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Stand Builder

Enter any tank. Get a best-practice 80/20-style aluminum stand, every part number, the cut list, and a 3D model you can stress test.

⚠ Use at your own risk. This is a planning tool built on conservative beam math and 80/20's published specs - not a stamped engineering design. Check every number, follow your tank maker's stand requirements, and get a pro to look at anything unusual. West Coast Reefers is not responsible for stand failures, leaks, or damage.

Common tank

Any size - type fractions like 36 1/4

Length

Depth

Height

Outside glass dimensions, any size from 12 to 144 in long and up to 48 in deep. The stand footprint matches the tank exactly.

Stand height

Floor to where the tank sits. 36-42 in is typical.

Sump

gal

Gear under stand

Rock + sand

Blank = estimate (220 lb at 2 lb/gal, the heavy side).

Top rails

Center legs

Plywood top panelSump shelfEnd caps

Loading 3D model…

✓ Passesbest-practice checks at full load

1545 top frame · 1530 bottom frame · 4 legs

No center legs - the front is fully open for sump access. 3 crossmembers split the top into 4 bays of 11 5/8" under a 3/4" panel. Legs are 26 1/4" long.

Top front/back rails0.018" / 0.031"

Top crossmembers0.001" / 0.022"

Top side rails0.001" / 0.022"

Top panel (between rails)0.005" / 0.012"

Sump shelf rails0.019" / 0.097"

Sag vs limit at full load. Under glass the limit is span/1000 and never past 1/32" (stricter than the usual span/720). Auto keeps every part at or under 80% of its limit. The top rails have 13.5x strength before the aluminum yields (minimum 4x).

Loads

Tank volume110 gal

Saltwater941 lb

Glass (est.)208 lb

Rock + sand220 lb

Leaning / working allowance50 lb

Top panel17 lb

Sump (brim-full) + gear312 lb

Stand itself111 lb aluminum

Total on the floor1,860 lb

Heaviest leg469 lb (foot 4.9x, buckling 19x)

A full tank is around 233 lb per sq ft of floor. On a raised wood floor, run joists perpendicular to the stand and check with a pro past ~100 gal.

Full parts list

Same design either way - TNUTZ parts are drop-in equivalents of the 80/20 part numbers. Prices from tnutz.com (current sale) and 8020.net, Oct 2026; check before you order.

Extrusion (cut to length)

TNUTZEX-1545	1.5" x 4.5" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1545) - cut to 48" (A: top front + back rails)cut to length, no cut fee	x2	$143.04
TNUTZEX-1545	1.5" x 4.5" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1545) - cut to 21" (B: top side rails + 3 crossmembers)cut to length, no cut fee	x5	$156.45
TNUTZEX-1515	1.5" x 1.5" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1515) - cut to 26 1/4" (C: legs)cut to length, no cut fee	x4	$57.75
TNUTZEX-1530	1.5" x 3" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1530) - cut to 48" (D: bottom front + back rails)cut to length, no cut fee	x2	$94.08
TNUTZEX-1530	1.5" x 3" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1530) - cut to 21" (E: bottom side rails + 3 crossmembers)cut to length, no cut fee	x5	$102.90
TNUTZEX-1515	1.5" x 1.5" T-slotted extrusion (= 80/20 1515) - cut to 9 1/8" (F: earthquake knee braces - square ends (no miter), tapped 5/16-18 both ends)cut to length + 2 end taps (0.75 each)	x8	$52.15

Brackets

TNUTZCB-015-L	15 Series 8-hole inside corner gusset (= 80/20 4338)	x32	$238.40
TNUTZCB-015-K	15 Series 4-hole inside corner gusset (= 80/20 4336)	x32	$168.00
TNUTZ45-DEG-SUP	15 Series 45-degree support connector, one pair per brace (screws + drop-in T-nuts included)one pair per knee brace	x8	$94.00

Fasteners

TNUTZCOMBO-015-A-FL	5/16-18 economy T-nut + .687" flanged button head screw (= 80/20 3320)384 for the brackets + spares (each is one screw + one T-nut)	x423	$207.27
TNUTZSHCS 5/16-18 x 1 1/4"	5/16-18 x 1 1/4" socket head cap screw (3/4" panel bolts) (= 80/20 3943)13 hold the top panel down + 2 spares	x15	$3.00
TNUTZSHCS 5/16-18 x 1 1/4"	5/16-18 x 1 1/4" socket head cap screw (3/4" panel bolts) (= 80/20 3943)13 hold the sump shelf down + 2 spares	x15	$3.00
TNUTZET-015	15 Series 5/16-18 economy T-nut (panel bolts) (= 80/20 3278)one per panel bolt + spares	x30	$5.70
TNUTZSAE washer 5/16	5/16 SAE flat washer (panel bolts) (= 80/20 3260)one per panel bolt + spares	x30	$1.80

