Need Advice, Tank Stand

[treedog5]

Hey guys, need a bit of advice on getting a stand for a Innovative Marine 20 gallon pennisula tank. I'm trying to see if it would be ok to use this shoe storage cabinet to place my tank on, I know it's made of MDF but so are the stands that come with some of the Innovative tanks. The shoe storage cabinets has the exact specs that I need, I just want to hear from others who may have used similar cabinets to place their tanks on with no issues.

 

[Dragon174]

I can't really weigh in on that specific stand for the tank, take into consideration that the tank with rock and water will weigh close to 200 lbs. I personally won't feel comfortable with having a tank on something that is only designed to hold shoes.

 

[treedog5]

I understand that because that was kind of my thinking also, but if you look at most tank stands they are only made of MDF also. I had a 50 cube in the past and the stand that came with it was only MDF, I was afraid to fill it up at first but after it got setup the tank never moved.

 

[treedog5]

I've also seen a lot of ppl on here say they have bought cabinets from Ikea or somewhere and it worked out for them.

 

[AndyinAtlanta]

So rough math says your tank will weigh 200 pounds (varies based on rock/sand, so I'd estimate off of 250 pounds). I'm going to advise against the storage cabinet for a few reasons:

• The top is only rated to support 77 pounds.
• The entire frame is half-inch MDF.
• The cabinet lacks any middle support so all the weight is being carried from the top shelf down the half-inch MDF panels.
• It's highly likely the back panel is an 1/8 cardboard sheet, so there is nothing preventing the shelf from racking back and forth.
• The entire tank will ultimately be supported by four MDF legs.

Can you place your tank, fill it, and have it not buckle the entire cabinet, sure. The problem with MDF is it fails over time. You'll likely see a bow in the middle pretty quickly. The weight from the center of the tank has no direct support and is being transfer directly to the ground. I would not be surprised if the cabinet racks within a month and one side of the cabinet collapses.

 

[Mhart032]

I wouldnt think it would be worth the risk.

 

[AndyinAtlanta]

I've also seen a lot of ppl on here say they have bought cabinets from Ikea or somewhere and it worked out for them.

One big thing that those MDF tanks and even some IKEA shelfs have is a framed base. The difference between a solid base and legs (like the cabinet you linked) is how much contact the shelf has with the floor. If this was solid wood it would be a different story.

You can definitely retrofit the cabinet to make it work. I'd add a middle support that goes directly to the floor. I would add additional 2x2 wood supports to each corner and use angle brackets to minimize the chance or racking. You will need to assemble the cabinet with glue, relying only on fasteners is a recipe for disaster. Lastly, I would consider anchoring the cabinet to the wall, directly into your houses framing. With so much weight at the top it would take very little to push the tank over.

 

[Mhart032]

The IM 20 gal stand looks nice actually, do you not like the stand? i understand its a bit more than the Shoe rack, but this for me is definitely not the place in a build to be on the cheaper side.

Peninsula 20 APS Cabinet Aquarium Stand

The New Standard For Aquarium Stands Innovative Marine APS (Aluminum Profile Series) cabinet stands are made of lightweight aluminum and can be assembled in minutes! Available in matte black finish only. Dimensions - 12" L x 30" W x 36" H Compatible with the Innovative Nuvo Fusion 20 Aquariums...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[treedog5]

Thanks guys, that's exactly why I came here and asked, I knew ppl with different perspectives would make things sound different. The entire point in looking at different cabinet/stand options was to save money because this will be a temporary tank until I move into a new house and get a large tank. With that said I will probably opt for this stand, but I really wanted something with some shelves and doors to hide my tank equipment and supplies.

 

[treedog5]

May have changed my mind, do any of you think this would be safe? Stand, it says it's made with wood???

 

[treedog5]

After further reading it's seem that that one is MDF also.

 

[AndyinAtlanta]

After further reading it's seem that that one is MDF also.

MDF isn't all that bad. I would venture to guess any stand that is under $500 is going to be made of MDF. Solid wood stands are usually custom built or mass produced for large tanks. That tank stand from Home Depot is rated for more weight than you'll have in your tank so you'd be fine to use it.

 

[treedog5]

That's the thing, I don't see how the home depot one is built any different than the shoe cabinet. Maybe it has a center piece that helps support, can't tell because there isn't a pic of the inside.

 

[NS Mike D]

I m pretty sure MDF will swell and distort when it gets wet (soaked). I had that happen on a fermentation chamber in a DIY home brewing project of mine.

While it's fine in the bathroom, I think it might get compromised with the constant water spillage with having an aquarium