Large aquarium stand

ibryson · 04/29/2017, 08:31 PM

Hey everyone, I recently purchased a 180 gallon reef ready tank. I plan on building my own aquarium stand.
My question is how tall would you all recommend the stand be? The tank is roughly 72X24X25 (give or take a half inch). I would love to build a bar top right in front of the tank to sit and watch the tank and have a drink at the same time. I'm having a hard time deciding what a good height would be. What heights do you all have yours at?

Thanks!

--Bryson

Annap729 · 04/29/2017, 08:49 PM

Bar tops are 42", so you can work from there.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

ibryson · 04/29/2017, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annap729

Bar tops are 42", so you can work from there.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I saw that but it seems too tall. 42 + 25 + 18(for canopy)= over 7 foot
This will likely go in a finished basement so that just seems too tall. Does 36" sound too short??

aquamn1999 · 04/29/2017, 09:19 PM

where is your skimmer going and what size is it. If it's going under the tank in a sump that will help to determine your height for your stand. You want to be able to access and remove it if needed. Also in the future you may want a auto neck cleaner so leave enough room for that. My stand is 46 1/2". Once you add foam and the thickness of the tank. the bottom of the tank is at 48"

ibryson · 04/29/2017, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquamn1999

where is your skimmer going and what size is it. If it's going under the tank in a sump that will help to determine your height for your stand. You want to be able to access and remove it if needed. Also in the future you may want a auto neck cleaner so leave enough room for that. My stand is 46 1/2". Once you add foam and the thickness of the tank. the bottom of the tank is at 48"

I reckon my skimmer wouldn't be over 2 feet tall. I haven't bought one yet though. How tall is your skimmer?

aquamn1999 · 04/29/2017, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibryson

I reckon my skimmer wouldn't be over 2 feet tall. I haven't bought one yet though. How tall is your skimmer?

Mine is an external skimmer . The SRO60000EXT is 36"with the neck cleaner. But once you add the stand of 10" so the outlet will go into the sump the total height is 46".

ca1ore · 04/29/2017, 09:54 PM

I always design my stands so the top rim is at armpit height.

Lsufan · 04/29/2017, 11:42 PM

It really is personal preference on what u want. Some people the most important thing is having easy access to the tank so they usually prefer a shorter stand. They prefer to be able to reach the sandbed without having to use a stepstool. Other people rather have a taller stand to give them more room under the stand & to get the tank more eye level when viewing.

Personally, I like to have a taller stand. If that means I have to use a stool to reach the sandbed then so be it. As far as how tall, it depends on the hieght of the tank & the hieght of the ceilings the room is in. I prefer a 42" tall stand on a tank that is 24" or less in hieght. My 40 breeder has a 42" tall stand & i almost wish it was even taller. My 150 (which is 24" tall) has a 39" stand. I would have went 42" but the ceiling in the room is less then 8' & I built the canopy to where the front of the canopy flips up. So I built it as tall as possible & when I flip the front of the canopy up it is around 1/4" from the ceiling.

I don't know how tall & how long of arms u have, but with your size tank u will probably have to stand on a stool to reach the bottom if your stand is more then 30 or 32" tall. So I would decide if u want to use a stool or not. If u don't then I would do like calore mentioned and have the rim of the tank about armpit hieght. If u don't mind using a stool at times then I would go between 36" to 42" as long as that will work with the ceilings in the basement. If u prefer it a little shorter, 36" is a decent hieght but U will still more then likely need to stand on something to reach the bottom.

billdogg · 04/30/2017, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsufan

It really is personal preference on what u want. Some people the most important thing is having easy access to the tank so they usually prefer a shorter stand. They prefer to be able to reach the sandbed without having to use a stepstool. Other people rather have a taller stand to give them more room under the stand & to get the tank more eye level when viewing.

