Hi Brian, quick note on the construction.
I'm really glad you added the center supports - what runs through my mind when designing something like this is "It has to hold up x-hundred pounds indefinately." I estimated my 45g tank to end up being close to 500 lbs, so yours is going to be at least twice that with everything included.
I just want your tank to be safe. Your top and bottom frames will never fail you built like that, especially with a sheet of 3/4" ply on top!
The plywood siding will really help spread the weight out around the entire structure, especially around the sides, but I would just like to echo what someone said about adding additional support on the four corner legs - what you have done with those center legs is perfect. You want solid wood directly between the top frame and the bottom frame. I would suggest you do the same with the four corners; just cut four pieces of 2x4 to fit snug between the top frame and bottom frame, and screw them to the existing corner legs.
I'm not trying to make more work for you, and I do tend to build things much stronger than they need to be... but that comes directly from being asked to build things like 10-foot high platforms that are safe enough for a dozen actors to jump up and down on (simultaneously) every night for several weeks. I take that pretty seriously.
I'm really glad you added the center supports - what runs through my mind when designing something like this is "It has to hold up x-hundred pounds indefinately." I estimated my 45g tank to end up being close to 500 lbs, so yours is going to be at least twice that with everything included.
I just want your tank to be safe. Your top and bottom frames will never fail you built like that, especially with a sheet of 3/4" ply on top!
The plywood siding will really help spread the weight out around the entire structure, especially around the sides, but I would just like to echo what someone said about adding additional support on the four corner legs - what you have done with those center legs is perfect. You want solid wood directly between the top frame and the bottom frame. I would suggest you do the same with the four corners; just cut four pieces of 2x4 to fit snug between the top frame and bottom frame, and screw them to the existing corner legs.
I'm not trying to make more work for you, and I do tend to build things much stronger than they need to be... but that comes directly from being asked to build things like 10-foot high platforms that are safe enough for a dozen actors to jump up and down on (simultaneously) every night for several weeks. I take that pretty seriously.
Last edited:
Have you tested the tank yet? LOL
