Aquarium bottom stand material

Btannler · 01/29/2017, 01:14 PM

I'm trying to put a new (dream) tank in my kitchen. The tank will be 90-125 gallons. I'd like the tank to sit right on top of my granite or quartz countertop. My LFS said that wouldn't be a good idea. Something about the surface being too hard and would compromise the integrity of the tank's bottom. I was wondering if anyone has run into this problem before and what solutions they came up with. Would acrylic be a better option than glass? Would I need to build a plywood base for the tank to rest on above the granite. I would appreciate the help as I know there are a lot of smart people on this site.

mcgyvr · 01/29/2017, 05:07 PM

Is it a rimless tank? If so they should always be mounted on the manufacturers recommended foam/pad..
If its a rimmed/trim tank there is no reason to not put it directly on the countertop.

ericarenee · 01/29/2017, 06:08 PM

I agree with the above. but i would be more worried about leaked or spilled dirty salt water staining and corroding the granite or quarts tops.. there is no doubt water would get under thank at times and it will soak into the counter tops.. They will get ruined quite quick as you cant get under there to keep them sealed...

Granite needs to breath as well so you cant seal around the tank....

For a tank that size i would Do not do it.. But only because you will ruin a expensive surface...

We had granite in our kitchen I changed them out to poured concrete we done over the summer. I let it kinda rough looking but sealed so we do not have to worry so much and it matches well with out 80 year old home.

Good Luck....

Btannler · 03/28/2017, 03:56 PM

Latest update - we have decided to go ahead with the build but will be setting the tank on a one inch piece of wood between the tank and the granite - or more likely quartz (which doesn't need to be sealed). I'll have to put a border around the edge of the wood to make it look clean. Thanks for all the advice - will send photos when I get the tank in. Sump will be in the basement so hopefully most of my water spill issues will be down there.

billdogg · 03/28/2017, 05:10 PM

The other issue you will have is that, at least IME, there is not a kitchen base cabinet built to withstand that sort of load. You will need at a minimum, major reinforcements unless you aren't worried about it all crashing to the floor sometime in the future. The reinforcements will make using the cabinet as a standard kitchen cabinet all but impossible.

CrayolaViolence · 03/28/2017, 05:19 PM

Agreed. That counter top is not meant to hold over a thousand pound load. Yes, that's how much you will be putting on it. 8 pounds a gallon+ rock, sand, ect. No, no, no, no.

JUNBUG361 · 03/28/2017, 09:45 PM

Agree with everyone comments above

Ron Reefman · 03/29/2017, 06:35 AM

I just used a kitchen cabinet to set a 50g tank on and I added 3 braces of 2x6 for support under the counter top and added 2 extra 3/4" sides for support down to the floor. I think a 90g or 125g tank on a kitchen cabinet is a HUGELY bad idea!

See the 50g cube below:

01/29/2017, 01:14 PM	#1
Btannler Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2	Aquarium bottom stand material I'm trying to put a new (dream) tank in my kitchen. The tank will be 90-125 gallons. I'd like the tank to sit right on top of my granite or quartz countertop. My LFS said that wouldn't be a good idea. Something about the surface being too hard and would compromise the integrity of the tank's bottom. I was wondering if anyone has run into this problem before and what solutions they came up with. Would acrylic be a better option than glass? Would I need to build a plywood base for the tank to rest on above the granite. I would appreciate the help as I know there are a lot of smart people on this site.

01/29/2017, 05:07 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Is it a rimless tank? If so they should always be mounted on the manufacturers recommended foam/pad.. If its a rimmed/trim tank there is no reason to not put it directly on the countertop. __________________ Who me?

01/29/2017, 06:08 PM	#3
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I agree with the above. but i would be more worried about leaked or spilled dirty salt water staining and corroding the granite or quarts tops.. there is no doubt water would get under thank at times and it will soak into the counter tops.. They will get ruined quite quick as you cant get under there to keep them sealed... Granite needs to breath as well so you cant seal around the tank.... For a tank that size i would Do not do it.. But only because you will ruin a expensive surface... We had granite in our kitchen I changed them out to poured concrete we done over the summer. I let it kinda rough looking but sealed so we do not have to worry so much and it matches well with out 80 year old home. Good Luck.... __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

03/28/2017, 05:10 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	The other issue you will have is that, at least IME, there is not a kitchen base cabinet built to withstand that sort of load. You will need at a minimum, major reinforcements unless you aren't worried about it all crashing to the floor sometime in the future. The reinforcements will make using the cabinet as a standard kitchen cabinet all but impossible. __________________ 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

03/28/2017, 05:19 PM	#6
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Agreed. That counter top is not meant to hold over a thousand pound load. Yes, that's how much you will be putting on it. 8 pounds a gallon+ rock, sand, ect. No, no, no, no. __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef tank

03/28/2017, 03:56 PM	#4
Btannler Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2	Latest update - we have decided to go ahead with the build but will be setting the tank on a one inch piece of wood between the tank and the granite - or more likely quartz (which doesn't need to be sealed). I'll have to put a border around the edge of the wood to make it look clean. Thanks for all the advice - will send photos when I get the tank in. Sump will be in the basement so hopefully most of my water spill issues will be down there.

03/28/2017, 09:45 PM	#7
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Agree with everyone comments above

03/29/2017, 06:35 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I just used a kitchen cabinet to set a 50g tank on and I added 3 braces of 2x6 for support under the counter top and added 2 extra 3/4" sides for support down to the floor. I think a 90g or 125g tank on a kitchen cabinet is a HUGELY bad idea! See the 50g cube below: __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017