Personally, I like to have a taller stand. If that means I have to use a stool to reach the sandbed then so be it. As far as how tall, it depends on the hieght of the tank & the hieght of the ceilings the room is in. I prefer a 42" tall stand on a tank that is 24" or less in hieght. My 40 breeder has a 42" tall stand & i almost wish it was even taller. My 150 (which is 24" tall) has a 39" stand. I would have went 42" but the ceiling in the room is less then 8' & I built the canopy to where the front of the canopy flips up. So I built it as tall as possible & when I flip the front of the canopy up it is around 1/4" from the ceiling.

I don't know how tall & how long of arms u have, but with your size tank u will probably have to stand on a stool to reach the bottom if your stand is more then 30 or 32" tall. So I would decide if u want to use a stool or not. If u don't then I would do like calore mentioned and have the rim of the tank about armpit hieght. If u don't mind using a stool at times then I would go between 36" to 42" as long as that will work with the ceilings in the basement. If u prefer it a little shorter, 36" is a decent hieght but U will still more then likely need to stand on something to reach the bottom.

^^^This^^^

SGT_York · 05/04/2017, 12:01 PM

I don't like looking down at my tank, the top rim at armpit height is a good basis, I prefer a few inches taller than that with a stepping stool. Makes it easier on the eyes and posture at the same time keeping the glass out of reach of my children who are too young to stop knocking on the glass. Just take your height minus the height of the tank and about five inches.

04/29/2017, 08:31 PM	#1
ibryson Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Missouri Posts: 73	Large aquarium stand Hey everyone, I recently purchased a 180 gallon reef ready tank. I plan on building my own aquarium stand. My question is how tall would you all recommend the stand be? The tank is roughly 72X24X25 (give or take a half inch). I would love to build a bar top right in front of the tank to sit and watch the tank and have a drink at the same time. I'm having a hard time deciding what a good height would be. What heights do you all have yours at? Thanks! --Bryson

04/29/2017, 09:54 PM	#7
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I always design my stands so the top rim is at armpit height. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

04/29/2017, 11:42 PM	#8
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	It really is personal preference on what u want. Some people the most important thing is having easy access to the tank so they usually prefer a shorter stand. They prefer to be able to reach the sandbed without having to use a stepstool. Other people rather have a taller stand to give them more room under the stand & to get the tank more eye level when viewing. Personally, I like to have a taller stand. If that means I have to use a stool to reach the sandbed then so be it. As far as how tall, it depends on the hieght of the tank & the hieght of the ceilings the room is in. I prefer a 42" tall stand on a tank that is 24" or less in hieght. My 40 breeder has a 42" tall stand & i almost wish it was even taller. My 150 (which is 24" tall) has a 39" stand. I would have went 42" but the ceiling in the room is less then 8' & I built the canopy to where the front of the canopy flips up. So I built it as tall as possible & when I flip the front of the canopy up it is around 1/4" from the ceiling. I don't know how tall & how long of arms u have, but with your size tank u will probably have to stand on a stool to reach the bottom if your stand is more then 30 or 32" tall. So I would decide if u want to use a stool or not. If u don't then I would do like calore mentioned and have the rim of the tank about armpit hieght. If u don't mind using a stool at times then I would go between 36" to 42" as long as that will work with the ceilings in the basement. If u prefer it a little shorter, 36" is a decent hieght but U will still more then likely need to stand on something to reach the bottom. Last edited by Lsufan; 04/30/2017 at 12:06 AM.

04/29/2017, 08:49 PM	#2
Annap729 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 76	Bar tops are 42", so you can work from there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

04/29/2017, 09:19 PM	#4
aquamn1999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 155	where is your skimmer going and what size is it. If it's going under the tank in a sump that will help to determine your height for your stand. You want to be able to access and remove it if needed. Also in the future you may want a auto neck cleaner so leave enough room for that. My stand is 46 1/2". Once you add foam and the thickness of the tank. the bottom of the tank is at 48"

05/04/2017, 12:01 PM	#10
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	I don't like looking down at my tank, the top rim at armpit height is a good basis, I prefer a few inches taller than that with a stepping stool. Makes it easier on the eyes and posture at the same time keeping the glass out of reach of my children who are too young to stop knocking on the glass. Just take your height minus the height of the tank and about five inches.