Leveling feet

80/202194	Deluxe swivel leveling foot, 5/16-18 x 2" stud (2,300 lb rated)one under every leg - TNUTZ doesn't carry a rated 5/16-18 swivel foot, so order this from 80/20	x4	$81.04
TNUTZST-015 (5/16-18)	15 Series 5/16-18 standard T-nut (foot mount) (= 80/20 3203)threads the foot into the bottom rail's lower slot	x4	$1.92
TNUTZ5/16-18 hex nut	5/16-18 hex nut (jam nut that locks each foot) (= 80/20 3214)locks the foot so the load bears on the rail face	x4	$0.32

Finishing

TNUTZEC-015-B	15 Series 1.5" x 3" end cap (= 80/20 2045)for the exposed rail ends	x4	$3.80
TNUTZEC-015-D	15 Series 1.5" x 4.5" end cap (= 80/20 2046)for the exposed rail ends	x4	$4.20
TNUTZEC-015 push-in	Push-in fastener for the end capsone per slot cell on each cap	x20	$1.80

From the hardware store

Plywood	Top panel: 3/4" cabinet-grade plywood, 48" x 24". Seal every face and edge (paint or poly).	x1	-
Shelf	Sump shelf: 3/4" PVC board (or sealed plywood), 48" x 24", cut out 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" around each leg (4 cutouts). PVC never swells from spills.	x1	-

64 gusseted brackets · 384 bracket bolts · 26 cut piecesTNUTZ $1,339.58 + 80/20 $81.04Estimate $1,420.62 + shipping/tax

Hardware by joint

Where every bracket and bolt goes. Each 3320 is one screw plus one T-nut - load the T-nuts into the slots before you close the joint.

Joint	Joints	Bracket	3320 per	3320 total
Corner legs x4 to top + bottom rails (2 per end)	16	4336	4	64
Top frame joints (1545, inside faces)	16	4338	8	128
Top frame joints, third slot row (1545)	16	4336	4	64
Bottom frame joints (1530, inside faces)	16	4338	8	128
Earthquake knee braces x8 (every corner, both directions)	16	45-DEG-SUP	incl.	-
Leveling feet (foot + T-nut + jam nut)	4	2194	-	-

Show the mathHow the top deflection is worked out - check it by hand.›

1. Load on the top

Water, brim-full941 lb

Glass + rock + sand428 lb

Leaning allowance + top panel67 lb

Total on the top, T1,437 lb

Pressure q = T / (46 1/2" x 22 1/2")1.373 psi

2. Front/back rail (1545)

E (6063-T6, 80/20 spec)10,000,000 psi

I (80/20 spec, tall side vertical)5.6929 in⁴

Span s, leg center to leg center46 1/2"

front/back rail, one-way (panel spanning front to back): w = 15.74 lb/in0.0168"

front/back rail, tributary (bays + 3 crossmember point loads): w = 4.68 lb/in + 3 point loads0.0178"

Governing sag0.0178"

Limit = min(s / 1000, 1/32 in)0.0313"

Used57%

Bending stress M (h/2) / I1,846 psi (13.5x to yield)

One-way: 5 w s⁴ / (384 E I) with w = q c / 2 plus rail self weight (c = rail to rail; a middle rail takes 1.25 q c) - as if the panel only spanned front to back. Tributary: each panel bay sheds trapezoids to the long rails and triangles to the crossmembers (yield-line split, padded 10%); the crossmember ends land on the long rail as point loads, superposed with P b x (s² - b² - x²) / (6 s E I). The worse of the two governs. Spans are treated as simply supported - a rail running continuous over a center leg actually sags less.

3. The panel between rails

Bay (crossmember to crossmember x rail to rail)11 5/8" x 22 1/2"

Thickness t3/4"

Plywood E (taken low), ν1,200,000 psi, 0.3

D = E t³ / 12(1 - ν²)46,360 lb·in

Sag = α q b⁴ / D (Timoshenko, edges simply supported)0.0053"

Limit = min(b / 1000, 1/32 in)0.0116"

Used46%

Plywood alone, with no credit for the tank's bottom glass, which in reality stiffens it a lot. This is why the crossmembers are there: rails only hold the panel at its edges.

4. Crossmembers (1545)

Span, rail to rail22 1/2"

Sag, one-way end to end (interior strip)0.0012"

Limit0.0225"

5. Legs

Heaviest leg (a quarter of everything)469 lb

Euler buckling π² E I / (K L)², K = 219x

Leveling foot (2,300 lb rated)4.9x

Cut list

ATop front + back rails1545 · 4.5" tall side up2 @ 48"

BTop side rails + 3 crossmembers1545 · 4.5" tall side up5 @ 21"

CLegs1515 · 1.5" tall side up4 @ 26 1/4"

DBottom front + back rails1530 · 3" tall side up2 @ 48"

EBottom side rails + 3 crossmembers1530 · 3" tall side up5 @ 21"

