Will my stand be strong enough?

[Lcc86]

Hi all

Not sure if this is the right place to post but I'm upgrading my current tank (about 20litres) to one with 112l capacity. I don't plan to fill it completely, maybe 3/4, but I'm worried that my stand won't be strong enough to support it. It's an old IKEA bookcase type thing (rectangle shape with 8 internal squares if that makes sense) so obviously not made of anything particularly good quality. I've got my current tank on there and have put 50kg of weights to test its weightbearing capacity but wondering should I just buy something sturdier (maybe solid wood) instead? The last thing I want is to fill the tank and then find the wood starts to bow etc. I was in my local aquatic shop today and the stands there didn't seem much better than what I already have so I'd probably look at something like an old style chest of drawers.

 

[10 Tanks]

Hello Lcc. 112 liters. That's roughly 250 pounds. Pretty heavy. If you add the gravel you're pushing 260 pounds. I don't think a piece of furniture is designed to support that much weight. It would be best to get an aquarium stand that's built to support that much weight.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Lcc86]

Hello Lcc. 112 liters. That's roughly 70 pounds. Pretty heavy. If you add the gravel you're pushing 80 pounds. I don't think a piece of furniture is designed to support that much weight. It would be best to get an aquarium stand that's built to support that much weight.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

Thanks, do you know any reputable online UK retailers? I wasn't that impressed with what was available in my local store and I'm a bit overwhelmed with how much choice there is and want to make sure I don't buy something unsuitable.

 

[Lcc86]

Ignore the above - found something online that looks like a chest of drawers but is sold with/without an aquarium and reinforced.

 

[sharkweek178]

Hello Lcc. 112 liters. That's roughly 250 pounds. Pretty heavy. If you add the gravel you're pushing 260 pounds. I don't think a piece of furniture is designed to support that much weight. It would be best to get an aquarium stand that's built to support that much weight.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

Plus, you don't know how the material will be affected by unavoidable water spills. It really is best to get a stand that is designed to hold an aquarium.

 

[Lcc86]

Plus, you don't know how the material will be affected by unavoidable water spills. It really is best to get a stand that is designed to hold an aquarium.

Thanks, I had a gut feeling it wouldn't he enough so have ordered a proper stand - definitely wouldn't want to wait and find out the hard way!

 

[10 Tanks]

Thanks, do you know any reputable online UK retailers? I wasn't that impressed with what was available in my local store and I'm a bit overwhelmed with how much choice there is and want to make sure I don't buy something unsuitable.

Lcc. Check your online sources. You should be able to have a stand shipped to you that can support in excess of 250 pounds. In my original post, I miscalculated the weight of a liter of water. A liter weighs 2.2 pounds. So, you'll need to do the math for 112 liters of water and add the weight of the gravel, rocks, driftwood and whatever else you plan to put into the tank.

10 Tank (Now 11)

 

[Lcc86]

Thanks, I managed to get one designed for a 145l tank so should be good for my 112l one plus accessories.