Pansy-Paws

Presenting a Chow Chow's perspective

Aquarium Setups and Livestock - Stand Design and Construction

The establishment of a 500 gallon marine aquarium system (with a 375 gallon display tank) presented many challenges during construction and setup. This web page describes the use of a seldom utilized brick bar in our downstairs recreation room as the aquarium stand.

The are also other design elements described through the links to the right, so I hope you find this interesting or useful if you are considering your own aquarium design.

We utilized our existing brick bar to support the aquarium, thus making this the focal point of the downstairs recreation room (we weren't big bar users anyways - one neighbour did mention that it was a waste of a perfectly good bar).

Since the aquarium was to be wider than the bar, yielding an overhang, a 2x4 frame was built for the aquarium to sit on, with many cross-frames and angle braces to provide rigidity. A ¾" sheet of plywood was placed on top of the frame, followed by an 1/8" layer of 50 weight buna-rubber.

The original owners of the house overbuilt everything, so not surprisingly, the bar was real brick and mortar rather than a brick-like facing material over a wood frame. As a result, we were confident that the bar would support the aquarium with minimal settling.

For the trivia buffs, the wood frame used over 300 screws, 60 metal braces, and 6 - 10 foot lengths of 2x4's ... all designed to provide no more than 0.01 inches of deflection on the 5 inch cantilevered aquarium overhang.

Here's the stand components in varying stages of construction:

2x4 support frame  375 gallon aquarium waiting for the stand to be completed  2x4 frame in place on the bar  placing shims under the box frame  frame ready for plywood layer

Here is the 2x4 base frame for the tank This is the 375 gallon tank waiting on a pool table The completed base frame place on the brick bar Next step adding shims to achieve levelling Completed base frame awaiting plywood

Plywood and rubber layer in place  Another view of the rubber base  The aquarium in place on the stand

The addition of plywood and rubber, getting closer The rubber provides a smooth level surface The aquarium is in place !!    

Aquarium Pages