280g Mixed Reef

[xtreme]

Originally Posted by JDigital

My guess would be so the sump can sit flat on the floor... and not perched up higher on "rails".

Yes that is one reason. I knew the space between the top of the sump and the stand was going to be tight. With a 30" tall tank I need a ladder to get into it as it is. The cross braces on the top rail are to keep the 6' lengths from twisting/warping. I read that was a possibility in another stand building thread. I contemplated using a 2x8 for the top rail with no center support, but again that would increase the overall height. I can live with the center brace.