Modifications to pre made stand

Fishy888 · Jul 28, 2022

I just picked up a 75 gallon tank. We were moving so I decided to combine move and upgrade. I set the tank up as quickly as I could since I didn't want any losses. I also got a 30 gallon tank to use as a sump which is also an upgrade. By the time I got the 30 here the tank was already set up so I couldn't put it in the stand through the top. I don't think it's wise to do it that way anyway which brings me to my question.

If I want to get a 30 gallon tank in here I'll have to remove the support in the front center of the stand. There is one in the back center as well. The wood on the sides holds the weight mainly. The center supports are stapled to the beams going lengthwise but the "supports" don't support much. The staples in the center supports are all that keeps the beam up. I want to beef up support in such a way that I can remove the center support in front at least. My question is how to go about it. For that matter is what I am contemplating a fool's errand?

CrazyDuck959 · Jul 28, 2022

Fishy888 said:
I just picked up a 75 gallon tank. We were moving so I decided to combine move and upgrade. I set the tank up as quickly as I could since I didn't want any losses. I also got a 30 gallon tank to use as a sump which is also an upgrade. By the time I got the 30 here the tank was already set up so I couldn't put it in the stand through the top. I don't think it's wise to do it that way anyway which brings me to my question.

If I want to get a 30 gallon tank in here I'll have to remove the support in the front center of the stand. There is one in the back center as well. The wood on the sides holds the weight mainly. The center supports are stapled to the beams going lengthwise but the "supports" don't support much. The staples in the center supports are all that keeps the beam up. I want to beef up support in such a way that I can remove the center support in front at least. My question is how to go about it. For that matter is what I am contemplating a fool's errand?

Could you send a picture of the stand or a link to what stand you got?

mdb_talon · Jul 29, 2022

That sounds like the common mass market stand for a 75g. Often in addition to the legs in front and back middle there is also a cross brace attached to each of those legs. Does yours have that?

I have seen people take out one or both of the legs and not have issues. Personally I would not be comfortable doing so. Companies usually aren't in the business of spending money including materials that are not deemed as needed. If I was going to remove them I would probably do something way overkill adding a 2x4 or 2x6 married to the inside of the front of the stand along the top.

Fishy888 · Jul 29, 2022

mdb_talon said:
That sounds like the common mass market stand for a 75g. Often in addition to the legs in front and back middle there is also a cross brace attached to each of those legs. Does yours have that?

I have seen people take out one or both of the legs and not have issues. Personally I would not be comfortable doing so. Companies usually aren't in the business of spending money including materials that are not deemed as needed. If I was going to remove them I would probably do something way overkill adding a 2x4 or 2x6 married to the inside of the front of the stand along the top.

I was thinking of doing just that and making legs that actually hold the married piece of wood. For that matter glue and screws would be happening as well. Eventually I want to reinforce the whole thing anyway.