Dado joints always sounded intimidating to me until I watched this video. I love the design of this rack and you did an awesome job explaining everything. Thank you! This is how I'll build future racks in the fish room
A few things I noticed being a woodworker. First you should have taken a staightening cut on the factory cut on the 2x6. Also use the chisel bevel side down. You have more control. Next time make yourself a drilling jig. That way your screws are all in line. It just takes it up a notch.Your screws stand proud in some cases and countersunk in others. Washer head Spax screws would solve that problem 2x4 or 2x 6 doesn't matter. The stress is straight down. In fact I have an 8' stand holding 14 tanks with 2x3s. The rails stand 1/2" proud of the legs and looks good. Where you joined the rails (horizontal members) you might as well have just made two stands. It would be stronger. Where those pieces meet, since you didn't stagger the joints, is the weak spot. I have stands I didn't paint since they are in a hatchery. Just from water spills etc the bottoms of the legs rotted away in a couple of years. Paint them. It's a lot easier, and better, to paint the stand before assembly. If you want to avoid having to patch the wood then be judicious in choosing the wood. Taking time to search out straight, smooth lumber at the store saves tons of time in the cutting, construction, and painting of the stand.
Thanks G for all the detail in the build. Detailed instruction is what is required to have a successful build. Anyone that follows your instructions should be able to make a great rack system. Thanks again and keep up the project instruction. Luv it.
Very nice rack Greg. Im saving this build for possible future copy, or a close variation. Moving my tanks from family rooms into one great room, over the next months. To consolidate them on a wall rack like this would make them more uniform and free up smaller metal racks for small breeding tanks. Enjoyed this build and vid. Thanks.
Great DIY instruction, Thank You G! The only addition I would make is to clamp the saw guide in place for the most accurate and stable First cut only. vs holding it by hand. The other dado cuts are just to clear the full notch.
Nice work, and appreciate you sharing. One area of confusion for me is I understand you to say you be using all 50 gallon low boys. 50 gallon low boys are all 48” in length. You showed on the first section you have roughly 1/2” wiggle room on either side = 1inch total per section. When I calculate the length of 2x4 required for 2 sections an 8 footer is too short. My reasoning: (a) 1-1/2” at the beginning sitting in the dado cut (b) each tank is 48” - 2X48”= 96” (c) 1/2” wiggle room on each end of each aquarium = 2” (d) middle leg of 2 tank sections uses 1.5” (e) the 3rd leg uses 3/4” Total required is 101-3/4”. Meaning 8 ft (96”) is too short.
Very nice work! I have the tools and skills to build a rack, I’m just wondering if it might be easier to buy a rack from Costco as I’m just doing 10 and 20 gallons.
Good info, thank you. Just curious, is the dado cut across the top really needed for structural integrity? I mean, what if the 2x6 was a couple inches shorter and the 2x4 rail just laid flat across instead? With horizontally laid crossmembers covering the remainder of the 2x6’s? I hope that makes sense. Short version, what if the top layer of rails was just laid down flat on top of the 2x6’s without any dado cuts up there, instead of standing on their edges in the dado cuts? 😃👍
Great video and very useful. Do you think this would be also fine for 80-90 gallons tanks ? Also about the verticals 2x6 ( 5x15 cm ) I think that 6x12 cm would be even better ?
Greg, Please use plastic wedges not wood wedges ,reason over time the wood wedge will give because of monster on the floor. You can get them in the plumbing dept. at any big box store. Like the rack ,you must have some carpentry experience. Like you work ethics also. Maybe you should a teacher in carpentry also.
Hi Greg, just wanted to say this is the first video of yours I've seen and it was perfect for what I was looking for! I've been looking at numerous rack videos and hadn't quite found what I was looking for. Really good explanations throughout. Just 1 question - is there a reason you used deck screws or would any suffice? Cheers, Neil (PS now subscribed 😉)
2x4 is equivalent to 50mm x 100mm and 2x6 is equivalent to 50mm x 150mm. I’m in New Zealand and 50mm x 100mm is standard construction timber but is often referred to as 2x4 even though we have been metric standard for all my life 😬
Hi Greg I love the design and would like to make my own tank rack, my question is do you think 2x4 legs would be strong enough to support 29gal tanks (two tanks tall by 4 tanks wide) or would I have to use 2x6 legs like yours?
