What stand top handles water the best?

hamdogg08 · 07/12/2020, 07:42 AM

Looking to set up a Fluval Evo and need a stand. Everything out there seems to be laminated particle board that's swells, peels, and bubbles when it gets wet. Are there better solutions out there for a top piece of the stand?

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billdogg · 07/12/2020, 09:44 AM

I made my stand. For the top I used 2 x 3/4" pieces of melamine sandwiched together and then laminated them with formica on all 6 sides, starting with the bottom, then sides, and finally the top. That way there isn't a seam the water can sit on. It looks great and is pretty much indestructible.

Sk8r · 07/12/2020, 10:20 AM

FOrmica sink top from your local big box hardware makes a great stand top. Impervious to practically anything. i used the castoff from our kitchen remodel for my sump top, and it's great. Get a reasonably substantial stand kit, build all of it but ditch the top and install the bonded formica instead.

07/12/2020, 07:42 AM	#1
hamdogg08 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 117	What stand top handles water the best? Looking to set up a Fluval Evo and need a stand. Everything out there seems to be laminated particle board that's swells, peels, and bubbles when it gets wet. Are there better solutions out there for a top piece of the stand? Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

07/12/2020, 09:44 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I made my stand. For the top I used 2 x 3/4" pieces of melamine sandwiched together and then laminated them with formica on all 6 sides, starting with the bottom, then sides, and finally the top. That way there isn't a seam the water can sit on. It looks great and is pretty much indestructible. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/12/2020, 10:20 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	FOrmica sink top from your local big box hardware makes a great stand top. Impervious to practically anything. i used the castoff from our kitchen remodel for my sump top, and it's great. Get a reasonably substantial stand kit, build all of it but ditch the top and install the bonded formica instead. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 07/12/2020 at 11:02 AM.