i've had my 20-gal. tank for almost a year, i got it free from my uncle who bought the whole set up for $20 back in the '80s. the tank is holding up great, but today, my baby cousin knocked the stand while trying to look at the fish and the whole thing rocked side to side a little. the stand looks like a piece of crap, it's made of plywood and that wood fiber laminate stuff and i'm worried about it's structural integrity. It has 2 levels of open shelves on the bottom that i use as a bookshelf. if this stand is insufficient, then how do i move my fully-cycled, populated 20-gal tank to a new stand and then move the stand to the position that the current one is in?
insufficient tank stand
- Thread starter attiladahun
- Start date
Same way I just moved the one in my son's room -- move the fish and some tank water into a bucket, take out all the decorations, drain as much of the water as you can and get someone, if you aren't strong enough, to lift and move it.
Then you put everything back again. Fill with fresh water. Make sure the water is the same temp as the old tank water in the bucket and use conditioner.
It's really not that heavy once you get all the water and stuff out. Well, I didn't think it was heavy, but my husband may have a different idea since he's the one that lifted it
Just kidding, it wasn't THAT heavy and he was able to move it with no problem.
Roan
Then you put everything back again. Fill with fresh water. Make sure the water is the same temp as the old tank water in the bucket and use conditioner.
It's really not that heavy once you get all the water and stuff out. Well, I didn't think it was heavy, but my husband may have a different idea since he's the one that lifted it
Just kidding, it wasn't THAT heavy and he was able to move it with no problem.
Roan
do you think a stand like i described would be unsafe? if so, then should i take out the gravel with the decorations also?
y don u just rienforce the stand with some extra plywood screwed over the old plywood on the outside and the inside of the outer, weight-supporting frame. u could also set up some tentioned wires accross the back (the top of one wire connected the the top left, the bottom of it connected the the bottom right of the back side of the stand, and then do the opposite with another wire creating an x-shape, then tighten the wires so they help support teh frame) and if u want even more support u could make support to the side of the frame and find a way to bolt it to the wall... or u could buy a new frame and empty most of the water, then pick up the tank, move it to the ground or a table nearby, place the new stand in the desired location and then place the fishy tank on top of it, if its 20 gal u and a friend should be able to move it with most of the water gone no problem!
The worst stand is not the one that breaks as soon as you fill up your tank, its the one that holds for a while and then breaks while your away for a weekend and all the water has a chance to soak into your house. I would reenforce that tank or get a new one.
Id vote for replacing the stand, especially if you have youngins running around it from time to time. A sway back and forth means that the horizontal reinforcment is lacking and the the two sides could come apart at any moment. A 20 gallon tank is about 200 pounds, that to come crashing down on a little someone would be a horrible thing to happen. Im sure 15 bucks at ikea could get you something decent, look for a top that sits ontop of the side paneling and for extra support add in some struts on the interior of the stand.
If you absolutely must keep it, then id go about reinforcing it by cutting a piece of wood to length that will fit on the back reaching from one side to the other, and then nailing it in place. One at the bottom and one at the top would be the best, the top being most crucial. A piece of 1x6 or something similar should do the trick.
If you absolutely must keep it, then id go about reinforcing it by cutting a piece of wood to length that will fit on the back reaching from one side to the other, and then nailing it in place. One at the bottom and one at the top would be the best, the top being most crucial. A piece of 1x6 or something similar should do the trick.
Actually, for any tank + stand 30g and under you should afix it to the wall studs with anchors.
The stand is probably fine. Ours rocks if I shake it too, when it's not attached to the wall studs.
Roan
The stand is probably fine. Ours rocks if I shake it too, when it's not attached to the wall studs.
Roan
Big box store...get 4 cinder blocks and 2 shelves the length of the aquarium (or at least close, but has to be at least as long as the tank.
Put 2 cinderblocks the width of the length of the aquarium apart... put the first board on it, next set of blocks, board again..aquarium..unless you want it higher, then get another 2 blocks and shelf. I think that would make it to high... The shelves gives storage space.
Put 2 cinderblocks the width of the length of the aquarium apart... put the first board on it, next set of blocks, board again..aquarium..unless you want it higher, then get another 2 blocks and shelf. I think that would make it to high... The shelves gives storage space.