Leveling feet or flat over porcelain?

[bakbay]

I have a 360g acrylic tank with a metal stand. The stand is powder coated with 6 feet. Given the tank, stand, water, and rocks, I’m afraid that this will crack the porcelain.

Should I cut off the feet to distribute the load across the whole bottom vs 6 pressure points? Then, just spray paint some rust proof / sealant after I remove the feet?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

with a nice stand like that, check if the feet just unscrew.

 

[Asm481]

Problem I see with removing the legs is the fact that somehow, somewhere you will need to level the stand/tank. Meaning you will have specific spots carrying the weight. Maybe something under the legs like drink coaster size to disperse the weight. Lots of weight no matter what you do.

 

[FUNGI]

I would put that (without feet) on a piece of 3/4" plywood to spread the load....otherwise your tile will crack for sure.....

 

[bakbay]

with a nice stand like that, check if the feet just unscrew.

Yes - they do but some screws look rusted. I can’t tell until I flip them over actually. Regardless, I would feel a lot better without these feet tbh — weight is distributed across all the tiles.

 

[ScottD]

You’d probably want to put something down on the floor first like some foam. I highly doubt all the tiles are perfectly flat or planar which will lead to any high spots having pressure on it just like the feet you’re trying to avoid using.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I got these 1/4” Thick Aluminum Plates, for my Wood Stand, because I didn’t want to have the Wood setting directly on the Tile Floor. Custom Cut and Edged them with hand tools. Put leftover Yoga Mat on them. The Four in the Middle, only support the Sump. No Problems with the Tile Floor.

 

[bakbay]

I have a huge 1/2” water-treated plywood sandwiched between the stand and tank (as in pic). What I can do is to just lay that flat on the floor and done! Problem with this approach is the eventual water leak getting underneath the wood. Ugh

What about some small furniture pads?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Take one of the Legs to an ACE Hardware, find out what size the Threads are, Pitch SAE or Metric. Go to McMaster-Carr, and get some Machine Mounts, with a Bigger Footprint. They have the info on the Weight they are rated at. Pi R Square if you want to check on the PSI That’s on the tile. I wouldn’t put wood down, it can permanently stain Tile over time.

 

[Gundy]

I have a 380 gallon glass tank I just put water in the other day. 84x36x29. My stand has 8 metal adjustable feet that sits on a ceramic tile and the tile is fine. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[bakbay]

I have a 380 gallon glass tank I just put water in the other day. 84x36x29. My stand has 8 metal adjustable feet that sits on a ceramic tile and the tile is fine. I wouldn’t worry about it.

Mine has only 6 feet hence the concern. I do like the fact that it has feet but some are already rusted — can’t even adjust. Therefore, I think it’s best just to remove them altogether

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I would still do the Math on how much that Aquarium is going to weigh. I wouldn’t put the Steel Directly on the Floor. Measure the Stand Bottom, figure your Square Inches, and glue Hard Rubber Strips to the bottom of the Stand. Rubber is Rated in Durometer for its compression weight. A local Rubber Supplier, should be able to help.

 

[dwinston33]

another you can do is to put plywood between stand and floor, it will distribute the further weight

 

[bakbay]

another you can do is to put plywood between stand and floor, it will distribute the further weight

Thought about that but will be a water trap —

I think I’m good — thanks everyone for your help! I bought some furniture pads to soften the blow. Additionally, I’ll cut some 4x2 blocks and water treat them to be wedged along the stand.