First time large aquarium ANXIETY

Ocd93 · Oct 9, 2021

Hi guys, I’ve been reading A LOT about deferent aquarium designs (rimless braced) and how a stand should support an aquarium.
And honestly I want someone to set me free from this FEAR I have that the aquarium might crack or explode!

So to get to my question part, I had my aquarium custom built, the aquarium is 120 cm x 60 cm x 50 cm, with a built in sump sectioned off at 100 cm. the glass thickness is 10 mm, and it has aluminium bracing all around.

This is the aquarium stand, also custom built at 120 cm x 60 cm.

So when I placed the aquarium on top, it was essentially unsupported all across the bottom, as that’s because the aluminium bracing all around the tank wasn’t taken into consideration, so those 2 support bars seemed completely useless.

I placed a yoga Matt across the bottom because it made more sense to have the aquarium on it? But even then essentially the aquarium is mainly supported from the corners, and close to the corners, with the rest being a good 2mm free.

This is left and right front corners and a view from the back, it’s not over hanging too much, it’s still rested on the bracing. It appears pretty level overall, but I’m not really sure.

Honestly I just worry from all that I have read etc, and I keep imagining it’s gonna explode or crack. This is my first aquarium that’s this large.

Could someone please help me and put me out of my misery, is everything looking okay? Should I fix anything?

Sorry for this long post, thank you!

WVNed · Oct 9, 2021

No it is not all okay.
The top of your stand is not flat. The legs are higher than the cross bracing and you have the corner of the tank on top of a leg on one end and beside it on the other. The mat is doing nothing.
I would make a top for the stand out of something that makes the stand flat and level for the tank to sit on.

Wyvern · Oct 9, 2021

Fear has worked in your favor.

The tank will explode like that.

Top needs to be perfectly flat and level, wait until you have an appropriate stand.

dragon99 · Oct 9, 2021

I've seen Elos tanks that are supported only by the outside panes of glass, but it absolutely can't be just the corners. Almost always the tank is support by a flat surface across the bottom pane of glass.

Supa · Oct 9, 2021

I would try to get it more level, I wouldn’t fill it just yet(although it could be 100% fine, it just doesn’t look very flush and could cause issues)

Tamberav · Oct 9, 2021

Put a flat top on that metal stand.

Did the same company make both? As I would be ticked to pay for something like that.

Also aluminum corrodes when exposed to salt water. The tank may not hold up looking nice when used as a saltwater tank. Did you agree to the bracing or they just added it? I would not be okay with it since it can corrode.

Mhamilton0911 · Oct 9, 2021

This build has me scared for you. It "appears" the builder meant for it to be supported by just the 4 corners, but with how much tank you have hanging off the back, it looks like the tank is too large for the stand? And having it up on one edge, and down on another is asking for failure. The supports in the middle were likely support for the stand itself, not the tank, but still, I would add thin wood first, to make everything flush with the legs, then add another piece of wood on top of that. One piece alone will sag to the lower support bars. It will take a good level, and patience to get that better supported.

Was this a known builder, or a random person who "builds tanks"? The construction looks iffy at best.

Ocd93 · Oct 9, 2021

WVNed said:
No it is not all okay.
The top of your stand is not flat. The legs are higher than the cross bracing and you have the corner of the tank on top of a leg on one end and beside it on the other. The mat is doing nothing.
I would make a top for the stand out of something that makes the stand flat and level for the tank to sit on.

Oh god,
What do you suggest I do? Make a wood top for the stand?

would repositioning the tank suffice? I thought it was okay so I kept it like that, but I am able to reposition the tank in a way where both ends are on top of the stand legs.

is the aluminium bracing working in my favour here and making my mistakes more

Tamberav · Oct 9, 2021

Ocd93 said:
is the aluminium bracing working in my favour here and making my mistakes more

Aluminum corrodes over time when exposed to salt water.

Was this not a professional company? It looks like a hot mess to me.

Supa · Oct 9, 2021

Ocd93 said:
Oh god,
What do you suggest I do? Make a wood top for the stand?

would repositioning the tank suffice? I thought it was okay so I kept it like that, but I am able to reposition the tank in a way where both ends are on top of the stand legs.

is the aluminium bracing working in my favour here and making my mistakes more

If it were me I would make an overkill wooden stand. Made 100% using pressure treat material(let dry out 1-2 weeks before painting over it) use stainless steel screws they will not rust period, but that’s just my opinion I’m a carpenter that lives on the beach, I can say that original deck screws(epoxy coated screws) will rust always in due time.

Ocd93 · Oct 9, 2021

Yea not a professional company at all, not a lot of options where I live, honestly you could say it was pretty much DIY and telling technicans what to do

Tamberav · Oct 9, 2021

I have an iron stand that was custom but it's build nice and square. Idk what the heck... but I would be so mad about what you purchased.

Example... then it was sprayed with something to make it resist corrosion.

Ocd93 · Oct 9, 2021

Would repositioning the tank suffice you think?

Tamberav · Oct 9, 2021

Ocd93 said:
Yea not a professional company at all, not a lot of options where I live, honestly you could say it was pretty much DIY and telling technicans what to do

I think the tank over time will give you problems and not look very nice d/t corrosion. Professional companies can ship you a tank, that is pretty normal. Comes on a huge pallet. Same with pre-made tanks.

The stand should be fixable although I hate how the supporting legs are off to the side.

Truth is I would only use that as a fresh water tank and get a proper salt tank just because of the aluminum. It's going to look like **** when it eventually gets some corrosion. Not sure if it will have a negative impact on the reef itself.

I guess maybe they coated with something to help? I hope? A powder coating would slow it down.

Supa · Oct 9, 2021

Ocd93 said:
Would repositioning the tank suffice you think?

I doubt it but worth a try,

design.maddie · Oct 9, 2021

Supa said:
If it were me I would make an overkill wooden stand. Made 100% using pressure treat material(let dry out 1-2 weeks before painting over it) use stainless steel screws they will not rust period, but that’s just my opinion I’m a carpenter that lives on the beach, I can say that original deck screws(epoxy coated screws) will rust always in due time.

I'm a wood stand guy myself. I don't think people understand how much a 2x6 can actually support. I will say though, I have seen some amazing tanks that had metal stands that had a wrap around wood skin that could be removed to access the whole sump, and that seemed nice.

Cell · Oct 9, 2021

I dont think a side panel hanging off is an issue, those are getting outward pressure, not downward. Look at modern stands like RS and Waterbox where the front panel hangs over so the stand is flush when the doors are closed.

Traditionally, rimmed tanks do not need full support across the entire bottom of the tank. Just the edges, because the glass doesnt touch the bottom. Not sure how this was constructed though.

Ocd93 · Oct 9, 2021

I’m not sure if this matters, but I just placed a level all across the inside and top of the tank, and it’s all level, so does this mean the glass is leveled but the bracing is forgiving in this scenario and it isn’t level?

Thank you all so much for this support, my heart feels at peace funnily enough even though I realise so many things are wrong

Paleozoic_reefer · Oct 9, 2021

I don't repositioning it will work unfortunately. On the bright side, your asking these questions now rather than when your tank is filled with fish and corals. Personally I would take the advice here and get a new non-aluminum base with all the suggestions posted. I think you're just inviting a major disaster sometime in the near or distant future.

vtecintegra · Oct 9, 2021

I would have the stand remade. 10mm glass is also thinner than typical on a tank that size, so I wouldn't put any undue stress on that tank with a bad stand.