Help - particle board in stand is disintegrating

[RobertK]

I've been noticing some sawdust like material accumulating around the stand lately. I finally looked up inside the stand today and the under side of the particle board that the tank sits on is disintegrating over the sump! Looks like whoever built the stand used laminated particle board for the surface that the tank sits on. The white laminate is peeling off in one section exposing the particle board, which is crumbling. What should I do? Is there a way to repair it without tearing down the tank and replacing the stand? The stand is 27 years old, tank is 70 gallon glass. Some of those particles must be falling into the sump, not sure what chemicals are in particle board but it can't be good for the tank. But I'm more concerned about the structural stability of the stand right now. Stand is 48x15", the area of exposed particle board is approx. 8x12".

 

[UncommonSense]

I suspect a bulkhead fitting is weeping water! — the particle board is swelling from water ingress!

you can theoretically lay a piece of plywood cut to fit tight inside the top of the stand, with lumber reinforcements and new lumber support “legs”… not ideal, but it would hold if constructed correctly!

 

[Dom]

Empty the tank and repair the stand. Its the only way I'd be able to sleep.

 

[RobertK]

I suspect a bulkhead fitting is weeping water! — the particle board is swelling from water ingress!

OMG you're right. This is worse than I thought. Here's the bulkhead where the overflow comes in. Thats a second area of exposed disintegrating particle board. I got a handful of sawdust when I touched it:

 

[Dom]

OMG you're right. This is worse than I thought. Here's the bulkhead where the overflow comes in. I got a handful of sawdust when I touched it:

Wow... that looks like it has been going on for a long time.

 

[Biokabe]

Yes, another vote for draining the tank and either repairing or replacing the stand and the tank. As it is, it's a ticking time bomb. If the bulkhead can be repaired, do so; otherwise it might be easier to just get a completely new tank and stand.

If it doesn't have a tank sitting on top of it, a replacement top and bracing shouldn't be too hard to make, provided you can still fit your sump inside. But personally, I'd just start acquiring/building a new stand. And probably a new tank.

 

[RobertK]

Wow... that looks like it has been going on for a long time.

No doubt it has. Tank has been set up like this for a long time.

 

[RobertK]

Empty the tank and repair the stand. Its the only way I'd be able to sleep.

Yes, another vote for draining the tank and either repairing or replacing the stand and the tank. As it is, it's a ticking time bomb. If the bulkhead can be repaired, do so; otherwise it might be easier to just get a completely new tank and stand.

If it doesn't have a tank sitting on top of it, a replacement top and bracing shouldn't be too hard to make, provided you can still fit your sump inside. But personally, I'd just start acquiring/building a new stand. And probably a new tank.

Crap. You guys are obviously right. Will have to decide whether to repair or replace the stand.

 

[UncommonSense]

OMG you're right. This is worse than I thought. Here's the bulkhead where the overflow comes in. Thats a second area of exposed disintegrating particle board. I got a handful of sawdust when I touched it:

Yeah… it looks like the stand’s shot.. the particle board has swelled so much that just laminating it with plywood isn’t going to work…

This is going to call for at least a new stand top, and bulkhead fittings; then the tank is quite old, and silicone seams don’t last indefinitely… — it depends on seam condition, but the tank itself may need attention too…

 

[UncommonSense]

No doubt it has. Tank has been set up like this for a long time.

Bulkhead fittings have a rubber “gasket” between bulkhead flange and tank wall/bottom… these gaskets harden over the years, and will eventually leak!

As a general rule, It seems prudent to replace them at least once a decade, if not more frequently!

 

[RobertK]

I wouldn't mind getting a new tank and new stand but would not want to rush into it, would want to plan it out well in advance. I might have to repair the stand now if possible, with plans for new tank and stand to follow. If I drained the tank and put a new piece of plywood under it what else would I need to do to reinforce it?

you can theoretically lay a piece of plywood cut to fit tight inside the top of the stand, with lumber reinforcements and new lumber support “legs”… not ideal, but it would hold if constructed correctly!

