Show Us Your T-Slot Aluminum Stands !
- Thread starter Finatik
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BillFish Coral Lover
Most Excellent Member
Build in process. T-slot all the way. Mine is from Framing Tech. 45/45. 40”x21”x35. With leveling casters (yes, leveling casters that you can use to move, then set down and level the tank), add about 3.5”, plus the top, and it’ll be about 39”.
Salt spray, schmalt spray. Let’s see how wood holds up to it - oh, yeah, it doesn’t! That’s why I got t-slot. My last stand, though solidly built of real wood, sagged and looked terrible after 12 years. This will hold up forever. Literally. And look good while doing it.
Oh, and if I want to change to a larger tank, parts of it will be usable on the new stand. If I go deeper only, the lengths and uprights will work. Longer only, only the long rails need to come out. And even if I go longer and deeper, the height and light rack profiles will still work on the new stand. Try that with wood.
The long profiles on the bottom of the stack are light rack. No suspending from the ceiling, just the stand itself, like a floating canopy. They will also support my back panel.
Thanks for asking. I’m loving the pictures you guys are posting, too!
Salt spray, schmalt spray. Let’s see how wood holds up to it - oh, yeah, it doesn’t! That’s why I got t-slot. My last stand, though solidly built of real wood, sagged and looked terrible after 12 years. This will hold up forever. Literally. And look good while doing it.
Oh, and if I want to change to a larger tank, parts of it will be usable on the new stand. If I go deeper only, the lengths and uprights will work. Longer only, only the long rails need to come out. And even if I go longer and deeper, the height and light rack profiles will still work on the new stand. Try that with wood.
The long profiles on the bottom of the stack are light rack. No suspending from the ceiling, just the stand itself, like a floating canopy. They will also support my back panel.
Thanks for asking. I’m loving the pictures you guys are posting, too!
BillFish Coral Lover
Most Excellent Member
The bigger the better - and all the more reason to use t-slot! It’s the erector set for adult children, like me!
This is the stand for my 310g, I had Alufab design and manufacture it for me.
BillFish Coral Lover
Most Excellent Member
Check your inbox for pm.
Last edited:
BillFish Coral Lover
Most Excellent Member
THAT’s your LFS! Oh, my….I just visited the LFS in Orlando and they had an impressive tslot stand.
Mattiejay6
Valuable Member
my work in progress Alufab stand. I am not skinning, as I want an open concept stand.
FinalPhaze987
Community Member
Had mine done with Alufab. Awesome people to work with. By far the best service offered when I was shopping around. Im currently working with Michael on a matching expansion box to house my ATO reservoir and a switch panel.
GBRsouth
Valuable Member
This was a really great thread to read. I was wondering if anyone could provide input on adding a horizontal beam down the middle of my Waterbox ALU4820 stand. Was wondering if it would be frowned upon or if it could possibly provide some additional structural integrity. Have a few extra pieces of T slot so just was curious.
I highlighted the additional beams I was considering adding. Appreciate your time and input.
If you do this, ensure it is definitely not higher than the front and back pieces of t-slot, as the tank could then potentially not be supported across it's full front to back dimension and be able to rock slightly. (This would put too much pressure on the bottom pane of glass along it's centre.) You can do it, as long as you ensure it is not higher.
Doc’sReef
New Member
Thank you for your reply. Yes thanks for pointing that out, that was my thought as well. I’ve made sure to keep it slightly lower and my hopeful intent was to help with overall stand stability.
If you want to stiffen the stand, 45 degree braces on the legs are you best option for that. A horizontal brace will allow it to hold more weight but won’t actually stiffen it much. These are the 45’s on my stand
Attachments
I personally like this type better which uses a piece of extrusion cut at 45 degree angles. Since your stand is already assembled you will want drop in t-nuts that have a ball detent (I included a picture)Thanks you for the recommendation, I’ll try that out as well!
To attach this do I just use a small piece of aluminum t slot and attach it with a corner gusset?
Thanks!
Doc’sReef
New Member
Thanks for taking the time to reply and the feedback. Would that item you posted a link to work on 2020 aluminum T slot? I wasn’t sure what the 80/20 represented? I could not find a 45 degree 2020 precut piece so I wasn’t t sure if this was a universal fit.
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
Mattiejay6
Valuable Member
Tnuts website is usually muchhhhh cheaper for sourcing t slotted stuff fyi
Mattiejay6
Valuable Member
Updated photo
GBRsouth
Valuable Member
80/20 refers to the cross sectional dimensions in millimetres. 80mm x 20 mm.
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