Does this stand need extra bracing?

jbrooks515 · Feb 16, 2015

Hey guys, I am in the process of setting up a 36 gallon Bowfront tank and while shopping at my local Petsmart I found an incredible deal on this stand. Its for a 56 gallon tank and my 36 is naturally a bit small for it but it was only 40 bucks marked down from 255 so yeah. My question is do you think I need to add a little brace or something to the inside where my tank will be sitting at? The sides are almost flush and there is 1 3/4 from the front and back to the edges when centered. Do you think this will be ok? Should I add anything?

Joeganja · Feb 17, 2015

its always safe than sorry.

ontop27 · Feb 17, 2015

I had that stand, $255 is crap on their part. Pretty sure I bought the stand and the 56 column that goes with it for well under that, personally I would return it if possible. Its all lot of crappy particle board. Mine started warping and bubbling

hart24601 · Feb 17, 2015

I say leave it alone and enjoy. Just try to keep it dry, lots of mass produced stands will warp if they get too wet. I know looking at these stands there is a desire to add to them, but the manufactures have stands down pretty well, you very, very rarely hear of any failing. I tried searching the internet a while back and couldn't find any example of a failure despite how poorly some people treat them. Coupled with thousands and thousands of stands they sell a year, you should be fine. They are designed by engineers to be plenty strong. Over engineering is generally from not really knowing what your doing - that is why you see stands that are crazy overbuilt and weigh more than the tank!

racin2438 · Feb 17, 2015

Yup, when that particle board get wet/moisture it's starts to warp and soften. It can not end well when that happens. You could return that one and just make your own, they are pretty easy to make. And will be much stronger in the long run.

Your investment you will bee making and your happiness in this hobby is worth more than what you saved on that stand..

Another possibility is you could a sealer and coat the entire stand to keep water/moisture out and protect the integrity of the stand.

hart24601 · Feb 17, 2015

IMO don't get all scared. It's just fine. Tens of thousands of tanks rest on those stands if not more. I would bet that more tanks fail due to people making poor home stands and not getting everything right than major manufactures stands failing.

jbrooks515 · Feb 17, 2015

Thanx guys. I know I will def put a coat of poly on it or something to keep it dry. I was more worried about the tank not sitting on the edges like it's supposed to. Didn't know if that would make it structurally weaker. I def like the stand and the room it has for a sump underneath

hart24601 · Feb 17, 2015

It's a solid top stand so you are good to go, the back and sides go to the edge so there shouldn't be any problems. It's a nice stand for $50!

jbrooks515 · Feb 17, 2015

Yea I thought so too. Didn't like the normal bow front stand as there is no room at all underneath. This is my first attempt at an SPS tank so I'm trying to think ahead with sump space in mind.