Aquarium bigger than stand (2.5cm)

[Raphael Dalmeida]

Hello everyone,

I am new in this forum and i am moderately new to the hobby as well.

Recently i have bought a stand that was informed to me as being 65 cm x 65 cm x 65 cm and also bought an aquarium from someone else that was said to be the same. Guess what? The aquarium is 75 x 75 x 75 (1cm thick glass, with on top 3 rims) and the stand is 70 x 70 x 70. Unfortunately at the moment i got both i didn't have a measuring tape and as i got them separated and it was dark i didn't notice until i brought the aquarium and saw it for real. (please be nice on me).

The stand frame is welded steel and 4cm thick with a bar in the middle, on top of the frame around it there is a 2cm thick rubber cushion that helps level it.

I would like to know from you guys what i can do to fix it. Please don't tell me it can't be done, i was really excited to get this aquarium working.

See pictures below from Aquarium and Stand together and a drawing that i did to demonstrate it better: (notice that i only added 2 rims but it actually has 3 rims, 2 facing inside and one facing outside)






Ok guys, some of the ideas i had to improve my situation, i researched online but im not a pro though, would like your opinion:
1-add some plywood posts around the 4 edges of the stand
2-add 2 larger plywood posts inside of the stand in between the middle metal bar
3-add metal or plywood braces on the 8 corners (like from the top and botton)

Another problem: When i had a look in the light at home the glass has a few small dents on the top in one of the sides like at the border. And a very small dent at one of the corners. I was thinking about filling it with silicon and with the brace solving this problem.

The rest of the glass is pretty good, no cracks. The tank was previously in display in a local Aquarium Park (like sea world and stuff).

Ok so please help me guys! Thanks!

 

[sundog101]

Hmm... I would probably get some thick plywood to use as a top. You could also use a nicer wood if you wanted.

Another worry would be if the stand is even able to support a tank of that size. Obviously it wasn’t made for that large a tank. I don’t know much about steel stands; some others on here might have more info on that.

Also do you have pictures of the chips or dents in the glass?

 

[Palyzoa]

Man this is tuff... I would personally look into getting a new stand that fits the aquarium. If used like it is currently sitting you run the risk of popping a seem I would think. Im not a pro tho everything Ive read says it could be bad.

 

[JoshH]

Do you have a picture of the interior of the stand ? I second @sundog101 on the thicker plywood and some trim to spruce it up but let's make sure that stand can even support that kind of weight you're looking at roughly 600 pounds give or take.

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

Hey guys! thanks for helping out. Here it is a few photos from the dents, the glass seems pretty good its just dirty.
Also i forgot to mention it actually has 3 rims, i said it was 2 rims i will fix in the original post.

I was thinking if i even put a metal sheet or so or i fix the stand somehow, what you guys think ? maybe the problem itself is not the glass standing it but the silicon seam on the corners.

See extra pics below

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

Do you have a picture of the interior of the stand ? I second @sundog101 on the thicker plywood and some trim to spruce it up but let's make sure that stand can even support that kind of weight you're looking at roughly 600 pounds give or take.

So the plywood i would add vertical in the four corners of the stand to give support? Also additional as a square frame to the top (bracing the 4 corners) and one to the bottom?

What do you mean by trim to spruce, i dont really understand.

About the stand i will check it further to see if it supports the weight properly, but it is pretty sturdy, feels sturdier than any wooden structure as it is welded. If someone here has some more experience with steel let me know, the steel i was told is 40x40 rhs.

About the picture i will take one tomorrow, as it is really late now (im in Australia) i dont want to wake up people at home.

Also if someone could give some input on the little dents on the glass, if it is something major or maybe some silicon and the brace would make it safe.

Thanks guys!

 

[Greybeard]

I'd just do a 3/4" ply top, cut to the size of the tank (or bigger) and centered on the steel stand. You're not extending that much past the stand edges, 2.5cm, right? it's not going to bow a sealed sheet of hardwood ply.

 

[Pntbll687]

I would add some plywood to the outside of the stand and then a top. This would help support the edges of the aquarium. Is the tank going to be drilled for an overflow? Or going hang on filter?

As for the dent in the glass, they dont look too bad. Check to make sure there is no cracking. Fill the tank and perform a leak test. Let the tank sit with water and maybe a power head for at least a week to be sure it's not leaking.

If you have the resources, the best bet would be to get a new stand, or build one to fit the aquarium.

 

[JoshH]

So the plywood i would add vertical in the four corners of the stand to give support? Also additional as a square frame to the top (bracing the 4 corners) and one to the bottom?

What do you mean by trim to spruce, i dont really understand.

