Is it OK to use ikea furniture as stands for our tanks?

Hugo Garcia · Dec 9, 2017

Hey guys, how is it going? I’ve been using ikea furniture as stands for my tanks for a little over a year, and now I’m thinking about upgrading my t tank but was wondering if the kalax stand would be ok. I was thinking about putting a Innovative Marine 30L tank on top of a IKEA Kalax. Do you guys think it is ok?

Thanks,

Hugo Garci

Dsnakes · Dec 9, 2017

I've had a fair share of ikea furniture, and I probably wouldn't put a tank on any of it. Maybe a 10g of little value, but probably not larger. Just not worth the risk.

They are mostly plywood/particle board and mdf with cheap fasteners.

Just my opinion as I currently sit on my ikea couch

Sacohen · Dec 9, 2017

Considering SW weights 8.6 lbs per gallon for a 30 gallon tank you are looking at 258lbs of water.
I don’t think IKEA furniture will handle that.
Besides I think most of the furniture is made out of Particleboard which does not go well with water.

SashimiTurtle · Dec 9, 2017

Have you seen Red Sea stands? They are made from MDF. My Deep Blue 35g cube stand is 5/8" MDF and put together with those twist lock fasteners. I'd say IKEA furniture would be fine as long as it was sturdy and designed to hold weight... like a heavy tv stand or something.

kalare · Dec 9, 2017

I've used IKEA furniture on up to 40g tanks, and would go higher. I have however reinforced those IKEA pieces with clips and angles and screws from Home Depot, and I know how to do so effectively as a structural engineer. I wouldn't trust the normal ikea stuff without reinforcement. The stuff made from solid pine wood is OK, and should be able to support an aquarium <50g no problem.

The post above is correct, probably 80% of stands out there are made of particle board or MDF, they just should be sealed and treated properly.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 9, 2017

Yea I had my 30 long on one for a few years.
I addeed some screws (predrill )and gorilla glue.

clover128 · Dec 10, 2017

Sacohen said:
Considering SW weights 8.6 lbs per gallon for a 30 gallon tank you are looking at 258lbs of water.
I don’t think IKEA furniture will handle that.
Besides I think most of the furniture is made out of Particleboard which does not go well with water.

He said his tank was 30L, so closer to 7.5 gals. Ikea would be fine for that small. But stands arent that much, or even find a wood stand on craiglist if money is the concern.

Kyl · Dec 10, 2017

Steve Barrett said:
He said his tank was 30L, so closer to 7.5 gals. Ikea would be fine for that small. But stands arent that much, or even find a wood stand on craiglist if money is the concern.

The IM 30L is 30 gallons (36 x 15 x 12)

Coralfuture · Dec 10, 2017

I wouldn't trust it as is....way too much to risk....do you think you could use it as a chair for a 250+ lbs person that's never going to get up but will shift their weight around from time to time?
https://www.amazon.com/Ikea-Kallax-...TF8&qid=1512894523&sr=8-1&keywords=ikea+kalax
just doesn't seem like its able to hold anything like that....at least not as it comes. Plus I would REALLY worry about the drips pealing that laminate and the fiber board or MDF breaking down. In the end its your choice tho and an awesome tank pic BTW.

don_chuwish · Dec 10, 2017

I'd say fine for that size. My old 36G bow front was on a cheap pet store stand not any better than IKEA.

clover128 · Dec 10, 2017

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clover128 · Dec 10, 2017

Kyl said:
The IM 30L is 30 gallons (36 x 15 x 12)

lol - whoops. I was thinking 30L was 30 litres not Long. Yeah, I would not trust it to particle wood.

LetItReef · Dec 10, 2017

I returned stands few times from a pet store since they are wobbly and ended up with a Ikea bookshelf- forgot the model name and it is sturdy ,no issues for 2 years and perfect color to match with our furnitures

Tank is standard 29g.

Katrina71 · Dec 10, 2017

You could always reinforce the corners.

Kyl · Dec 10, 2017

I am currently using two Sektion cabinets bolted and reinforced with metal bracing and a plywood top / bottom for my fusion 20. I had planned on getting a 30L before I went down the custom route, and the plan was to bolt my third Sektion cabinet (holding a fusion 10) to the other two and making two new top plates. Their kitchen line is not as flimsy hollow like a lot of the bedroom shelving. That said, if you get any water along the sides it will not take long for the skin to start peeling off and the MDF become exposed.

Here's a picture of the back of the 10, I did the same thing on the 20 except used full width metal band bracing, and bolted the two cabinets together. The caps for v1 were mdf shelving, it was replaced with sealed pine plywood for v2.

reinforced by Kyl, on Flickr

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 10, 2017

I used this one.

https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/80035920/

aumoenoav · Dec 10, 2017

I used 2x ikea kitched cabinets for a 360 liters cube before and it was absolutely no problems with that, but the cheapest doors is very bad MDF and the hinges rust extremely easily.

QuixoticReefer · Dec 10, 2017

Buddah001 · Dec 10, 2017

Not a chance

tirvine911 · Apr 7, 2020

kalare said:
I've used IKEA furniture on up to 40g tanks, and would go higher. I have however reinforced those IKEA pieces with clips and angles and screws from Home Depot, and I know how to do so effectively as a structural engineer. I wouldn't trust the normal ikea stuff without reinforcement. The stuff made from solid pine wood is OK, and should be able to support an aquarium <50g no problem.

The post above is correct, probably 80% of stands out there are made of particle board or MDF, they just should be sealed and treated properly.

What do you think about the actual IKEA kitchen base cabinets for a stand?