I have a question

[samanthia]

If I got a 75 gallon tank for my new O, would I be able to set the tank on a stand of bricks?  My Gpa. is a bricklayer dude and he could probably get me some construction bricks.  This one pet store had a 220 gallon tank that was set solely on cement blocks.  It was cool it had this collasal balla shark and it waved at me.  Do you think that this would be a good alteranate to a commercial stand?

[DanRad]

Should do OK if it's well constructed.  I'd suggest putting a sheet of styrofoam under the tank.  That way any unevenness of the bricks will be compensated for, and give you a more stable base.

[Kenshin_Himura]

Think that would be a pretty sweet stand.  Plywood would also work to give a smooth surface under the tank.  You could buy some material and glue/staple it on the board and make it look nice and clean.  If I went with a big tank that wasn't pre-drilled for wet/dry system, I would definitely go with building my own stand.  The local places I have checked, the stand costs 2-3x as much as the tank or more, unless you go with the cheapie from PetSmart, and that is still nearly the same price of the tank.

If you do it, take some pictures and show everyone please!

[Mark Stone]

Samanthia asks:[quote]If I got a 75 gallon tank for my new O, would I be able to set the tank on a stand of bricks?  My Gpa. is a bricklayer dude and he could probably get me some construction bricks.  This one pet store had a 220 gallon tank that was set solely on cement blocks.  It was cool it had this collasal balla shark and it waved at me.  Do you think that this would be a good alteranate to a commercial stand?[/quote]Heck yes! I use big concrete blocks, and "paver" stones (the ones for sale in garden depts at WalMart etc.). I simply measure carefully where they should go, then cut out and put 2X4s on top of the bricks/blocks so that when the aquarium sits, all of the edges are on a 2X4. No need to nail or screw the wood together, the weight of the tank holds it together no problem. Then, if you want, just install cloth skirting around the outside. I've done this for years and years with no problems at all. With the 2X4s in place, no need for styrofoam or plywood either -- the tank sits just fine on the 2X4s. Also, you only need to put your bricks or blocks on the ends, the 2X4s will have enough strength to hold up the tank. --Mark

[samanthia]

ok so i would measure and put the bricks together and then i would measure, cut and place 2by4's on top of the cement blocks?

[Mark Stone]

[quote]ok so i would measure and put the bricks together and then i would measure, cut and place 2by4's on top of the cement blocks?[/quote]Yup. Stack your blocks at where the corners of the aquarium will be, [i]or[/i] if the blocks are wider than the aquarium just stack them where the ends of the aquarium will be. Then cut out 2X4s and place them so that the entire edge of the tank will rest on the wood. Don't worry about supporting the glass on the tank bottom, it's plenty strong enuff. Then carefully place the tank on the 2X4s, and double-check that there is wood under the entire aquarium edge, then fill 'er up!

[Kenshin_Himura]

you could put a third set of blocks in the middle if you are the overly-cautious type as I would be.

also, use a level before you put the tank on it and shim it where it needs it, it keeps from excess pressure being exerted on one end more than the other by the water.  It is much easier to level before you have a tank with water in it.  This way you also don't shim directly under the tank, which could create pressure points on the frame as well.  This is why Mark said to check that the wood is under the entire aquarium edge (length and width) ...  take something like a playing card.  It shouldn't be able to pass between the tank and the wood.  If you do end up with warped wood, then polystyrene or plywood could help make up the gap, MDF/HDF (medium/high density fiberboard) would also work ...  but you would need a waterproof barrier (vinyl/plastic) so it didn't get wet and begin to deteriorate.

I wasn't sure if you were talking about cinder blocks or actual brick.  Brick would be sweet and nice looking.  Cinder blocks would be better with cloth to pretty it up.  I will never buy a tank stand ...  waste of money IMHO.

[samanthia]

should i mortar the bricks/ cement blocks together before putting on the 2x4's?

[Mark Stone]

[quote]should i mortar the bricks/ cement blocks together before putting on the 2x4's?[/quote]No. The weight of the aquarium holds the setup together.   Also, although I love Kenshin_Himura, none of the leveling/shimming/etc. that he suggests is necessary, unless the floor you're putting the tank on is not level. Just stack the blocks, place the 2X4s on the blocks, put the empty aquarium on the 2X4s, double check that [b]the entire outer edge of the aquarium is on the wood[/b], and fill it with water. The weight of the tank settles itself "into" the wood. Supporting the glass on the bottom of the tank is unnecessary.

I've seen about a dozen LFSs (local yocals) simply build 2X4 frames and put huge aquariums in them, which is where I got the idea. I've stacked blocks/2X4s/aquariums on at least five 55+ tanks that I can remember and have left them for years without any problem whatsoever. Within the next few days I'll take some pix of my current setup and try to post them so you can see. Bonnie (my better half) made a blue skirting around my current tank that makes it look cool.  --Mark

[Mark Stone]

Here's a view of the front of the tank (with my hungry juvi Red Devil lurking), a good view of the back left corner, where you can see the blocks/2X4s and the tank, and a view of the front . This tank just has the blocks on the ends, none in the center. This stand setup has been full of water with no problems for about 3-1/2 years.

[Kenshin_Himura]

  looks great!

I never thought the tank would settle into the wood!  Must be some soft wood    but, of course only shim if necessary is what I meant, most people it won't be, but using a level will verify you don't.  I have found that in two rooms of my house that I have put a tank it have not been level [i]after[/i] I filled the tanks up.  both lean down towards SSW.  Maybe my whole house is not level, I know the ground itself does slope that way.

You would recommend using a center support with a 6 ft long right?  I can see why it is not needed for the smaller tanks.  I have never bought a stand, so far furniture has worked, but will be building something for the bigger tanks I plan to get in the future.

[Mark Stone]

[quote]I never thought the tank would settle into the wood!  Must be some soft wood[/quote]Not really, it doesn't sink into the wood (so to speak). But it does make an indention on it. The 2x4s pictured held this aquarium for 5-1/2 years at a former residence, and now 3-1/2 years at my current. When I moved the setup, you could see slight indentions in the wood from where the aquarium sat.[quote]You would recommend using a center support with a 6 ft long right?[/quote]Personally, I probably would. However, I can drive over to three locally owned LFSs on this side of town that use 2X4s that don't. Stilllearnin (one of our admins here) uses 2x4s too -- http://www.cjexotics.com/page3.html -- but it looks like he bolts the setup together and sets the wood up on it's ends (which would be stronger). Also, it looks like he uses larger cuts of wood for the larger tanks. I think 6' would work without a center support, but I probably would have trouble sleeping for the first couple of years