About the stand i will check it further to see if it supports the weight properly, but it is pretty sturdy, feels sturdier than any wooden structure as it is welded. If someone here has some more experience with steel let me know, the steel i was told is 40x40 rhs.

Also if someone could give some input on the little dents on the glass, if it is something major or maybe some silicon and the brace would make it safe.

By trim and spruce I mean adding trim around the edge of the plywood to make it look good. Personally I can't verify the strength of the stand, it might be more than enough to support the weight. But even if it is that tank needs to be on a stand of the same or a larger size. If it were me and I was dead set on keeping the stand, I would build a 1 inch thick plywood shell around the stand on atleast the back and two sides + the bottom then slide the steel stand inside it, trim it all up and done. I can't speak for the integrity of the tank itself, it doesn't look in super great condition but I'm no glass expert.

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

I would add some plywood to the outside of the stand and then a top. This would help support the edges of the aquarium. Is the tank going to be drilled for an overflow? Or going hang on filter?

As for the dent in the glass, they dont look too bad. Check to make sure there is no cracking. Fill the tank and perform a leak test. Let the tank sit with water and maybe a power head for at least a week to be sure it's not leaking.

If you have the resources, the best bet would be to get a new stand, or build one to fit the aquarium.

I will be using a hang on back and a large canister.

As you Josh and Greybeard said maybe i could just really build a plywood all around the stand and trim it could look nice if i do it properly.
I just did some quick 3d paint lol and this is what i came up with out of your ideas, what you guys think? (the 3d is not perfect but it should be 4 plywood supporting a bigger sheet that would be top for the stand. A 25mm sheet for top you think would be enough?

 

[Heddon]

I think this is what JoshH is referring to about adding trim around the steel stand. I added the pieces in the corner of an existing stand just to make it look better. Add wood pieces around the top of the stand to make it the size of the aquarium. Repeat that at the bottom and then add the vertical support in the corners. You could also add another support on each side in the middle if you desire.

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

I think this is what JoshH is referring to about adding trim around the steel stand. I added the pieces in the corner of an existing stand just to make it look better. Add wood pieces around the top of the stand to make it the size of the aquarium. Repeat that at the bottom and then add the vertical support in the corners. You could also add another support on each side in the middle if you desire.

Yours looks good, thanks for clarifying... haha man this is crazy, this will be pretty much building another stand that will cover the existing stand. At least hopefully it can give some structural support to the glass and make the whole stuff safer.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

This would scare me. A lot.

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

This would scare me. A lot.

hahaha all of us ;Playful but maybe if i just fill it a bit more with silicon and with the plywood brace or even a little metal brace helping this silicon seat there could help this.

I could even run a thin vertical brace around it.

Just a question guys, when bracing it, just the plywood enough ? or maybe i should do a thin metal bracing with silicon all around it before the plywood?

 

[JoshH]

Yours looks good, thanks for clarifying... haha man this is crazy, this will be pretty much building another stand that will cover the existing stand.

Yes and no, could my option support the tank on its own, more than likely, but with your current stand as Well, I'd guarantee it. @Heddon that's pretty much exactly what I was going for, a little fancier than my first thought. Top would be 3/4" plywood then an inner "box" for his steel stand to go inside and then "trimed" like your picture. The trim could be pine or oak depending on budget or look your going for

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

h

Yes and no, could my option support the tank on its own, more than likely, but with your current stand as Well, I'd guarantee it. @Heddon that's pretty much exactly what I was going for, a little fancier than my first thought. Top would be 3/4" plywood then an inner "box" for his steel stand to go inside and then "trimed" like your picture. The trim could be pine or oak depending on budget or look your going for

Yeah its true, thanks for your help guys. Hopefully i can implement it properly, the only bad thing is that the tank weights a lot by itself so i always need someones help to get it out and back on the stand.

I will probably use pine, i'm really on a budget and will take things slow now. Also cause wood here in Australia is extremely expensive. I already have some wood stain here, only problem is the steel box being white, not sure what to do... if i leave it white or stain it as well to go with the outer frame that i will build.

Thanks everyone, will keep you guys updated on my progress. I won't go down without a fight.

 

[JoshH]

only problem is the steel box being white

Go with pine and paint it all gloss white

 

[Pntbll687]

chips and cracks on tanks can be a gamble.

Here's pics of the chip taken out of my 200g. Its about 2/3 the way up the side. Tank has been running for 1.5yrs at my house and 1 yr at my mother in laws before that. I know the risk, and I'm okay taking that risk.

As you can see i filled it with silicone, but did a terrible job at it. Just walking by the tank its barely noticeable so I'm ok with it for now.