Stand Problems: How worried should I be?

lunker101 · 08/25/2012, 05:10 PM

Hi all,

I have some structural problems with my stand and I wonder how nervous I should be. It's a 180g tank, so if that comes crashing down, it's going to be a BIG problem.

It's a wooden cabinet stand

Recently, I've had some leaks and I've had water sitting on the bottom shelf of the stand. The bottom platform is now bowing excessively, and it's separated from the wooden planks that hold up the actual tank. It appears these plans are also nailed into the base of the stand itself, and not purely supported by this bottom platform, but I'm nervous regardless. Please see pictures to get a sense of what I'm talking about.

DanaC · 08/25/2012, 05:20 PM

Pic not working....

Davckowski · 08/25/2012, 09:18 PM

try reducing the pic size

lunker101 · 08/25/2012, 09:32 PM

Sorry about that, it should work now.

I'll try to take more tomorrow, but basically the beams that hold the tank up are now no longer flush with the bottom of the stand. It looks like they are still supported by the outer frame of the stand. It's very hard to describe, so I'll try and take a few better shots.

James77 · 08/25/2012, 09:54 PM

Which is out of whack....the bottom panel, or the walls of the stand? The walls of the stand should be dead plumb....if any of those stand walls are at all twisted, angled or the like I would break down the tank immediately. You say you have had leaks....from where?

moondoggy4 · 08/25/2012, 10:05 PM

What kind of wood is it Is it particle wood plywood is the wood spongy? taking it down sounds like the only recourse you might be able to prop it up.

EthanKyle · 08/26/2012, 08:09 AM

Breakdown that tank now before it comes down on its own.

lunker101 · 08/26/2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James77

Which is out of whack....the bottom panel, or the walls of the stand? The walls of the stand should be dead plumb....if any of those stand walls are at all twisted, angled or the like I would break down the tank immediately. You say you have had leaks....from where?

It is the bottom panel that is out of whack. It used to sit flush with the walls, now it's bowing and is no longer joined to the walls (hard to explain, but this is the picture I posted). There is a slight lip on the stand walls where the panel used to be, but now that part of the walls has nothing under them. They are however nailed to the base of the stand, so there must be some support coming from there. My fear is whether that support is enough. As of now, the walls are not twisted or angled at all.

The leaks were coming from old plumbing that needed to be replaced, but caused a slow drip that I didn't see for a few days and left several gallons of water sitting on top of the stands panel, causing it to soak and bow.

Thanks again, obviously an unsettling problem to have.

lunker101 · 08/26/2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

What kind of wood is it Is it particle wood plywood is the wood spongy? taking it down sounds like the only recourse you might be able to prop it up.

It's one of those All-Glass pine stands, similar to this: http://www.petswarehouse.com/product...-015905511926/

sirreal63 · 08/26/2012, 09:47 AM

I had to replace the bottom panel in that stand on my old 58. It isn't really designed for the weight of a sump. I took it out and made one from 3/4" AdvanTech and 2x2's that was not attached permanently to the stand, it just sat in there. Silicone the space between the floor and the stand to seal any drips or water mishaps from hitting the floor underneath.

Grandmaster_Toad · 08/26/2012, 10:57 AM

Pull the panel out, put some bracing underneath it and replace the panel. That bottom panel is not really something that holds the stand together.

Grandmaster_Toad · 08/26/2012, 10:58 AM

While your under the tank, best idea would be to put in a few new upright braces too.

lunker101 · 08/28/2012, 11:10 AM

Hi all,

Thanks again for the helpful replies. The more I look, the more I believe that the bottom panel doesn't provide any real structural support, but my biggest fear is that it will start to pull the stand and warp the sides/beams it's attached to. I've provided a few more pics below. I'm going to contemplate everything over and then potentially reinforce the stand or break the tank down this weekend once I have time.