Dado joints always sounded intimidating to me until I watched this video. I love the design of this rack and you did an awesome job explaining everything. Thank you! This is how I'll build future racks in the fish room
I vote this best fish related build on TH-cam! Great job
Thanks!
A few things I noticed being a woodworker. First you should have taken a staightening cut on the factory cut on the 2x6. Also use the chisel bevel side down. You have more control. Next time make yourself a drilling jig. That way your screws are all in line. It just takes it up a notch.Your screws stand proud in some cases and countersunk in others. Washer head Spax screws would solve that problem 2x4 or 2x 6 doesn't matter. The stress is straight down. In fact I have an 8' stand holding 14 tanks with 2x3s. The rails stand 1/2" proud of the legs and looks good. Where you joined the rails (horizontal members) you might as well have just made two stands. It would be stronger. Where those pieces meet, since you didn't stagger the joints, is the weak spot.
I have stands I didn't paint since they are in a hatchery. Just from water spills etc the bottoms of the legs rotted away in a couple of years. Paint them. It's a lot easier, and better, to paint the stand before assembly. If you want to avoid having to patch the wood then be judicious in choosing the wood. Taking time to search out straight, smooth lumber at the store saves tons of time in the cutting, construction, and painting of the stand.
Great info !
Replying in hopes that I can find this later when it comes time to build my stands. TY for the info.
@@aarhud If you really want to see stands built well and sturdy look at Ted Judy's youtube on making stands.
Could you tell me what are the measurements of those aquariums in centimeters please
@@salvadorlara1065 use an online converter
2 years later and im about to build this for 40g breeders. Thanks for the ideas. Hope all is well and miss your videos.
Thanks G for all the detail in the build. Detailed instruction is what is required to have a successful build. Anyone that follows your instructions should be able to make a great rack system.
Thanks again and keep up the project instruction. Luv it.
What a great build. Good carpentry skills. Impressive.
+1 for dado style racks and 2x6. That’s all I use in my fish room. Less wood, easy to build, and strong enough to support a semi truck.
I agree, after building this, i'd never build anything else, it's as close to perfect as you can get with DIY
Thanks for the walkthrough! This is like my dream rack for plants, I love those lowboys
This is really good timing. I am getting ready to build a bunch of new racks since I'm moving the fish room to garage. Thanks!
Nice job on the stand build. You definitely put a lot of time/effort into your videos, which is noticeable. Keep up the good work.
Thanks!
VERY NICE CONSTRUCTION
This was Awesome well done Greg
Very nice rack Greg. Im saving this build for possible future copy, or a close variation. Moving my tanks from family rooms into one great room, over the next months. To consolidate them on a wall rack like this would make them more uniform and free up smaller metal racks for small breeding tanks. Enjoyed this build and vid. Thanks.
I’ve built many of this style stands. Great video Greg👍
Woooo !!! Looking awesome !
Thanks this helped me alot. The garage tank wall looks great.
Came out awesome Greg!
Absolutely a Great Big Rack!
Nothing like the satisfaction of cleaning up those dados!
Great job here mate. Very impressive.
Great DIY instruction, Thank You G!
The only addition I would make is to clamp the saw guide in place for the most accurate and stable First cut only. vs holding it by hand. The other dado cuts are just to clear the full notch.
I considered it, but it was easy enough to operate with one hand
Can't wait to see them filled with fishys and water... but looking forward to the rest of the build as well!
Nice work, and appreciate you sharing. One area of confusion for me is I understand you to say you be using all 50 gallon low boys. 50 gallon low boys are all 48” in length. You showed on the first section you have roughly 1/2” wiggle room on either side = 1inch total per section.
