DIY 70 gallon tank stand

[dwag88]

I am planning on getting a 70 gallon (36x18x25) planted tank but I didn't want to spend the money to buy a stand. Since I didn't want to buy one...that left no other choice than to build one. I went to Home Depot and I bought five premium 2x4's (the straightest I could find) and a 1x10 for the top. I researched several blueprints from this forum and combined some elements of several different designs. The following pictures detail the building of the stand. If anyone would like to use this design feel free to ask me questions about how I completed it...just don't blame me if it falls apart!! -crosses fingers-

here is all of the wood for the frame after I made all of the cuts with a miter saw.

this is one end of the bottom frame piece before assembly. the top frame is identical to this.

i used corner brackets to attach the 2x4's to create the corners of the frame. i also used liberal amounts of wood glue on every seam of this project. the wood screws were put in at an angle so that the 2x4's were pulled tighter together so that the glue would set properly and form a tight seam.

here is one of the completed frame pieces. i did not use corner brackets for the center brace. i just attached it with wood screws drilled in from the outside and wood glue.

here is the completed frame. it uses six 30" uprights attached to the box frame pieces with two wood screws at each end.

the top is made from a single 1x10, which is actually 9.5" wide so together the two pieces of the top are 18.5" inches deep which is a perfect match for the tank. i used twelve wood screws to attach the top along with wood glue to ensure that it was level.

I made a bottom shelf out of some scrap plywood in the basement and simply used nails and wood glue to attach it.

this is the completed stand after it's final coat of stain. it is currently home to my 20 gallon tank until I get the 70 gallon set up.

Materials:
five 2x4's
one 1x10
50 +/- wood screws
scrap plywood and nails
wood glue
stain
polyurethane

Tools:
power drill
miter saw
circular saw
hammer

Things I Learned:
never let your father help you, mine kept trying to cut corners
always use lots of wood glue, this is where all the strength at the seams is
measure twice, cut once
it can be done!!

 

[mademperor]

I know most people on this forum over build lol. However I do have concerns regarding the weight of a tank making it collapse to one side.

I think it's called lateral support, basically I was thinking that it could start to move to the left or right withough a backbrace of some type.

I'm looking to build a stand in the future, and I'll admit I'm looking to copy the thread I saw a few days ago that was designed for a 125/150g tank.

 

[mellowvision]

it looks like it might hold but I have a couple of thoughts...

I would not have used pine for the top, it's likely to warp and crack once it gets wet a couple of times. also, you are relying on the screws through the legs into the apron for all your weight support... ideally the apron would sit on top of the legs, so the wood is doing the support work. and yes, you are lacking lateral support, so it could very likely start to tilt to one side and collapse. esentially, all your tank weight is being supported by the outermost 1" of pine top... that's not ideal

 

[Rbishop]

Are there more than the angle brackets holding the first frame together?

 

[dwag88]

if i added two diagonal cross pieces in between the uprights across the back, do you think it could take the weight?

EDIT: also, i know all of the support is on the edges of the top, but since the aquarium is supported around the outside by the plastic frame on the bottom, i didnt think that would be a problem

 

[77710]

I think you would be better off adding those and some sides, the sides would prevent it from folding over front to back like mademperor was talking about.

 

[boomerjr91]

:iagree: I'd also add some more 2x4's or 1x3's along the 6 posts to make sure they hold. my stand was extremely weak until I did this and now It can hold almost 800 pounds on it. very nice still though.

 

[mcox3]

what boggles my mind is if you look at a "professionally" made stand they look like they were constructed with popsicle sticks... or atleast the ones i've seen at shops around town in Phoenix/ Tempe...

I think you'll be okay

 

[wackydan]

My 2 cents.

I think it will work fine *if you add some diagonal bracing as suggested by others. You could also achieve the same affect by buying 1/4 plywood, and sheathing the two sides and the back.... and believe me... 1/4 is more than sufficient. That said, you didn't think about sheathing in putting this together, so it probably wouldn't look right.

I also must add, that the 1x10 pine you bought is typically junk. I've never bought a piece that was perfectly flat. Will it do? Yeah. I suggest buying some of that blue or pink foam that is about 1/4" to 3/8" thick and laying that down on top first.

You know... If you buy foam, and need to hide it... that's where sheathing it in plywood would help hide the foam.......

 

[southpaw]

if i added two diagonal cross pieces in between the uprights across the back, do you think it could take the weight?

EDIT: also, i know all of the support is on the edges of the top, but since the aquarium is supported around the outside by the plastic frame on the bottom, i didnt think that would be a problem

As long as your tank comes right out close to the edges of the top you should be alright...but if it sits 1-2" inside outside edge of top then you would be putting all the stress on the screws holding the legs on instead of weight directly down on the legs. I would also put either some cross braces or maybe go ahead and box it in (front and sides)with finished plywoood to stregthen it up some. You could always leave a cutout in the front for access or add a door.