Regular aquarium stands for reef tanks?

SZB · 08/30/2016, 06:39 PM

Hi everyone! Here's a question. Would the reqular aquarium stands hold the weight of a reef tank with all the rocks and salt water and equipment? I just found that stand with 38gallon aquarium on sale but it's been used for a fresh water tank. Has anyone had an experience with reqular aquarium stands? Any ideas, opinions? Thank you for your time.

SZB · 08/30/2016, 06:40 PM

Here is one more picture.

Dogshowgrl · 08/30/2016, 07:02 PM

It shouldn't be an issue and you should be able to use a hole saw to create the holes for the pipes to the sump and still have enough strength. But I am worried if you have space to put on under there.... But if the tank isn't drilled it should be fine.

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James77 · 08/30/2016, 07:21 PM

It would be no different than if it were for a freshwater tank. As flimsy as some factory stands can look, they are more than strong enough to hold any type of tank.

davocean · 08/30/2016, 07:41 PM

The only obvious issue I see would be not much room for a sump, and I'd avoid any MDF/particle board stands

OldReefGuy · 08/30/2016, 09:21 PM

shouldnt be a problem, but as davo says, mdf hates water

SZB · 08/31/2016, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

The only obvious issue I see would be not much room for a sump, and I'd avoid any MDF/particle board stands

Unfortunately it is particle board. I managed to find a metal stand that manufacturer stated would hold the weight, but that's gonna be another $200, so I would do the other stand only if I have to. So particle board is not good is it?

SZB · 08/31/2016, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James77

It would be no different than if it were for a freshwater tank. As flimsy as some factory stands can look, they are more than strong enough to hold any type of tank.

I was more concerned about the rock, I assume they add at least twice weight to the original tank wieght. As we get around 1-2 lb per gallon. And it does look flimsy..

SZB · 08/31/2016, 12:35 AM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am worried a lot. Wouldn't want the tank end up crashing the stand and spill all around the apartment at some point.

SFish · 08/31/2016, 12:46 AM

I wouldn't trust that crap. Particle board is cheap junk. The foot stands to our sofa was made of that crap. The screws fell out and would not stay in. I had to replace it with wood on every single one. That stand is probably stapled together as well. Build your own. It will cost you less and be better made. You can plan out the space under the stand as well.

Dkuhlmann · 08/31/2016, 03:11 AM

Why not do a DYI stand out of 2x4s? There are some plans for them in the DIY section if you do a search.

Gezkovich · 08/31/2016, 03:50 AM

Salt water weighs 8.6 lbs per gallon. If you add 50lbs of rock you'll probably displace about 41/2 or 5 gallons of water or 38-43lbs of water. So the rocks would only add 7lbs. Of course that depends on the kind of rock. The difference between the weight of the rocks and water is not significant.

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SZB · 08/31/2016, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Why not do a DYI stand out of 2x4s? There are some plans for them in the DIY section if you do a search.

That's actually a great idea. Wouldn't even thought of it.

Dkuhlmann · 08/31/2016, 03:12 PM

The cool part about a DYI stand you can design it any way that you want it. Make it as tall or as short as you want and make it so you have plenty of space for a sump bigger than most manufactured stands. You can also make shelves in one side maybe as an add on so you can put your food, meds and chemicals. The possibilities are endless. Plus with 2x4s you have all the strength you need. I would only buy #2 grade cedar. #2 are clean boards from knots and blemishes, plus cedar is more rot resistant than say pine or other woods. It cost a bit more but in the end it's worth the extra cost.

Have fun with it and please share with us what you design and do a build thread on it.

SZB · 08/31/2016, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

The cool part about a DYI stand you can design it any way that you want it. Make it as tall or as short as you want and make it so you have plenty of space for a sump bigger than most manufactured stands. You can also make shelves in one side maybe as an add on so you can put your food, meds and chemicals. The possibilities are endless. Plus with 2x4s you have all the strength you need. I would only buy #2 grade cedar. #2 are clean boards from knots and blemishes, plus cedar is more rot resistant than say pine or other woods. It cost a bit more but in the end it's worth the extra cost.

Have fun with it and please share with us what you design and do a build thread on it.

Thank you for your information. I will definitely consider that option. Sounds very apealing. I have no experience in building anything. But I will definitely share my results if I decide to go this way.

SFish · 08/31/2016, 04:16 PM

This will give you the basic idea. It's not hard to do.

http://youtu.be/jN4Y9AYuwcQ

08/30/2016, 07:21 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	It would be no different than if it were for a freshwater tank. As flimsy as some factory stands can look, they are more than strong enough to hold any type of tank. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/30/2016, 07:41 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	The only obvious issue I see would be not much room for a sump, and I'd avoid any MDF/particle board stands __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

08/31/2016, 12:46 AM	#10
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	I wouldn't trust that crap. Particle board is cheap junk. The foot stands to our sofa was made of that crap. The screws fell out and would not stay in. I had to replace it with wood on every single one. That stand is probably stapled together as well. Build your own. It will cost you less and be better made. You can plan out the space under the stand as well. Last edited by SFish; 08/31/2016 at 12:55 AM.

08/31/2016, 03:11 AM	#11
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Why not do a DYI stand out of 2x4s? There are some plans for them in the DIY section if you do a search. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

08/31/2016, 03:50 AM	#12
Gezkovich Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 11	Regular aquarium stands for reef tanks? Salt water weighs 8.6 lbs per gallon. If you add 50lbs of rock you'll probably displace about 41/2 or 5 gallons of water or 38-43lbs of water. So the rocks would only add 7lbs. Of course that depends on the kind of rock. The difference between the weight of the rocks and water is not significant. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/30/2016, 07:02 PM	#3
Dogshowgrl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 298	It shouldn't be an issue and you should be able to use a hole saw to create the holes for the pipes to the sump and still have enough strength. But I am worried if you have space to put on under there.... But if the tank isn't drilled it should be fine. Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

08/30/2016, 09:21 PM	#6
OldReefGuy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 542	shouldnt be a problem, but as davo says, mdf hates water

08/31/2016, 12:35 AM	#9
SZB Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 14	Thanks everyone for the replies. I am worried a lot. Wouldn't want the tank end up crashing the stand and spill all around the apartment at some point.

08/31/2016, 03:12 PM	#14
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	The cool part about a DYI stand you can design it any way that you want it. Make it as tall or as short as you want and make it so you have plenty of space for a sump bigger than most manufactured stands. You can also make shelves in one side maybe as an add on so you can put your food, meds and chemicals. The possibilities are endless. Plus with 2x4s you have all the strength you need. I would only buy #2 grade cedar. #2 are clean boards from knots and blemishes, plus cedar is more rot resistant than say pine or other woods. It cost a bit more but in the end it's worth the extra cost. Have fun with it and please share with us what you design and do a build thread on it. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

08/31/2016, 04:16 PM	#16
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	This will give you the basic idea. It's not hard to do. http://youtu.be/jN4Y9AYuwcQ