It's hard to see, but basically the beams/pillars (not the main support ones on the side, but the thinner ones on the center of the stand) are being pulled/split slightly. The bottom of these are secured to the bottom panel, but they're also nailed to the side frame of the stand, so as the panel warped and bowed, the bottom of these were pulled slightly away from the frame, creating a small gap (tried to capture that in this pic)

This pic here really just shows how the bottom panel is separating from the side walls of the stand. Now, it seems as if the side walls have two layers of beams, one exterior set which provides the main support, then these interior ones which almost seem like they're supposed to brace the side as opposed to hold it up.

moondoggy4 · 08/28/2012, 05:18 PM

http://www.ridgid.com/jobmax/ you could use a tool like this to cut flush with the sides.

08/25/2012, 05:10 PM	#1
lunker101 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 226	Stand Problems: How worried should I be? Hi all, I have some structural problems with my stand and I wonder how nervous I should be. It's a 180g tank, so if that comes crashing down, it's going to be a BIG problem. It's a wooden cabinet stand Recently, I've had some leaks and I've had water sitting on the bottom shelf of the stand. The bottom platform is now bowing excessively, and it's separated from the wooden planks that hold up the actual tank. It appears these plans are also nailed into the base of the stand itself, and not purely supported by this bottom platform, but I'm nervous regardless. Please see pictures to get a sense of what I'm talking about.

08/25/2012, 09:54 PM	#5
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Which is out of whack....the bottom panel, or the walls of the stand? The walls of the stand should be dead plumb....if any of those stand walls are at all twisted, angled or the like I would break down the tank immediately. You say you have had leaks....from where? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/26/2012, 09:47 AM	#10
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I had to replace the bottom panel in that stand on my old 58. It isn't really designed for the weight of a sump. I took it out and made one from 3/4" AdvanTech and 2x2's that was not attached permanently to the stand, it just sat in there. Silicone the space between the floor and the stand to seal any drips or water mishaps from hitting the floor underneath. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

08/25/2012, 05:20 PM	#2
DanaC Moved On Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Huntington WV Posts: 143	Pic not working....

08/25/2012, 09:18 PM	#3
Davckowski Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Metamora MI Posts: 63	try reducing the pic size

08/25/2012, 09:32 PM	#4
lunker101 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 226	Sorry about that, it should work now. I'll try to take more tomorrow, but basically the beams that hold the tank up are now no longer flush with the bottom of the stand. It looks like they are still supported by the outer frame of the stand. It's very hard to describe, so I'll try and take a few better shots.

08/25/2012, 10:05 PM	#6
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	What kind of wood is it Is it particle wood plywood is the wood spongy? taking it down sounds like the only recourse you might be able to prop it up.

08/26/2012, 08:09 AM	#7
EthanKyle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 163	Breakdown that tank now before it comes down on its own.

08/26/2012, 10:57 AM	#11
Grandmaster_Toad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 49	Pull the panel out, put some bracing underneath it and replace the panel. That bottom panel is not really something that holds the stand together.

08/26/2012, 10:58 AM	#12
Grandmaster_Toad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 49	While your under the tank, best idea would be to put in a few new upright braces too.

08/28/2012, 11:10 AM	#13
lunker101 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 226	Hi all, Thanks again for the helpful replies. The more I look, the more I believe that the bottom panel doesn't provide any real structural support, but my biggest fear is that it will start to pull the stand and warp the sides/beams it's attached to. I've provided a few more pics below. I'm going to contemplate everything over and then potentially reinforce the stand or break the tank down this weekend once I have time. It's hard to see, but basically the beams/pillars (not the main support ones on the side, but the thinner ones on the center of the stand) are being pulled/split slightly. The bottom of these are secured to the bottom panel, but they're also nailed to the side frame of the stand, so as the panel warped and bowed, the bottom of these were pulled slightly away from the frame, creating a small gap (tried to capture that in this pic) This pic here really just shows how the bottom panel is separating from the side walls of the stand. Now, it seems as if the side walls have two layers of beams, one exterior set which provides the main support, then these interior ones which almost seem like they're supposed to brace the side as opposed to hold it up.

08/28/2012, 05:18 PM	#14
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	http://www.ridgid.com/jobmax/ you could use a tool like this to cut flush with the sides.