Used Stand - worries

[baseballfanatic2]

Just got this tank and stand off OfferUp. Looked good until it came home ofcourse.. Not sure if I trust the stand though. What do you guys think? Should I trust the stand?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

No, not worth the chance.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I will only trust a stand built with 2 by 4's or metal. It's not worth risking your house. There are stories on here about tank collapses due to cheap manufactured wood stands.

 

[JGT]

Just got this tank and stand off OfferUp. Looked good until it came home ofcourse.. Not sure if I trust the stand though. What do you guys think? Should I trust the stand?

That’s just the skin. Not great but not indicative of the strength. If it’s 3/4” plywood under it you are fine. If it’s particleboard, I’d look for a new stand. Alternatively, you could bolster it with 2x4’s at the corners but not sure it’s worth the effort.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Looks like it's probably particle board. Scrap it, burn it, use it for anything but holding an aquarium. 2x4s and screws are cheap, I would recommend building your own stand. Heck, I made mine out of 1/2" plywood and cinder blocks.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

Looks like it's probably particle board. Scrap it, burn it, use it for anything but holding an aquarium. 2x4s and screws are cheap, I would recommend building your own stand. Heck, I made mine out of 1/2" plywood and cinder blocks.

Eh. Not dealing with it. It can be someone else's project. I'm going to just sell it.

 

[Saltyreef]

I have a particle board stand that i reinforced inside with perpendicular plywood supports.
It wobbles very little side to side when the tank is full and when 1/2 full its rock solid.


Ive drug it on carpet while tank and sump was half full into 2 different rooms and then into the remodeled room with vinyl floor.(over 300lbs)
Never had an issue with integrity.
You could easily reinforce with 2x4s if you dont want to spend 300 on a new stand.

My new stand is not particle board but you cant knock em til u mod em :)

 

[daybreaksky]

My first salt water experience was a 55 on a sketchy stand. It's about 10lb per gallon so you do the math. 2 days in I heard a loud crack and 55 gallons of water on second floor is not fun.

Nothing but aluminum framing from there on.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

My first salt water experience was a 55 on a sketchy stand. It's about 10lb per gallon so you do the math. 2 days in I heard a loud crack and 55 gallons of water on second floor is not fun.

Nothing but aluminum framing from there on.

This hobby is so sketchy lol I've heard of too many accidents. I want a stand that can hold a car. IDC how ugly the inside is.

 

[Saltyreef]

This hobby is so sketchy lol I've heard of too many accidents. I want a stand that can hold a car. IDC how ugly the inside is.

2x4s will hold a car :)

 

[Saltyreef]

Also crystal dynamic aquariums makes metal stands. If you buy one of their tanks they warranty it for life if you choose to use their stand.
But $$$$

 

[daybreaksky]

I was on the fence between IM and red sea and got IM primarily because their stand is metal. I've used framingtech , they will build you any size. I use them for my business and they are A+ company

 

[Mical]

I agree with many of the above, if your strapped for $$ reinforce it with 2x4s - you'll be good to go. If not buy new stand.

 

[Sleepydoc]

I’ll go (slightly) against the tide here by not dismissing particle board stands out of hand. The first stand I had was the ‘factory‘ stand that came with my Marineland 120 gallon Tank. It was mostly particle board with a few pieces of solid wood thrown In. I used it for 4-5 years until I built my own stand that had more room underneath. When I took it down it was just as solid as the day I got it.

If you are building your own stand, I would never suggest particle board, but assuming the stand is properly built and in good shape it may well be fine. The main problem with particle board is it tends to lose strength quickly when it gets wet. The delamination in the pictures may just be due to the laminate coming lose or due to water damage. If it’s the latter then you are better off getting a new stand.