank off the living room floor and place it on the stand. Then they'll each get a 12-pack for their effort!! LOL!!

Thanks again, you guys, I feel a whole lot better now!

[weez1959]

I'm sure you could do it too if you put your mind to it
Around here, I'm the Mom, the cook, the maid, the electrician, the plumber, the carpenter, the painter, the accountant (thank god for that! ) the brewmaster the gardener and who know what else!

I almost had the same problem as you when I got my new tank, it was really snug!

[New2Reefs]

Thanks, Louise! You just gave me some confidence! Wow! Very close fit on your tank, too! Now I'll just have to--what a shame--hee, hee hee! go and buy a nail gun! LOL!