Tables, tanks, and egg crate

[OhNo123]

I know eggcrate is strong and is very difficult to break, but would it be a good idea to place egg crate under the tank rather than inside it? My friend asked me this question, and I wasn't sure, so I thought i'd ask you guys. He wants to put a 20g long on a 46" x 18" table. What I'm not so sure about it since the top layer of wood is roughly 3/4" thick. He currently has a 10g and a 2.5g (both gravel-less) on it, and it looks fine, but could it hold 250+ lbs? The legs of the table are 2"x2", but at the bottom, they curve in and are only 1.5"x1.5". So, what should he do?

 

[jmhart]

I don't understand this part: "...would it be a good idea to place egg crate under the tank rather than inside it?" Why would you put it inside it? Inside doesn't help carry or distribute any load.

 

[OhNo123]

I mean under the tank as in below the bottom piece of glass; no contact with the aquarium water.

I've seen pictures of egg crate inside the tank, under the gravel. I don't know if its the right place for it to be though.

 

[nycsicktank]

are you trying to use the eggcrate as a stand? by placing eggcrate under the tank?

 

[OhNo123]

I don't know, my friend said he wanted to use the egg crate as a support because he thinks the wood might break.

 

[jmhart]

People use some crate for DIY under gravel filtration, but it adds no structural support. Also, it wouldn't add any structure support to the table either.

Without seeing the table I can't say, and even seeing it, it'd be hard to say. Want to know if it can hold 300 lbs? Get two guys, stand on it, if it creeks, cracks, or rattles, I wouldn't trust it. If it hold two guys with no problem, it'll hold a tank with no problem.

 

[nycsicktank]

People use some crate for DIY under gravel filtration, but it adds no structural support. Also, it wouldn't add any structure support to the table either.

Without seeing the table I can't say, and even seeing it, it'd be hard to say. Want to know if it can hold 300 lbs? Get two guys, stand on it, if it creeks, cracks, or rattles, I wouldn't trust it. If it hold two guys with no problem, it'll hold a tank with no problem.

x2

 

[OhNo123]

I guess i'll tell him to stand on the table and see if it works.

 

[ibr3ak]

People use eggcrate in african cichlid and reef tanks where alot of rockwork is used. Eggcrate helps distribute the weight evenly and prevents bottom glass breaking/cracking in case of a rock slide.

I use it at the bottom of my tank under the rocks as well.

 

[The Zigman]

If you are asking if you could use eggcrate as a structural part of you aquarium stand, i would say absolutely not.. If the top wood on the stand looks questionable, replace the wood, and add a new piece (of wood) to the top of it. I would never use it between the tank and stand as any type of support.