2x4 construction will hold a 38 gallon tank no problems, just make sure you have the 2x4 narrow side up/down orientation. I've built a bunch of stands and there has been things I didn't like about each and everyone. I'm about to start building a stand for a 5 foot long tank and this time I'll do it slow. I used to buy my wood at Revy, because it's just down the street, however, I've found that the wood at Home depot is much better, straighter and less splinters etc. Maybe other Revy's are different but the one in Burnaby at Kingsway and Edmonds, their standard or better 2x4s are in bad shape.
This time around I'm going to use 2x6's for the stand construction, and I'll enclose the front (access will be from behind) I find kids, cats, dogs,cats, kids friends, cats.. you get the picture get into the underneath of the stand to easy with doors on the front. If the tank was going in a room with a wall behind it I'd obviously not go the route I am doing here.
Doug
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