I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of my tank setup and stand building skills.  This is the moment you've all be waiting for!

First Off we have the Pile of Wood to build the Ghetto Stand for the tank.  Unfortunetly they guys at Lowes did not cut my wood to the dimention I asked for so I ended up having to us a bigger piece.  Threw my plans all off... 

 Here I got one Leg of the stand built.. Yeah!!!!

 Gee that was quick now all the leg supports are position and the top is set.  This is the back view.  Yes believe it or not there is a front and a back..

 Here is the front of the stand... 

 Time to cover everything in plastic.  As some of you may have read previously I had a tank that warped out my wall.  This time I'm taking precausionary measures and covered the wall in plastic and also the wood.

 Now I put the 40 gallon breeder in place.

 I purchased 60 lbs of Natures Ocean's Natural Live Marine Instant Cycling sand.

 I also got 10 boxes of Nutri Seawater which is natural live ocean saltwater already containing the Natural bacterias.  Each box is 4.4 gallons.  So far I used 6 gallons to start off with.  I'm waiting on adding live rock before I top off my tank.

 Here is a picture of last night with everything ready to go.

 This morning I added the live sand to the tank  This is what 60 lbs of live sand looks like in a 40 gallon breeder.

 Here is the tank just after I poured in a coupld of boxes of the Natures Ocean water.

 I purchased two Koralia Hydor pumps the 1 and 2 pumps  I wanted one side weaker then the other for different coral types.  My plan is to have a mound of live rock in the middle and then racks off on each side.

 Picture of the number 2 box!

And thats all I got for you guys now.  More will be coming shortly in the next couple of days.  I get my light on Wednesday and I need to fill it with live rock.  Right now I have a heater going along with the pumps circulating the water.  I haven't tested Parameters yet I'm waiting for everything to settle then I will test away and record what I got.  Hopefully everything will be Zero and my salinity will be on using all the live stuff.  I'll get more going tomorrow and monday and then wednesday hopefully we should be finished.

thats going to fall over. put a 2x4 around the outside edge of the legs at top and bottom. just tring to help.that will stop it from tweeking side to side.

kevin said :

thats going to fall over. put a 2x4 around the outside edge of the legs at top and bottom. just tring to help.that will stop it from tweeking side to side.

YIKES!

YES I AM IN A PANIC!

I would also place a 1x4 diagnally (sp) on the back inside and both sides. (fastened to each upright) The 2x4s at the top and bottom Could be 1x4s and will keep the legs straight and the diag pieces will keep the "sway" from happening. PLEASE do this! I would absolutely hate to hear about the thing falling over. Of course this will wait to happen until you have added the LR, populated the tank and have company over to view. They will lean on the ghetto stand and catastrophy!

Now being as though you already have the tank on it with water and sand... you aren't gonna be able to just slide the stand out to accomplish this. So I would suggest c-clamping it together and screwing it from the inside. (Alittle wood glue wouldn't hurt a bit either)

If you need any help stop where you are... dont do ANYTHING else. Lemme know and I will come to help! (I have a saw and drill and can come up with clamps!)

Also, are the legs under the edges of the tank or outside it? If outside it you will HAVE to reinforce the plywood or it WILL bow in the pressure of the tank (if not initailly then eventually)

Does Tim Taylor epic diasaster pop into anyone elses mind? Not trying to give you a hard time but this WILL FAIL.

Brent

A few side thoughts...

That is the exact live sand i used in my hex... seems to have came with lots of critters but none seened bad. Although with the size of pieces I had to stir manually weekly (with a plastic rod) because it compacted fairly tightly.

The plastic on the wall and over the stand... if you have the funds you could purchase a 4x8 sheet of clear acrylic at lowes or home depot and that would stop the water intrusion into the drywall and look alot nicer.

To protect the stand just get a can of kilz and oil based enamel. This will not only protect the wood but again look alot nicer. You could also skin the stand in lujan (1/4 flooring underlayment) the edges you could use outside corner molding for walls. This will change the stand from a 'ghetto' look to a homemade look. Not a tongue and groove professional cabinet maker look by any means but respectable.

Brent

I have a 2X4 going along the top of the legs on the back and on the sides that you can't really see from the pictures.  I didn't put it on the bottom of the legs.  I think the stand will be alright.  After putting it all together I sat on it and tried to rock it back and forth with my body weight.  It seemed to handle well.  I think it will be fine.  Its definetly not made to be a show tank.  I just want to use it as a frag tank.

Aquatic Aquaman said :

I have a 2X4 going along the top of the legs on the back and on the sides that you can't really see from the pictures.  I didn't put it on the bottom of the legs.  I think the stand will be alright.  After putting it all together I sat on it and tried to rock it back and forth with my body weight.  It seemed to handle well.  I think it will be fine.  Its definetly not made to be a show tank.  I just want to use it as a frag tank.

Brent

I weight 160.  But hopefully it will be alright.  Its completely full now and Its looking good.  Nothing looks like its buckling.  Since I used all the extra legs spaced about 6 inches apart I think the weight dispersed on those legs aren't that bad.  At least I'll cross my fingers.  If not its in my roomates room so the mess won't mess up anything of mine!

Scott, you said you were going to build a ghetto stand but I think you have redefined the term ghetto!

I would say that has to be more ghetto than useing 4xx4's and Cement blocks............and i thought i was ghetto.....

My only question would be did you brace or reinforce the center of the top piece of wood? cause it looks in the pic like it is bowing down some and its only half full! i think you should rethink the design a bit and add some Cross Braces and Brace the top. but then again i cant even cut a piece of wood straight ask Richard lol