Not sure I'm picturing this, can you elaborate? Its pretty tight inside the stand, don't know if there's room for legs inside.

 

[UncommonSense]

I wouldn't mind getting a new tank and new stand but would not want to rush into it, would want to plan it out well in advance. I might have to repair the stand now if possible, with plans for new tank and stand to follow. If I drained the tank and put a new piece of plywood under it what else would I need to do to reinforce it?

Hmm… this tank is rimmed, right?

Assuming so, plywood might have to be relief cut around the severe swelling, and it would need at least 2x4, ideally 2x6 lumber on-edge under the plywood for the front/rear long spans of the tank ma bottom rim… probably box it with 2x4/2x6 front to back at edges/center…

then 2x4 legs in all four corner, straight down to the floor, with the lumber frame under the plywood resting on the cut ends of these legs!

— basically building a traditional lumber stand inside your existing stand to support the top plate of the existing stand!

 

[RobertK]

Its rimless with a eurobrace

 

[Mongo1.0]

I found an old solid wood dresser and painted it. It is solid. Put sliders underneath it. Drained the aquarium really low to some kiddy pools from Dollar General(biggest cheap containers I could find quickly). Put some pieces of wood under it to make it the same height as the dresser. Unplugged everything and slid the aquarium onto it. Moved the old out of the way, slid the new dresser/stand into position. Hooked all the stuff back up and pumped the water back into the aquarium.

 

[UncommonSense]

Its rimless with a eurobrace

That does complicate things… especially with bottom bulkheads!

Rimless tanks need the bottom fully supported, at least the particle board is currently providing a relatively flat surface!

I think of going for the aforementioned plywood underlayment with wood frame and legs, but possibly with a third 2x4/2x6 down the center of the long span… something to keep the center of the stand from bowing!

 

[Biokabe]

That does complicate things… especially with bottom bulkheads!

Rimless tanks need the bottom fully supported, at least the particle board is currently providing a relatively flat surface!

I think of going for the aforementioned plywood underlayment with wood frame and legs, but possibly with a third 2x4/2x6 down the center of the long span… something to keep the center of the stand from bowing!

What about using shortened legs and screwing them into the sides of the stand rather than taking them to the floor of the stand? If the sump is in there tight, there might not be room for 2x4s to go all the way to the floor of the stand.

Obviously you'd need to use at least 8-10 screws total (and probably more) to support the weight of the tank, and it would be ugly as sin. But if the main goal is to make the stand last long enough for OP to get a replacement tank/stand, would that be enough for him?

I agree that if space allows, legs going all the way down is a much better solution.

 

[mmorrison55]

Might not be the cheap answer, but I’d say it’s time for an upgrade. 27 years was a heck of a run! that space looks like it was made for a 7 footer 300 gallon tank.

 

[RobertK]

Might not be the cheap answer, but I’d say it’s time for an upgrade. 27 years was a heck of a run! that space looks like it was made for a 7 footer 300 gallon tank.

That had crossed my mind...

 

[Dom]

In my opinion, any solution that does not involve removing the tank from the stand makes me cringe.

You have to take the tank off to fully assess the damage. My concern is with as long as this has been going on, water may have wicked down the sides as well. I think its possible that you take this apart and find it is beyond repair.

Please be careful. I'd hate to hear you were working under that tank and it came down on you.

 

[Biokabe]

In my opinion, any solution that does not involve removing the tank from the stand makes me cringe.

You have to take the tank off to fully assess the damage. My concern is with as long as this has been going on, water may have wicked down the sides as well. I think its possible that you take this apart and find it is beyond repair.

Please be careful. I'd hate to hear you were working under that tank and it came down on you.

I really have to agree with this. I know you want to take your time, OP, but it might be time to deploy a temporary solution - stock bins and a teardown of the existing tank - rather than trying to fix this as it stands.

It's no fun to be forced into anything, but I'm not sure how much longer you have before something fails catastrophically.