How hosed is my stand?

[pulpfiction]

I found my 10 gal tank stand with standing water on the top shelf that bloated the particle board. I can't find a leak and I don't see how the ato could have done it. The bottom of the stand is also wet but I can't tell if it's bloated or warped. I already took the tank off. The bottom of the stand was wet and I was concerned it would ruin the floor. The stand ended up being damp and wet under the base and the floor was indeed wet.

Anyway, does this stand need to be trashed? Or can it be used again when it dries?

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

It going to swell and probably be uneven i would suggest a new stand that not particle board

 

[Red_Beard]

It's definitely esthetically toast. Swelled partical board will never look good again. Structurally it's probably fine, as long as the places it is fastened together aren't swollen.

 

[exnisstech]

Personally I would not use a stand made out partical board (or whatever the technical name is) I for sure would not use one with water damage. That stuff can just crumble once it's been wet.
Since it's only a 10g I would just try to find and old end table or something made out of real wood and use that.

EDIT: finding the source of the water would be first in my to do list.

 

[Idech]

If you haven’t found the leak, I would be worried it’s from under the tank. Have you checked it ?

 

[pulpfiction]

It going to swell and probably be uneven i would suggest a new stand that not particle board

Do you know where I can find a non particle board stand? I swear that's all I can find. I have a metal one marked for 10 gal from walmart but the base of the tank doesn't touch the edges on the top shelf. So I put it on the bottom.

 

[pulpfiction]

If you haven’t found the leak, I would be worried it’s from under the tank. Have you checked it ?

I found no leaks. the water level wasn't off and the ato wasn't being triggered. salinity was stable. I could have spilled it and not noticed.

 

[Red_Beard]

A 10 gallon tank is 80 lbs roughly. If you can sit down on your stand and it doesn't break, it's good to go. A live load of 100+ lbs is way more than a static load of 80. That said, anything solid will be fine as a 10gallon stand, the one you have would be great with a piece of ply wood or similar on top.

 

[exnisstech]

Lay a piece of plywood between the tank and that stand and I think you'll be good to go.

 

[Everclear]

Not sure where you live but I've gotten all wood side tables from IKEA for $50-$75

 

[pulpfiction]

A 10 gallon tank is 80 lbs roughly. If you can sit down on your stand and it doesn't break, it's good to go. A live load of 100+ lbs is way more than a static load of 80. That said, anything solid will be fine as a 10gallon stand, the one you have would be great with a piece of ply wood or similar on top.

Oh! I could do plywood for now. Thanks for the idea. I'm not much of a out of the box thinking DIY-er despite how jank this tank set up is lol.

 

[pulpfiction]

Not sure where you live but I've gotten all wood side tables from IKEA for $50-$75

Thanks for the idea!

 

[pulpfiction]

It's definitely esthetically toast. Swelled partical board will never look good again. Structurally it's probably fine, as long as the places it is fastened together aren't swollen.

Thanks. I didn't know how much damage a particle board stand could take before it was a disaster waiting to happen. I don't awe fastener problems. Just the top is swollen and the bottom is wet.

 

[Red_Beard]

Thanks. I didn't know how much damage a particle board stand could take before it was a disaster waiting to happen. I don't awe fastener problems. Just the top is swollen and the bottom is wet.

Sit on it and wiggle a bit, if it holds up its fine. It can swell quite a bit as long as it isnt swollen in structurally critical areas. Also remember that once swollen, it is like a sponge and will soak up any leaks stupid fast and get worse faster.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Those cheap press board stands will go sideways just from dripping water on them doing maintenance.