Cabinet suitability?

[ReefRookie22]

Hi,
My 27gal tank is currently on the below cabinet. It's made of solid mango wood with a box steel base.
My question is would it be suitable if I choose to upgrade to a 4ft tank (48x18x18). The new tank would be almost exactly the same size as the top of the cabinet.
I've included pics of the reinforcement inside.
If it's not suitable is there any reinforcement I could put in to make it suitable. If not, I'm happy to look at something else.
My plan would be to remove the left set of drawers and turn it into a cupboard with a sump.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Looks good to me. I'd try it.

 

[UncommonSense]

Does that wood center divider between left and right side drawers extend all the way from top to bottom of the cabinet interior?

If so, it could be prudent to add a center support from the ground to the bottom of the cabinet, allowing that wood center divider to bear the load of the center of the tank (bowing in center), and allowing the added center bottom support to bear the load of one side of the sump!

 

[ReefRookie22]

Does that wood center divider between left and right side drawers extend all the way from top to bottom of the cabinet interior?

If so, it could be prudent to add a center support from the ground to the bottom of the cabinet, allowing that wood center divider to bear the load of the center of the tank (bowing in center), and allowing the added center bottom support to bear the load of one side of the sump!

Yes, good shout. The divider is full length internally and I think I'd reinforce that with some 2x4 or something. But you're right it's the cabinet to the ground that will need reinforcing in the centre. Wonder if I could do that without it being too noticeable from the front.

 

[KrisReef]

Non-stainless steel hardware is not a first choice for long term integrity. A proper wood working shop could modify the drawers and insert a more ridgid frame, but the cost and functionality of the final product might not be the best use of the money unless you really want to keep the current look?

I think getting a proper stand and moving the drawer cabnet to another side of the room is the best way to preserve both?

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Yes, good shout. The divider is full length internally and I think I'd reinforce that with some 2x4 or something. But you're right it's the cabinet to the ground that will need reinforcing in the centre. Wonder if I could do that without it being too noticeable from the front.

I based my opinion off of this stand:

Amazon product

It looks like yours has a metal bar across the bottom so a center support between it and the top is already there for the drawers? But some reinforcement wouldn't hurt.

 

[UncommonSense]

I based my opinion off of this stand:

Amazon product

It looks like yours has a metal bar across the bottom so a center support between it and the top is already there for the drawers? But some reinforcement wouldn't hurt.

I just know I had two 4x6 beams, and a sheet of 1 1/8” plywood over the top as a “leveling plate” under my 6ft tank’s stand; supported in four corners only…

One side of the 4ft, 75g sump inside the stand rested on the unsupported center of the “leveling plate”, and subsequently bowed the whole thing over several years!

 

[Kodski]

Does that wood center divider between left and right side drawers extend all the way from top to bottom of the cabinet interior?

If so, it could be prudent to add a center support from the ground to the bottom of the cabinet, allowing that wood center divider to bear the load of the center of the tank (bowing in center), and allowing the added center bottom support to bear the load of one side of the sump!

I wonder if this is really needed, the steel does act as a support in the middle of the cabinet in this case. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt anything, but I don't think its really needed either.

 

[ReefRookie22]

I just makes me laugh that most tank stands that come with marine tanks look like ³/⁴ inch melamine with no reinforcement. People are even using IKEA cabinets for 4/5/6ft tanks.
I'd definitely reinforce it because I don't like the uncertainty but it's got to be stronger than those stands.