Steel or Wood stand??

[Cassian]

Hi everyone! Im upgrading from my 65 gallon to a 240 gallon acrylic tank this year. Ive never had a tank that large, so im not sure whether to get a steel stand made or a wood stand. I just dont feel like a wood stand could hold that much weight, but ive seen lots of tanks that large with wood stands. I thought I would ask yall's opinion on this subject. If I do a wood stand, I was considering building it myself, would that not be a good idea for this large of a tank???.... Just in case I don't build it right.

So, should I get a steel stand or a wood stand? or is it just personal preference?

 

[Aardvark1134]

Generally if you go
8 ft or longer you want metal stand
3ft or wider you want a metal stand
30inch or taller you want a metal stand

Remember if you go steel it needs to be powdered or saltwater will tear it up

Here are some do it yourself kits for aluminum which don't rust
https://www.framingtech.com/solutions/aquarium-stands/

 

[ca1ore]

A properly built wood stand will easily support even the largest tank. My 450 is on a wood stand that I built and it’s not going anywhere ... ever. All things equal, a wooden stand will be heavier than a corresponding steel one. I went wood because I don’t weld.

 

[Aardvark1134]

You CAN make a wood stand hold 10 tons if you wanted. However if you want room for a large sump and don't want the center to have a support in there metal is the way to go. Wood while it can work eats tons of space in order to do it right on a tank that large. But yes it can be done with wood. Most custom tank builders recommend metal on large tanks due to how much space the needed amount of wood eats up on large stands.

 

[Cassian]

thanks everyone! I think I will go with a steel stand