Can I put a 30" tank on a 32" stand
- Thread starter Esage
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Esage
New member
Tank is 30x24x16 but the stand is 32x24x31, so there would be a inch on each side
toothybugs
New member
So... you're saying you have good vertical supports under each corner? If so you should be okay, but if the corners are built a little thin (IMHO a tank that size needs at least a 2x1 under each corner) I'd be leery. Can you slip a sheet of 3/4 marine ply under the tank to better fit the edges of the stand?
mcgyvr
New member
yep.. post pics.. or specific details..
A "stand" could be make from cheap particle board with a few nails holding it up or solid oak masterpiece.
In general you "should" be just fine.. and a simple test is to simply have 2-3 people (roughly 400lbs total) and have a little dance party on it.. If the party is a success and no cracking,etc.. is heard/seen then its probably fine.
A "stand" could be make from cheap particle board with a few nails holding it up or solid oak masterpiece.
In general you "should" be just fine.. and a simple test is to simply have 2-3 people (roughly 400lbs total) and have a little dance party on it.. If the party is a success and no cracking,etc.. is heard/seen then its probably fine.
Esage
New member
Sorry I don't have pics. I don't own either yet. The tank
Is rimless and the stand is MDF. My concern is
The MDF failing because the weight of tank isn't over all four corners. I'm assuming, if this was 2x4 stand it would not be an issue.
Yes, it'll be fine. I've built my stands from MDF and have them on top of 2x2's that are inset at the base to give it a floatting ADA type look, but on my stands it's inset on all 4 sides.
Since you're talking about a 30" tank, I'm also guessing it's a small one...40g or less. Just make sure the stand is stable, give it some hefty shakes and make sure the joints and nice and tight, and as the person above suggested (stand on top of the tank and bounce lightly. If all goes well, put that baby on the stand and call it a day.
Oh, I'm also a lic. structural engineer, and wood is way stronger than most people realize. Particle board and MDF even moreso...it's just a sponge so don't get it wet and/or seal it.
Since you're talking about a 30" tank, I'm also guessing it's a small one...40g or less. Just make sure the stand is stable, give it some hefty shakes and make sure the joints and nice and tight, and as the person above suggested (stand on top of the tank and bounce lightly. If all goes well, put that baby on the stand and call it a day.
Oh, I'm also a lic. structural engineer, and wood is way stronger than most people realize. Particle board and MDF even moreso...it's just a sponge so don't get it wet and/or seal it.
cleverbs
New member
I don't like the idea of it being supported by mdf. Mdf will swell and start to fall apart if it gets to wet. Also the tank should really rest on 2x4s maybe just add a couple where the tank will sit?
Tank does not need to be on 2x4's. Look at any commercial stand for tanks up to and over 150g. No 2x4's ever used, most of them are particle board. It may not be the best of the best, but it works. MDF will not swell and fall apart if it's sealed/painted and you wipe your spills.
30" tank on 32" stand will be perfectly fine (assuming it's not a crappy build quality stand to begin with).
I'm assuming he has the stand already. While it may be optimal to not have an MDF stand to begin with, it will work...as can be seen from my two MDF stands that have been working for the last 5 years, through multiple spills. I think it's a bit overkill trying to convince the guy to scrap his currently owned project and to go out and purchase a new stand when it's not needed.
It will not swell if painted and sealed. Most cheap commercial stands are made from MDF or particle board, not plywood, unless they are of higher quality. I actually opted for a veneered MDF stand on my new tank simply because I didn't like the wood grain on the plywood version, I wanted clean flat look. I'm not worried one bit.
OP, if you're worried about swelling, caulk the inside joints so that if you have spills, they're easily wiped up and won't seep into the joints. I'd do top, sides and bottom.
Sorry for off topic...but stand should be fine structurally, as I stated above.
