Iron Stands

eyeman

eyeman

AC Members
Nov 27, 2006
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Here's the deal. I recently purchased another 55Gal tank with an angle iron stand. The original reason for the metal stand was so I could put a 33 gallon tank on the bottom which has the same footprint. I have not bought the 33 yet but the more I look and think about it, how the heck would I get it in there. I tried to put the 55 on the bottom and it's impossible. It seems the angle-iron is in the way and no amount of twistin will work. I thought about dropping the 33 in from the top at an angle. There is a crosspiece at the top shelf directly in the middle so I'm not sure this will work.

Do any of you have this set-up and if so, how did you do it. I could always put a smaller tank on the bottom but then I assume I would have to plywwod the bottom shelf to support the smaller tank. Would this be OK??

Thanks
 
eyeman said:
I could always put a smaller tank on the bottom but then I assume I would have to plywwod the bottom shelf to support the smaller tank. Would this be OK??
Click to expand...

I've put a smaller tank on the bottom of an iron stand before after putting down some plywood. I haven't done it on an iron stand as large as one for a 55g, only those meant for a 15g long. I didn't have any problems. To protect the plywood, I painted it before installing it.
 
I have a double stand for 20 gallon tanks. To get the lower tank in, it had to be slid directly from the front. If you could post a pic of the stand, it might help to figure out how you could get the lower tank in.
 
if it is the angle iron stand that has the front legs that go up and then sort of jut in to the top shelf/sort of offset than a tank w/. the same footprint as the 55 gal will not fit. this is the stand i have. some of the decorative wrought iron stands will let you slide one in from the fornt but because of the angle pieces on the angle iron it will be impossible. btw what do you think of this stand? I switched this time from wood because my tank is in the basment and my last wood stand would get a little water from seepage during heavy storms and was sort of getting wood rot and seperation along the bottom so i figured the iron would be more sturdy. But it seems to have a lot of wobble to it when your working on/doing water changes algae scrubbing etc. makes me kind of nervous. the wood stand never budged.
 
Yeah...the more I think about it, the more I realize that the same footprint will not fit. I will use Plywood with a 30 most likely.

I might have a bigger problem.

Is it normal for the center of the tank (front and back) to not touch the iron stand when empty?? There is a 3/16 to 1/4" gap in the middle front and middle rear where the edge of the tank should hit the stand. The ends are flush. It looks like the bottom is like this also.

Is this to compensate for when the tank is filled?? Seems like the tank would have to flex and that worries me.
 
eyeman said:
Yeah...the more I think about it, the more I realize that the same footprint will not fit. I will use Plywood with a 30 most likely.

I might have a bigger problem.

Is it normal for the center of the tank (front and back) to not touch the iron stand when empty?? There is a 3/16 to 1/4" gap in the middle front and middle rear where the edge of the tank should hit the stand. The ends are flush. It looks like the bottom is like this also.

Is this to compensate for when the tank is filled?? Seems like the tank would have to flex and that worries me.
Click to expand...

this is normal. the angle iron sort of overlaps on the end. most of the support for the tank is on the corners. the bottom of the tank is tempered glass and wont go anywhere. only acrylic tanks need support all along the bottom.
 
I can grab on the middle of the top shelf while the tank is full and sort of pull it up and down(there is "play in the long bar") the long support bars are technically there just to hold the sides in place. the iron stands are different than the wood. they take a little getting used to there is play in them unlike wood. it the same concept as in steel construction in buildings as opposed to wood. the steel will seem to have this "play but its ability to hold weight that presses down on it is just as good if not better than wood in the long run.
 
Thanks...Starting to think this is OK.

I think a piece of 3/4 Plywood and then a layer of foam will help.

Here is a picture:
IMG_2095.jpg
 
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