When I calculate the length of 2x4 required for 2 sections an 8 footer is too short. My reasoning:
(a) 1-1/2” at the beginning sitting in the dado cut
(b) each tank is 48” - 2X48”= 96”
(c) 1/2” wiggle room on each end of each aquarium = 2”
(d) middle leg of 2 tank sections uses 1.5”
(e) the 3rd leg uses 3/4”
Total required is 101-3/4”. Meaning 8 ft (96”) is too short.
Nice work!
GReat stuff Greg, The only thing I would do differently is put a middle brace for each tank, to support the middle of the tank.
What a great video. Cheers
Great video!
Yay so excited love love building fish tank stands. One day I will build a rack. P.s. we love love love our #MyAquariumBox we got yesterday.
way cool , Im so diggin this project!
Very nice work! I have the tools and skills to build a rack, I’m just wondering if it might be easier to buy a rack from Costco as I’m just doing 10 and 20 gallons.
i wish i could chisel that neatly lol
Good info, thank you. Just curious, is the dado cut across the top really needed for structural integrity? I mean, what if the 2x6 was a couple inches shorter and the 2x4 rail just laid flat across instead? With horizontally laid crossmembers covering the remainder of the 2x6’s?
I hope that makes sense. Short version, what if the top layer of rails was just laid down flat on top of the 2x6’s without any dado cuts up there, instead of standing on their edges in the dado cuts?
😃👍
Great video and very useful. Do you think this would be also fine for 80-90 gallons tanks ? Also about the verticals 2x6 ( 5x15 cm ) I think that 6x12 cm would be even better ?
PERFECT !!!!!
Thanks
Would be nice to see what you're actually doing!
When I built a similar rack for a dozen 20l it was the levelling that drove me insane. Levelling is my kryptonite.
With enough shims anything can be made level
Four years later, and I’m about to build this for a series of 40B tanks
Greg, Please use plastic wedges not wood wedges ,reason over time the wood wedge will give because of monster on the floor.
You can get them in the plumbing dept. at any big box store. Like the rack ,you must have some carpentry experience. Like you work ethics also. Maybe you should a teacher in carpentry also.
Good idea, thx!
Good suggestion
Stand looking good looking forward to you setting all the fish room up.... I'm pinching your stand build.... keep tanking from me just_b_aquatics
Hi Greg, just wanted to say this is the first video of yours I've seen and it was perfect for what I was looking for! I've been looking at numerous rack videos and hadn't quite found what I was looking for. Really good explanations throughout.
Just 1 question - is there a reason you used deck screws or would any suffice? Cheers, Neil (PS now subscribed 😉)
Hy,nice work!!! I have a question, I’m from Europe and I don’t understand what mean 2x4 and 2x6! How mani centimetres or inches are? Thanx
2x4 is equivalent to 50mm x 100mm and 2x6 is equivalent to 50mm x 150mm. I’m in New Zealand and 50mm x 100mm is standard construction timber but is often referred to as 2x4 even though we have been metric standard for all my life 😬
I just visited a fish room where he had bowing in the middle.. Hopefully the 2x6 counters that
How long were the spans? 6 ft? 8ft? It shouldn't happen at 4ft
Well done you used just enough wood many people use way more wood than they need...
Is it built to be disassembled and re-assembled?
sure, you just have to back the screws out, label the parts, and use a deadblow hammer to free any boards wedged into a dado joint
Nice
hey do u not need to put a plywood in the bottom of each tank? pls reply! thanks!!!
Hi Greg I love the design and would like to make my own tank rack, my question is do you think 2x4 legs would be strong enough to support 29gal tanks (two tanks tall by 4 tanks wide) or would I have to use 2x6 legs like yours?
2x4 legs are fine
Greg Jones thank you very much for replying, I’d still use the dato as well right?
@@yardman0132 yes!
Hey Greg how can i get on of them.low boys over to England..
Or next best thing xould i have the low boy tank dimensions please. Thanks dude.
48"x24"x10" I think you may need to custom build it in the UK
Screw length?
Could you tell me what are the measurements of those aquariums in centimeters please
Dado blade?
Too many commercials,