Is A Cabinet Important?

[Gremily]

Hi guys, just wondering if it's important/necessary to buy a fish tank with a built in stand/cabinet. I've read that it's a good idea since you can rely on the tank to be firmly supported. But would a reasonably sturdy table do the trick? It'd be nice to know what everyone else uses to support their tank and if it works!
Thanks.

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi guys, just wondering if it's important/necessary to buy a fish tank with a built in stand/cabinet. I've read that it's a good idea since you can rely on the tank to be firmly supported. But would a reasonably sturdy table do the trick? It'd be nice to know what everyone else uses to support their tank and if it works!
Thanks.

I always use the stand for the tank, never used a "reasonably sturdy table" yet. Can you imagine 125+litres of water flooding across the floor should the table be not "reasonably sturdy enough"

 

[Tolak]

It all depends on the strength of the makeshift stand, and the size of the tank. I have a couple of sturdy nightstands that I keep around as spare stands, and they easily hold a 29 gallon. I'm looking at an old buffet cabinet that I'm sure would hold a 55 gallon. You have to know a little about construction of stands and such to figure if it's sturdy enough. Looking at the way some stands are made that are specifically for aquariums it doesn't take much support, and those stands scare me.

 

[doresy]

Ok, so most tank manufacturers would like you to buy their stands/cabinet as well for obvious reasons. They include scary things in the instruction if their stands were not used etc.

Common sense must be used here. 'A reasonable sturdy table' sounds suspect! A sturdy table sounds better! If your tank is as heavy as you then get up on the table yourself......do YOU feel safe

Personally, I always go for the matching cabinet as I like it to look good too If you have a sorce of MDF you can always construct your own by copying designs from the LFS.

The main thing to consider after strength is EVEN support. Un-even will result in a crack!!

 

[Gremily]

Ok, thanks people. It seems that buying a tank with a stand to match is really rather expensive. I'm not planning on purchasing a large tank so hopefully a table will be fine. I thought I'd add the "reasonably" because I don't know how sturdy a table has to be to support a tank and I didn't want to sound presumptious! Sorry if I annoyed anyone.
Thanks.

 

[Tolak]

Why don't you take a picture and post it here, along with the size tank you are thinking of? This would help with any ideas for reinforcing, if needed.

 

[Ristof]

A litre of water weighs 1kg so working out how much a tank weighs is easy when full.
You will also need to add the weight of substrate and other decos

You could make one yourself depending on tank size.
The main things are strong legs and a thick top.
Also seeing that the weight of the tank is distributed fairly evenly then you could make it with 6 legs

I have a 130lt sitting on a table I made 10yrs ago at school and it hold it fine.
It is just 4 x70x70 legs and a 19mm think top. It has a mag rack underneath it which may be giving it more stability.

 

[Yazan]

I use a table which is really strong. Not like any other tables with only legs, this one has heaps of support.
It carries my printer, computer (PC not laptop), and my tank.