[GoinSalt]

When building a stand, should I make the stand EXACTLY as long as the tank or should I make it a couple inches longer?

Nate

[Reefer769]

most people make their stands the same size as there tanks, but in my case i like how it looks when there is a couple inches sticking out from the sides. just make sure you put in enough supports to hold however much water you are going to put on top of it. i think every gallon weighs about 8.5 lbs.

[acropora]

Originally Posted by GoinSalt

When building a stand, should I make the stand EXACTLY as long as the tank or should I make it a couple inches longer?

Nate

It is good to have the stand the exact same size,never smaller. If it turns out slightly bigger you can just adjust the placement of the tank to compensate.Depending on how you plan to finish the stand;you might want 3/4" more on the front and sides to add molding. 2x4 construction can be used for most size tanks.2x4's can easily be doubled or tripled for larger tanks.

[Meric]

I made my stand .5" larger then the tank, simply because unless you are a carpenter DIY stands usually come out slightly shorter than you intended.

A lot of people forget to take into account that their saw blade is 1/8" thick and tend to short cut their wood. I would rather have the stand slightly larger than the tank, since you have 2" of 2X4 to work with, than to have it come out just slightly shorter than the tank.

[Ninong]

If you live in an area subject to frequent earthquakes, it is a good idea to build the stand exactly the same size as the tank but with about a 2" raised skirt around the front and both sides to prevent the tank from shifting off the stand during a temblor.

[sdgtivr6]

I made mine .5" longer than the tank (1/4" on both sides). I would do the same thing for the width as well... although I made mine much wider so I can fit everything I need underneath it.

[OCSREEFER]

I know most people make there thanks as close to the tank as possible.
I made my stand with a couple inches on each end and 3-4 inches in the front, I used 3/4 inch oak veneer plywood on the top for a finished look, the extra room allows a place to set food dishes and tools while working on your tank.
My 2 year old also loves to lean on the ledge in front of the tank and watch his friends...

One thing that I always find helpfull when building items is make a detailed drawing showing all dimentions you need to cut... or if you have the means and your tank is not to large, get a large peice of cardboard and make a life size template of the finished top to the size you wish... draw the tank placement and all of the underneath supports and structure to help you plan it. This may help you from making any mistakes. Don't forget to figure the type and width of your trim work...

Hope this helps...
Nick

[sdgtivr6]

Yeah- and when drawing out your plans and measurements, don't forget that 2x4's aren't really 2x4! lol

[OCSREEFER]

ya those 2x4's 1x6's ... x ... can be very misleading...
I also forgot to mention. If you have a tank with a drilled bottom...
make sure sure SURE to take the location of the bulk head and all plumbing needs into account when placing your supports underneath your stand...
Not making enough room for the plumbing can really throw a rock into things...

I came about 1/2" from building another stand when I switched from my orginal 55gal to the 72 bow...fhew

Good Luck
Nick

[GoinSalt]

Thanks for the replies.

For my 100 gal acrylic (5-ft long), my stand is about 1/2 to 1" wider. Width-wise, however, I have plenty of room.

Nate