VinsonMassif Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 I built it using heart rimu from an old deck. PVA and 3" screws. No cover/lid. Just 3 sheets of poly. Was easy as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Two coats of black gloss paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 8) That'll work Nice job...of the stand and tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 ps. I have no skill at DIY or carpentry. Turned out fine. Took about 7 hours all together over 3 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Perfect for a pair of Cockatoo's! Anyone selling any? hint hint Next weekend I am buying a school of Columbian Tetra's for this tank all going well. The tank I emptied into this tank, to move is going to have Pearl Geo's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Oooh nice stand. And I love the look of the tank with the sun angled through it like that! And I love the driftwood! And the layout! Can I just move into your tank? :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 ps. I have no skill at DIY or carpentry. don't lie! look at it. its awesome! I have no carpentry skills. it took me an hour to assemble one of those put it together your self tank stands, and finally when it was done, turns out it was upside down :oops: Columbian tetras are awesome. shoal of 25+ would look mint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 and finally when it was done, turns out it was upside down :lol: :lol: Don't ya hate it when that happens? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Bit i hated was when one of the girls passing by stopped, squatted next to me, and told me how to assemble it. :oops: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Never under estimate the powers of a woman phoenix :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Can I just add some constructive criticism? The stand should, IMHO, some diagonal bracing across the back and sides to prevent it folding over in an earthquake or someone leaning on it. I know you have glued and screwed it, but with the weight on top, it could still let go. This can be achieved at the back and sides with a sheet of timber, ply etc, or some metal strapping as used in the building trade. Painted black of course. I really like the idea of the exposed timbers theme you have done too so think the metal strapping would be your best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 it like that! And I love the driftwood! Thats what you get when you live on the west coast of the SI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 KiwiPete I don't mind criticism. I don't fully understand your point about folding. The stand is 80cm high. I have braced the middle of the beams. The beams are heart Rimu = very solid and hard and solid and hard and firm and inflexible. With the tank on it doesn't rock or shudder or move. In what way will cross straps help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaVitamins Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Nice job, the final product looks great! Best bit is props the cost $$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 KiwiPete I don't mind criticism. I don't fully understand your point about folding. The stand is 80cm high. I have braced the middle of the beams. The beams are heart Rimu = very solid and hard and solid and hard and firm and inflexible. With the tank on it doesn't rock or shudder or move. In what way will cross straps help? Cross-straps would act as an "anti-racking" mechanism. Racking is when a structure deforms diagonally (and it's the reason triangles are so much stronger than squares!) Square-based structures are very strong when the weight is pushing down vertically on them. But then if you can imagine a horizontal rocking movement, you can see how the structure could weaken and collapse. Diagonal braces would prevent the structure from moving horizontally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I guess my next stand will have diagonals in it then. Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Cross-straps would act as an "anti-racking" mechanism. Racking is when a structure deforms diagonally (and it's the reason triangles are so much stronger than squares!) Square-based structures are very strong when the weight is pushing down vertically on them. But then if you can imagine a horizontal rocking movement, you can see how the structure could weaken and collapse. Diagonal braces would prevent the structure from moving horizontally. I was going to say that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Would 20mm Mdf be sufficient bracing covering the back of the stand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Would 20mm Mdf be sufficient bracing covering the back of the stand? Yes, absolutely. In fact you could get away with waaaay less bracing than that (assuming the rest of your framing is strong). I have built wooden structures where the only anti-racking mechanism I have used is a thin strip of plywood (maybe 5cm wide), attached diagonally across the back. I would never use that method for a tank stand (too heavy and the results of a catastrophic failure would be too horrible! ) But I have used it on tall bookcases & tool racks very successfully. You literally just need a thin ribbon of steel or plywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I guess my next stand will have diagonals in it then. Thanks for that. Personally, I think your stand looks very sound exactly as it is and I wouldn't worry about its structure at all. You can achieve a good anti-racking effect on a low structure just by using screws offset diagonally on each joint (or by using gang nails etc) especially when you're using nice solid timber like yours. Do keep an eye on its horizontal strength as the wood swells & shrinks, screws loosen, etc. You can always add a diagonal brace if you think it's necessary later, but I don't think you'll ever need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 The wood has been a deck for the last 40 odd years. It has dried swollen and shrunk a whole bunch. It has been stored for the last year in the garage. I screwed each join on 3 sides. Each join has a minimum of 10 screws. I wasn't leaving much to chance. I braced both flat sides and each end of each vertical brace to stop any movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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