cutting tank stand w full tank

[danzig]

ok strange situation here. I have a aqueon 72 bowfront, with the factory stand. the only way to get a sump in there, is too do it with the tank off, and put it in from the top. Long story short, i undersized my sump and need to put a new one in. The only way, and the most logical way to get it out and put a new one in, is to cut the center brace that is in between the 2 doors. The issue is that i have a tank on the stand with 72 gallons of water, 70ish lbs of LR, and 60 lbs of sand. Thats an easy 1,000+ lbs. Has anyone done this before? the support is a 2x4 and is screwed in with decking screws. I could use a saws-all with a metal blade, cutting it is not the problem. Im just worried about the weight issue. any input/advice?

 

[Pat02026]

I did this with my 65 while almost full (I emptied about 20-25 gallons out of the display); however the stand was solid, not strips like the AGA/aqueon stands. They are obviously built to handle the weight, but I question their durability looking at how they're designed. the stand my tank was on had a piece of 3/4" plywood as the top (that the tank sat on) and I was able to use 3 2x4's to support the front of the tank from under the top "shelf" of the stand. Basically made a bridge to wedge under it after the doors were taken off then cut the brace out swapped the sump and screwed the brace back in.

Is there any livestock in the tank? if not it would be worthwhile to grab a pair of brute trash barrels (38 gal medium ones) pump the water into those have a friend there to lend a hand and just pick up the tank to make the sump swap. If I was to do it again this is the route I would go since the amount of aggravation and the stress factor of modifying a stand while supporting full weight is not worth the risk. I didn't even use the AGA stand that came with my tank as I didn't trust it, looked really cheap.

 

[Skeeter7424]

Yeah I would say NO to cutting this while it was full of water. Pump almost all of the water into tubs. Then cut what you need to. Take the fish out if you need to. Take the corals out if you don't think you can get this done in 15 or less minutes.

Also, you tank only weighs about 576 pounds +-... (gallon of water is around 8 pounds...)

 

[delta]

I did it with a 110g but I just used a 2x6 to span the distance not as big a deal on a 4 foot tank. I just removed the screws then used a block of wood and a mallet to remove the center brace so I could re use it.

You can put a brace on the back wall to support a few 2x6's then make a support out in front of the tank to support the other end of the 2x6's just leave enough room to slide the sump in.
you are asking a lot of 2x4 and any movement could be catastrophic with a bow front. And to be honest cutting is a problem if the sawsall binds the amount of stress you will put on the stand will be substantial. So if you cut the brace out make sure you take the weight off the center brace but that's tough one and a bit of a risk. not seeing the stand it is hard to give exact advice as to how to go about it. but there are some guidelines. It is a risk one you take on your own as there is a chance you could ruin the stand and/or the tank.

 

[jackd625]

I'm not sure if this would work on a bowfront stand but I happened to have been looking at this the other day:
http://www.melevsreef.com/install_sump.html

Instead of cutting out the center brace, try cutting the side. I would think that the center piece handles a bit of the weight and itd be a risk to cut it.


Disclaimer: I'm just guessing, so only take what I say with a grain of salt...

 

[dz6t]

For a bow front tank, the center brace on the stand is supporting quite a lot of weight. I wont risk to cut it with full tank.
Since you just started, consider it is a chance to redo your aquascape.

 

[danzig]

I'm not sure if this would work on a bowfront stand but I happened to have been looking at this the other day:
http://www.melevsreef.com/install_sump.html

Instead of cutting out the center brace, try cutting the side. I would think that the center piece handles a bit of the weight and itd be a risk to cut it.


Disclaimer: I'm just guessing, so only take what I say with a grain of salt...

cant cut the side, its a bowfront stand so the side is too small to get the sump out, already thought of that one.

For a bow front tank, the center brace on the stand is supporting quite a lot of weight. I wont risk to cut it with full tank.
Since you just started, consider it is a chance to redo your aquascape.

no livestock, but i spent 4+ hours straight doing the aquascape ill burn my house down before i go through that again lol. im 4 days into cycle. I could theoretically empty the whole tank of water and lift it, but i really really dont want to take down the rockwork. i might have to though. talking with some1 through pm about cutting center brace. That seems easier while i know it is risky. I might just empty half the water to take weight off, cut the brace, put a temp brace in while i slide the new sump in, then put the old one in. not sure yet getting diff opinions still.

 

[danzig]

Heres some pics to give you guys an idea.

 

[vp6799]

Did you get the stand used or new? It looks different from mine. I got mine new and the center support brace is no where near as thick as yours? Also I only have 1 support brace in the center rear as yours looks like it has 2?

I'm in the same situation as you are with the sump. I chose not to cut the stand because of reliability issues. If I have to empty most of the water out to cut the stand up, then i'm just going to empty it all out and have some friends help me move the tank so the sump can go in from the top.

