Does anybody know if it would be safe to cut a hole in my stand, in order to fit my sump under the stand. I know it will fit in their, but I cant fit it inside it because of the braces...can I cut a hole in the side of the stand (that i will have to live with) and git it in that way. The wood is thin. about maybe an inch. Im just wondering how that will affect the structural integrity. I think it would be safe because thats not actualy holding up the tank...or is it?
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It looks like 3/4 inch oak. Strong enough, but I wouldn't take a hunk out of the side of your stand. I would take out the back middle piece of 3/4 inch oak, put in your sump, and add some 2" x 4"s in the rear for support after the sump is in.
Would it be possible to slide the tank out and put the sump in through the back?
Ditto. Looks like nothing is in the tank yet - slide it out, take the middle piece out, and then like above- slide 'er in, add some extra support, and push tank back against the wall....no ugly hole to regret
For note, if your ever have to do this with a full tank, there's a guy I found on google a week or so ago, he braced the heck out of it in the far back, ran a board under the tank coming straight out both front doors with legs on them going down and some bracing to keep them square, and then he knocked out the middle brace in the front, put the sump in, replaced the brace, knocked down his temporary braces and viola.
I'd suggest you be confident you know what kind of weight you're putting on your uprights and how far out they need to be, but otherwise it was a pretty slick way of doing it.