ColoReefer970
New member
Also not a big fan of MDF...maybe it works for a little while...but in a couple years you're likely standing there looking at it all puffy thinking...do I really want to wait for the bottom to fall out?
Then you decide to solve the problem, take everything down, and look underneath...then swear to never use MDF again...
Then you decide to solve the problem, take everything down, and look underneath...then swear to never use MDF again...
Scott07
New member
I'm actually dealing with/debating the same issue right now. MDF vs. conventional wood. Started putting together parts for a 50, and wanted to do it on the cheap. So I picked up a used tank... and ordered the cheapest stand I could find for it. Well, the tank had a chip, so it's not being used (ordered a brand new reef ready 65 instead), and I STRONGLY considered trying to return the MDF stand and just buy a wood one, as the budget for this tank is totally out the window now anyway. But after getting the MDF stand put together... it's actually really nice. Boards are sealed well (although I may use the caulk around seams idea), the design is a little nicer than the other wood stand I have for my 20 gallon, and it feels much much more solid than I was worried it would. I hope I'm not making a big mistake here... but I think I'm going to use it.
I apologize this was all a little off topic... but back to the OPs question.... at least in my opinion, this hobby is ultimately about relaxation and enjoyment right? So while I think that yes... you're almost certainly fine with the 30 inch tank on a 32 inch stand (I'm no engineer.. so don't put much weight in my opinion please lol), if it's going to make you more comfortable to put it on a sheet of marine plywood, or 2x4s, or scrap the stand all together and buy another one... well then that's what you should do, IMHO. Regardless of what anyone else says... you need to be able to look at your tank at the end of the day and not be worried about it. So if you're going to worry... do whatever you need to to alleviate that. Just my $0.02
I apologize this was all a little off topic... but back to the OPs question.... at least in my opinion, this hobby is ultimately about relaxation and enjoyment right? So while I think that yes... you're almost certainly fine with the 30 inch tank on a 32 inch stand (I'm no engineer.. so don't put much weight in my opinion please lol), if it's going to make you more comfortable to put it on a sheet of marine plywood, or 2x4s, or scrap the stand all together and buy another one... well then that's what you should do, IMHO. Regardless of what anyone else says... you need to be able to look at your tank at the end of the day and not be worried about it. So if you're going to worry... do whatever you need to to alleviate that. Just my $0.02
To the OP, I think you are just fine!!
As to the 2x4 question. When I was looking at stands I saw the construction of commercial stands and was a little worried, but then read about how strong the stands really were.
So I set out to try and search all the forums I could to hear about failed stands. With the amount of destruction a failed stand would cause it would be reasonable to think there would be many reports if it was a problem. Despite the thousands (tens of thousands?) of "cheap" stands out there I couldn't find many solid reports of stands failing. Now lots of these are a decade plus old and have been treated terribly, but not many reports of any failing. I found plenty on the tanks failing, broken glass, leaking edges.
From a liability side I would think the big companies really make sure the stands are good. A leaking tank might cause property damage and even a fire If you don't have the power cables in a good spot, but a stand breaking and a full tank falling on someone would be directly at fault in a lawsuit if not constructed well enough, so they do engineer the stands well.
As to the 2x4 question. When I was looking at stands I saw the construction of commercial stands and was a little worried, but then read about how strong the stands really were.
So I set out to try and search all the forums I could to hear about failed stands. With the amount of destruction a failed stand would cause it would be reasonable to think there would be many reports if it was a problem. Despite the thousands (tens of thousands?) of "cheap" stands out there I couldn't find many solid reports of stands failing. Now lots of these are a decade plus old and have been treated terribly, but not many reports of any failing. I found plenty on the tanks failing, broken glass, leaking edges.
From a liability side I would think the big companies really make sure the stands are good. A leaking tank might cause property damage and even a fire If you don't have the power cables in a good spot, but a stand breaking and a full tank falling on someone would be directly at fault in a lawsuit if not constructed well enough, so they do engineer the stands well.
