Could you send me the link with the directions for this stand? I know it came from RC but I can't find it.You can go the plywood route.....3/4 would be enough.....the commercial stands are 3/4 plywood (or thinner).
However, for a DIYers, the easiest stand is with dimensional lumber. For under four foot.....a 40 B....all lumber should be 2 x 4's.
Now what you need to do is build the stand so a 40B will easily fit below. The top of the stand will have a 3/4 plywood top. Since the the stand is now wider and deeper than a 40 B, the top DT tank will have a "shelf" around the tank. There is no need for the edge of the tank to fit on the lumber of the frame. The plywood top will easily support the tank.
I will give you the Reader's Digest version, because, at the time, it had already been broken into two threads because of the length.
Thanks!!'Don't make me go back there! Please!!! I pulled this picture off RC over ten years ago. I don't like it over there!
For tanks up to four feet, all dimensional lumber are 2 x 4's. Over four feet, the top frame needs to be 2 x 6. No center support is needed. You do need to "skin" the stand to keep it from racking. I'd highly suggest also using a 3/4 inch piece of plywood on the top to "level" or smooth out the dimensional lumber on the top so the tank sits flush to the top. Here's the frame I build for my five foot tank in 2006/2007 using this plan:
All finished, it now looks like this:
That being said, my latest builds for smaller tanks (40B included) has been with paneled sides. This is the build I'm working on right now for a 35 cube. Uprights are 1 x 3's with 5 mm plywood panels.
EDIT TO ADD:
I'm an idiot.....I went back there and found the two posts. Note that because of Photobucket attempting to extort past users, many of the pictures are no longer available.....Including the one I posted here showing the construction plan. But here are the links to the two "split" posts over on RC:
Original Post - DIY Stands Template and Calculator
Second Split Post
Happy reading!