Vic

 

[HuuTa]

i think that sump is good enough.u have all live rock in the dt and the purpose of a sump is to keep all the equitment out of site.u have a refugium in there too so leaves yourself some space for reacter on the side.imo

 

[jfourn83]

Nothing wrong with that sump

 

[willray]

Except its almost full already and doesn't look like it would handle any extra water if he looses power.
Can you go from and end?

 

[banshee1]

You have no live stock.just drain the water into tubs.leave your rock in.cut brace , replace sump,replace brace, pump water back in..done

 

[reeferpj]

ok just my 2 cences i didnt read all the post but. i have a 155 bow i was gonna do that but didnt. i have moved and now were the tank is i can see betwen the tank and the stand at the center brace. im not saying to do it just telling you what i see with mine

 

[danzig]

Did you get the stand used or new? It looks different from mine. I got mine new and the center support brace is no where near as thick as yours? Also I only have 1 support brace in the center rear as yours looks like it has 2?

I'm in the same situation as you are with the sump. I chose not to cut the stand because of reliability issues. If I have to empty most of the water out to cut the stand up, then i'm just going to empty it all out and have some friends help me move the tank so the sump can go in from the top.

Vic

i modded it, i put in some actual 2x4 studs because im on the 2nd floor and i dont trust just that weak strapping.

Nothing wrong with that sump

no room for backflow if power goes out.

Except its almost full already and doesn't look like it would handle any extra water if he looses power.
Can you go from and end?

exactly, and no i cant go from an end, the sump is wider than the end of the stand.

You have no live stock.just drain the water into tubs.leave your rock in.cut brace , replace sump,replace brace, pump water back in..done

can i do this with over 100 lbs of rock/sand in it?

ok just my 2 cences i didnt read all the post but. i have a 155 bow i was gonna do that but didnt. i have moved and now were the tank is i can see betwen the tank and the stand at the center brace. im not saying to do it just telling you what i see with mine

im not sure what you mean.

 

[vp6799]

i modded it, i put in some actual 2x4 studs because im on the 2nd floor and i dont trust just that weak strapping.

I'm on the third floor, so I know your feeling....lol

Do you have any better pics of what you did to the stand? I'll pm you my info.

I think your best bet is draining the tank and slide the sump in from the top. Drain it partially prior to doing it. Then when your absolutely ready, finish draining it and move the tank to insert the sump and fill it back up. It'll probably only be empty for 10-15 min max.

Just make sure to remove any fish and/or corals that are in there.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[delta]

Do what I did when I changed out my sand bed in my 135g take everything out and put it in a stock tank this gives you all the time in the world. then just put it back in when you are done. must be someone around here that could lend you one.

For me, I would risk it. I have done it and had no issue, but I also do a lot of cabinet works so removing the center brace was second nature for me. But to be honest the stock tank move takes 99% of the worry/stress/risk out of the equation so might make a lot of sense to take the safer route.

Adding:
The stand I removed it on was an old oceanic stand not one of the AGA/Aqueon stands. The AGA/Aqueon stands leave a lot to be desired and it seriously increases your risk of something going wrong especially if there is no continuous top on the stand.

 

[danzig]

I'm on the third floor, so I know your feeling....lol

Do you have any better pics of what you did to the stand? I'll pm you my info.

I think your best bet is draining the tank and slide the sump in from the top. Drain it partially prior to doing it. Then when your absolutely ready, finish draining it and move the tank to insert the sump and fill it back up. It'll probably only be empty for 10-15 min max.

Just make sure to remove any fish and/or corals that are in there.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have not livestock, i think im just going to drain 30 gallons out and then throw in a temp support thats not in the middle, it will allow me to get the new 29 gal i have in there, the stand is 48'' the new and old sumps are 30'' so i just need a little more room to work with.

Do what I did when I changed out my sand bed in my 135g take everything out and put it in a stock tank this gives you all the time in the world. then just put it back in when you are done. must be someone around here that could lend you one.

For me, I would risk it. I have done it and had no issue, but I also do a lot of cabinet works so removing the center brace was second nature for me. But to be honest the stock tank move takes 99% of the worry/stress/risk out of the equation so might make a lot of sense to take the safer route.

Adding:
The stand I removed it on was an old oceanic stand not one of the AGA/Aqueon stands. The AGA/Aqueon stands leave a lot to be desired and it seriously increases your risk of something going wrong especially if there is no continuous top on the stand.

Not sure what you mean exactly. Whats a stock tank?

 

[mchartier]

Not sure what you mean exactly. Whats a stock tank?

You can get them at tracker supply, some ACE Hardware stores, and any farm supply store should have them

 

[danzig]

You can get them at tracker supply, some ACE Hardware stores, and any farm supply store should have them

is that just a rubbermaid bin basically? because i have one of those. maybe a 30/40 gallon one.