I think this is the spot??

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...3/IMG_0115.jpg

I'm an accountant and this thread still boggles my mind haha.

That'd be the one, but I'm taking out the existing shelves, cause they're thin and warped

Wow MrFish that's a great idea. Glue + pocketscrews with that design and you have a very solid true surface! I'd swear some 2x4s are so bad you could play hockey with them!

Thanks, the platform in that pic is 72x36" checked it with a laser level and it is dead flat and level, even after filling the tank (3000lbs) there is no deflection. I have seen some commercial built stands that don't look capable of holding a flower pot nevermind a large fish tank, seriously who in there right mind would use particle board around water, that stuff gets wet and litterally crumbles to bits.

alright, another question.

If I'm going to go all out building these shelves, should I just go with a glass tank? I'm not worried about the sump, because that'll be on the floor, so that can be glass, but what about the frag tank?

Personally I prefer glass, for the sizes you are talking I don't think it would make that much dif, glass would probably be cheaper.

that's what I'm thinking...