I know we have some creative welders in here...

MrSquid

MrSquid

New member
#1
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
379
Likes
2
Points
0
Location
Venice, CA
#1
I'm putting together a grow-out system with a 26x24x10" frag tank and a 24x13x10" sump. The trick is the sump will be above the frag tank, and on a shelf so i can slide the frag tank out from under the cabinet that will be a few inches above it.

I've got a plan in my head on how to build it with wood, but I'm thinking I could have could built with metal and safe a a couple of inches on the system overall.

Should be an interesting setup for someone to figure out. I'm attaching a sketch of what I originally came up with, as well as a photo of where it will be going. (right side by extension cord - water mixing station will be on the left)


 
gumbii

gumbii

2
#2
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
19,546
Likes
334
Points
83
Location
bell gardens
#2
you better call nasa for them heavy duty drawer slides... LOL... that sump is going to be around 13.5 gallons if it's full to the brim... say 13 gallons, and only holds 10 gallons of water... plus equipment and everything... well, maybe... are there any slides that can handle 100 lbs, plus whatever the tank itself is made of... then sliding it around will suck... sliding the water...
 
MrSquid

MrSquid

New member
#3
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
379
Likes
2
Points
0
Location
Venice, CA
#3
There are slides that hold 500# and there are slow-closers, so I'm not scared about finding ones heavy duty enough. The sump will have eurobracing and the water level will be low enough so sloshing shouldn't be an issue.

It'll have some rubble, macro & a small pump for circulation. Skimmer will be in the lower tank.

I'd LIKE to think I've got all the bases covered. Hopefully....
 
MrSquid

MrSquid

New member
#6
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
379
Likes
2
Points
0
Location
Venice, CA
#6
No takers? Last night I was thinking I could go with t-slot to build this. It wouldn't gain me much space, but it'd look pretty slick.
 
oredith

oredith

2
#7
Joined
Sep 9, 2013
Messages
4,628
Likes
32
Points
48
Location
Long Beach CA
#7
i would not advise building this out of wood. as with all of these types of constructions, the weak points are at the points of connection. your slides may hold 500 lbs, but how much shear force do you think your screws / nuts / bolts can hold?

answer, not nearly that much.

also, 2 things.

1. the slides are not going to be rust proof unless you're going to spend a few bills EACH on fully stainless steel rails. i honestly don't even know if they make em.

2. counterbalancing. if you slide out the bottom, at least there's the weight of the top tank to hold the bottom down. when you slide the top out, you're creating a tremendous amount of torsional force, tipping the entire assembly down toward the ground. when the top is cantilevered, the force is not 1:1, so even if the bottom has more weight at rest, it's not enough to ballast the top when slid out.

I would personally not want to do something like this.
 
lurking

lurking

2
#9
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
6,741
Likes
84
Points
48
Location
Long Beach
#9
oredith said:
i would not advise building this out of wood. as with all of these types of constructions, the weak points are at the points of connection. your slides may hold 500 lbs, but how much shear force do you think your screws / nuts / bolts can hold?

answer, not nearly that much.

also, 2 things.

1. the slides are not going to be rust proof unless you're going to spend a few bills EACH on fully stainless steel rails. i honestly don't even know if they make em.

2. counterbalancing. if you slide out the bottom, at least there's the weight of the top tank to hold the bottom down. when you slide the top out, you're creating a tremendous amount of torsional force, tipping the entire assembly down toward the ground. when the top is cantilevered, the force is not 1:1, so even if the bottom has more weight at rest, it's not enough to ballast the top when slid out.

I would personally not want to do something like this.
Click to expand...

way to go Debbie Downer. Why would you pull down your pants and just poo all over the idea? You are the worlds greatest designer. Lets hear some solution....
 
oredith

oredith

2
#10
Joined
Sep 9, 2013
Messages
4,628
Likes
32
Points
48
Location
Long Beach CA
#10
well, didn't want to go SUPER downer, but i seriously doubt that the countertop is even designed to withstand that amount of weight.

those look like they're pre-fab units out of particle board that are shipped to the locations pre-assembled and then just laid in place on a base, and then a top added over the whole thing. I could be wrong, but i kinda doubt it. opening the cabinet to look into the back would provide the information. if there's just one solid panel of particle board, it's not gonna cut it, if it's got series of 2x4 or 2x6, it'll hold the weight.

anyways, the weight actually shouldn't be too bad, i would need to know the actual clearances and what's underneath the counter.

regardless, i would personally NOT want to do a slide out. there's just way too many points of failure for a system that's got enough moving parts already.

i mean, something simple - how's the drain gonna work? flexible hose is only so flexible. how's it gonna work fully slid out?
 
oredith

oredith

2
#12
Joined
Sep 9, 2013
Messages
4,628
Likes
32
Points
48
Location
Long Beach CA
#12
the only thing even remotely related on that thread, is that he used slides, which was used to hold a laptop tray, not the tank.

i did see that they make SS slides though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top