Aquarium Stand Concern

bigcity51 · 08/04/2009, 08:29 PM

I was inspecting my aquarium stand tonight and found a bulge area on the side piece of wood near the bottom. The stand is made of the type of wood that you get when you have to assemble something you get from walmart or target. I was wondering if this is going to be a big problem in the future? I am just starting up a reef tank and was using the stand for a freshwater tank. Do you think I should pitch the stand or try to build some kind of contraption in case the board breaks?
Thank you

Flipper62 · 08/04/2009, 08:39 PM

What you have is Partical board. Its gluded sawdust. It does NOT do well with water or moisture. If water or moisture comes in contact with it it will swell up. After a short time it will fall apart.

I would scrap it before it falls & scraps your tank.

sedor · 08/04/2009, 08:50 PM

Are you using something you just bought from Walmart or Target as a tank stand, or something that was made by a major aquarium manufacturer that came with your tank?

If its something you bought and are just using, get rid of it and build or get something better or your in for a flood and a cracked tank.

If it came with your tank, they tend to look flimsy but they were designed to work and generally will hold up. Almost everyone that buys a tank/stand combo from the LFS says something along the lines of "will this stand hold my tank." The short answer is that they are made with as little material as possible in order to create larger profits, BUT they are designed to work and will generally be backed by the company who made them.

Its like buying a "cookie cutter" house by one of the major builders. They are going to skimp on all the corners they can as long as they build it to code, but in the end the house needs to be inspected and meet certain criteria otherwise it isn't getting sold.

bigcity51 · 08/04/2009, 09:05 PM

Hey thanks for the replies. The stand is actually built for an aquarium but I am still paranoid about the wood looking kind of flimsy around the bottom. I will probably look for a stand on craigslist. Thanks for your help!

08/04/2009, 08:29 PM	#1
bigcity51 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 35	Aquarium Stand Concern I was inspecting my aquarium stand tonight and found a bulge area on the side piece of wood near the bottom. The stand is made of the type of wood that you get when you have to assemble something you get from walmart or target. I was wondering if this is going to be a big problem in the future? I am just starting up a reef tank and was using the stand for a freshwater tank. Do you think I should pitch the stand or try to build some kind of contraption in case the board breaks? Thank you

08/04/2009, 08:39 PM	#2
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	What you have is Partical board. Its gluded sawdust. It does NOT do well with water or moisture. If water or moisture comes in contact with it it will swell up. After a short time it will fall apart. I would scrap it before it falls & scraps your tank. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/04/2009, 08:50 PM	#3
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Are you using something you just bought from Walmart or Target as a tank stand, or something that was made by a major aquarium manufacturer that came with your tank? If its something you bought and are just using, get rid of it and build or get something better or your in for a flood and a cracked tank. If it came with your tank, they tend to look flimsy but they were designed to work and generally will hold up. Almost everyone that buys a tank/stand combo from the LFS says something along the lines of "will this stand hold my tank." The short answer is that they are made with as little material as possible in order to create larger profits, BUT they are designed to work and will generally be backed by the company who made them. Its like buying a "cookie cutter" house by one of the major builders. They are going to skimp on all the corners they can as long as they build it to code, but in the end the house needs to be inspected and meet certain criteria otherwise it isn't getting sold. __________________ Ryan

08/04/2009, 09:05 PM	#4
bigcity51 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 35	Hey thanks for the replies. The stand is actually built for an aquarium but I am still paranoid about the wood looking kind of flimsy around the bottom. I will probably look for a stand on craigslist. Thanks for your help!