Is my stand sufficient?

[richw]

I hate to start this thread because I'm afraid of the answer.

I have a 225 gallon custom tank that is on a stock wooden stand made for a 180 gallon tank and the tank has been up for about 13 years. I'm amazed at how flimsy the stand is when compared to the stand that people construct for their large tanks. (If I knew then what I know now, I would never have done this, but I didn't know about Reef Central at the time.)

I know that I'd be better off with a stronger stand, but that would require breaking the whole tank down and I'm not really prepared to do that at the moment.

So I'll ask the question a different way... has anyone had any problems with their stock stands supporting their tanks. Not just asking about catastrophic failure, but bowing, bending and the like.

 

[acabgd]

Well, you didn't tell us much about your stand. How about a picture or two?

 

[twon8]

If its held up 13 years I imagine its decent and likely to last a while longer. Most diy stands are way overbuilt

 

[AirForceAquariu]

If its held up 13 years I imagine its decent and likely to last a while longer. Most diy stands are way overbuilt

Things always work until they don't. Water can weaken wood from contracting and expaning over the year. Even if you were diligent about keeping it dry humidity shifts around the tank can be damaging. That's why people overbuild.

It would be fairly easy to reinforce the leg posts and putting a brace across the underside of the tank probably wouldn't be terrible either. Chances are that a publically sold product like that would have a factor of safety of at least 3 (3 times stronger then it needs to be), but it never hurts to be safe.

 

[SPotter]

Things always work until they don't. Water can weaken wood from contracting and expaning over the year. Even if you were diligent about keeping it dry humidity shifts around the tank can be damaging. That's why people overbuild.

It would be fairly easy to reinforce the leg posts and putting a brace across the underside of the tank probably wouldn't be terrible either. Chances are that a publically sold product like that would have a factor of safety of at least 3 (3 times stronger then it needs to be), but it never hurts to be safe.

+1 totally agree with this! As long as it already hasnt started to bow or anything reinforcing would be so much easier!

Most diy stands are way overbuilt

So true!!!!! I built a stand for my 8x3x2 and by the time I was done building it, it took 4 people just to move the stand...lol.

 

[Jeff210]

So true!!!!! I built a stand for my 8x3x2 and by the time I was done building it, it took 4 people just to move the stand...lol.

I built mine like I was framing a house - thing has to weigh 300 lbs :lol: