You think this stand will hold?

[lilcam]

Got my 55g setup but now I'm worried about the stand that I'm using. It's an old dresser someone gave me and it seems really sturdy. The tank was setup yesterday and has been running for a full day now with the decoration and water inside. There are no signs of cracks on the dresser, but I'm not sure if it will really hold. As I place my hands along the sides of the bottom of the tank where it meets the top of the dresser I feel like it's caving in a bit on the sides. There doesnt seem to be pressure in the middle as I can see through it when I look at the bottom of the tank.

I've seen the stands made for a 55g tank in my LFS, but they are too expensive. Also, there didnt seem to be much wood that was used in constructing them. This dresser that I have seems to have a lot of wood assembled on the inside. Besides, wouldnt it have toppled over already?

Here are pictures of the tank.

Tank

Stand

 

[Aaron]

The dresser looks nice and sturdy but were it me I would put a board in the center as a bracing just to make sure.

 

[lilcam]

Originally posted by Aaron
The dresser looks nice and sturdy but were it me I would put a board in the center as a bracing just to make sure.

just cut a piece of 2x4 or something and jiggle it into the middle? I looked underneath the dresser and there are 2 pieces of wood glued/nailed into one another around the edges of the top of the dresser. I'm hoping it will hold.

I'm a little nervous as I didnt want to come home and find the whole thing on the floor. I also have a 20g tank sitting in one of my bedroom on top of a filing cabinet! It's been running for over a month now with no problem.

 

[baotchi]

I would definetly put something in the middle to hold the weight. Believe me... The top shelf will bow from under.

I know it would be a little tricky adding a leg in the middle because of all the shelves, and I don't know anything about your woodworking skills also... If cutting and moddifying is not an option, I would at least add a 3/4 inch plywood board of the same size of the top shelf, and screw it to the top shelf to make it ticker and stronger and prevent it from bowing. I would put a screw every 6 inches all the way around the board.

This is just my opinion tho... But I would definitely do it.

tell me if you don't understand what I'm saying.

Simon

 

[lilcam]

i went back to the LFS and bought the stand. To my surprise the stand I purchased was so light I could pick it up myself. What this stand didnt do that my dresser did was wobble from side to side.

I thought about adding a third leg, but my woodworking skill isnt all that great. The stand only cost me $60 so I just purchased it. If this $60 can hold my 55g then the dresser SHOULD hold it assuming I add plywood on top like you said. Oh well, the stand looks nicer anyways.

 

[wonderboy905]

It's your own peice of mind, good call. Now you have a stand that's rated for that size of tank so there will be no worries.

PS. I'm very jealous of your tank, I only have 2 10 gals.

 

[lilcam]

i still dont understand how the $60 stand I bought will hold all that weight. I was able to pick it up above my head and carry it inside the house while my buddy waited in the truck.

wonderboy905 - It took me months of begging the fiance to buy it! LOL

I saw a 75g and that's my next goal, but only after I buy her a house first.

 

[baotchi]

lilcam, it's not about the price, neither the weight of the stand itself! hehehe The way it will hold weight is only based on the way it's designed. Panels must be assembled in a way that the weight is distributed equally. Anyway, whenever they design a stand, they try it first...

Simon