FEarthquake knee braces - square ends (no miter), tapped 5/16-18 both ends1515 · 1.5" tall side up8 @ 9 1/8"

Tools

3/16" hex key or hex bit (bracket screws; 80/20 panel screws too)
1/4" hex key (TNUTZ socket-head panel screws)
1/2" wrench (jam nuts on the feet)
A 24"+ level, a framing square, and a straightedge as long as the stand
Tape measure, rubber mallet, drill + 11/32" bit for the panel bolt holes

Build order

Order everything cut to length by 80/20 (they hold about 1/32"). Ask for square ends - no machining needed with this design.
Slide-in T-nuts only go in from an open end. Before closing any joint, load every T-nut that slot will need - brackets, panel bolts, the feet - plus a few spares for lights, controllers and cable clips later.
Build the bottom frame on a flat floor: side rails and crossmembers between the front and back rails, a gusset on both sides of every joint. Measure both diagonals - equal diagonals means square.
Thread a jam nut onto each foot, then into a T-nut in the bottom slot directly under where each leg will stand.
Stand the legs on the bottom frame and bracket each one in both directions. The top of every leg must be dead level with the others.
Build the top frame the same way, set it on the legs (it rests on their ends - that's the load path), and bracket every leg to it.
Add the knee braces at every corner, both directions. The brace ends are cut square - the cast 45-degree connectors make the angle. Screw a connector onto each tapped brace end (the 1-inch screws), drop its T-nuts into the leg and rail slots (the 5/8-inch screws), slide the brace up until it's snug, and tighten. They're earthquake bracing - the stand holds the tank without them, they stop it racking sideways.
Move the stand into place, level it with the feet, then lock each jam nut up against the rail so the weight bears on the rail face.
Drill the top panel at the bolt spots, bolt it down, and check it flat with a straightedge in both directions. Follow your tank maker's rules on leveling mats (rimless tanks usually say none).
Set the tank, fill it a few inches, and re-check level before filling the rest.

Hardware by joint

Where every bracket and bolt goes. Each 3320 is one screw plus one T-nut - load the T-nuts into the slots before you close the joint.

Joint	Joints	Bracket	3320 per	3320 total
Corner legs x4 to top + bottom rails (2 per end)	16	4336	4	64
Top frame joints (1545, inside faces)	16	4338	8	128
Top frame joints, third slot row (1545)	16	4336	4	64
Bottom frame joints (1530, inside faces)	16	4338	8	128
Earthquake knee braces x8 (every corner, both directions)	16	45-DEG-SUP	incl.	-
Leveling feet (foot + T-nut + jam nut)	4	2194	-	-

Cut list

ATop front + back rails1545 · 4.5" tall side up2 @ 48"

BTop side rails + 3 crossmembers1545 · 4.5" tall side up5 @ 21"

CLegs1515 · 1.5" tall side up4 @ 26 1/4"

DBottom front + back rails1530 · 3" tall side up2 @ 48"

EBottom side rails + 3 crossmembers1530 · 3" tall side up5 @ 21"

FEarthquake knee braces - square ends (no miter), tapped 5/16-18 both ends1515 · 1.5" tall side up8 @ 9 1/8"

Tools

3/16" hex key or hex bit (bracket screws; 80/20 panel screws too)

1/4" hex key (TNUTZ socket-head panel screws)

1/2" wrench (jam nuts on the feet)

A 24"+ level, a framing square, and a straightedge as long as the stand

Tape measure, rubber mallet, drill + 11/32" bit for the panel bolt holes

Build order

Order everything cut to length by 80/20 (they hold about 1/32"). Ask for square ends - no machining needed with this design.

Slide-in T-nuts only go in from an open end. Before closing any joint, load every T-nut that slot will need - brackets, panel bolts, the feet - plus a few spares for lights, controllers and cable clips later.

Build the bottom frame on a flat floor: side rails and crossmembers between the front and back rails, a gusset on both sides of every joint. Measure both diagonals - equal diagonals means square.

Thread a jam nut onto each foot, then into a T-nut in the bottom slot directly under where each leg will stand.

Stand the legs on the bottom frame and bracket each one in both directions. The top of every leg must be dead level with the others.

Build the top frame the same way, set it on the legs (it rests on their ends - that's the load path), and bracket every leg to it.

Add the knee braces at every corner, both directions. The brace ends are cut square - the cast 45-degree connectors make the angle. Screw a connector onto each tapped brace end (the 1-inch screws), drop its T-nuts into the leg and rail slots (the 5/8-inch screws), slide the brace up until it's snug, and tighten. They're earthquake bracing - the stand holds the tank without them, they stop it racking sideways.

Move the stand into place, level it with the feet, then lock each jam nut up against the rail so the weight bears on the rail face.

Drill the top panel at the bolt spots, bolt it down, and check it flat with a straightedge in both directions. Follow your tank maker's rules on leveling mats (rimless tanks usually say none).

Set the tank, fill it a few inches, and re-check level before filling the rest.