Tl:Dr: should I build my aquarium stand from 2*8 that I have or cut them in half and use 2*4s to build the stand? I feel like 2*4 might not be strong enough to handle the load long term. There's not a lot of videos on YouTube about these types of builds aside from guys just screwing a few planks together for a breeding stand of 30G tanks
I'm a contractor so I'm building the cabinet for my tank. It's (60" long) * (24" tall) * (19" deep) [5' x 2' x 19"] I'll be finishing it and adding doors/lights etc. the works.
Anyways Google tells me it'll be close to 1,300 lbs / 590 Kg when full. That's a lot of weight. But yesterday I saw someone on YouTube put a 50G on a wire/metal shelf stand thing and I thought to myself.... Maybe 125G doesn't need a 2*8 bolted into the concrete wall to support that kind of weight.
I'm still going to secure it to the concrete so it will never tip forward but I'm thinking a 2*8 frame on the top with 6 2*4 legs might be a bit excessive. With how I was planning on building it, it would have been rated for probably triple what it needs. These 2*8s are rated for like 600lbs over 8 feet, for a 5' x 2' tank my frame would be rated for around 3,000lbs.
Anyways.... I've seen the cabinets they sell at the LFS and they're just 1/2" or 5/8" particle board and I refuse to use one anywhere near a water source like an aquarium. So.... Do you think a 2x4 frame is strong enough for a 125G or should I just over build it with 2*8 and just know for sure it's not going ANYWHERE. Also if I build it out of 2*8 like I was planning, the cabinet will not be leaving the basement in one piece.
The space I have is like 82" so I was going to build it out around 74" long x 34" tall and have a bit of extra countertop beside the tank with the tank coming up to my shoulder so I can reach into it without a step