Walmart Fish Stand Sufficient?
 

I bought a Walmart brand particle board stand for my 55 gallon tank.The sticker inside said NO MORE THAN 550lbs filled. Do you think this is an ok stand or should I add more support?

I know SW Tanks are heavier than freshies.

Let me know.

--Jim C.

Re: Walmart Fish Stand Sufficient?
 

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11562723#post11562723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ProHaloSniper [/i]
[B]I bought a Walmart brand particle board stand for my 55 gallon tank.The sticker inside said NO MORE THAN 550lbs filled. Do you think this is an ok stand or should I add more support?

I know SW Tanks are heavier than freshies.

Let me know.

--Jim C. [/B][/QUOTE]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I did rough figures on my 55g SW tank and im looking at around 685 lbs Give or take a few! You can Build a stand that will Hold it for under 50 bucks I DID!!!! two by fours (2 screwed together) for the legs, 2x6's for the top and Again Two 2x4's Screwed together for Cross Braces for the top(3 cross Braces and 6 legs) My Father who is "MR.Fix It Or MR.Build It" says that my stand will hold around 5000lbs (not that im gonna test that theory) but i know it will hold my tank. If you want ill do a Paint diagram of how i build the stand and post it for you.

Well my thought is, they PROBABLY have a safe ratio. It can probably hold 1000lb, but just give you a smaller figure....

I can def add cross members underneath without it looking ugly. It has doors :P

--Jim C.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11562848#post11562848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ProHaloSniper [/i]
[B]Well my thought is, they PROBABLY have a safe ratio. It can probably hold 1000lb, but just give you a smaller figure....

I can def add cross members underneath without it looking ugly. It has doors :P

--Jim C. [/B][/QUOTE]

I guess if your that worried about looks. :confused: i personally was more concerned with my tank not crashing to the ground but thats just me. IMHO your better SAFE THAN SORRY, you can ghetto a stand CHEAP and STRONG for FAR LESS than im sure you paid for Cheap Wafer board at wal mart. But it will require some work and effort to build.IMHO take the wal mart stand Back and use the Money to buy the wood and BUILD your own Stand!

lol under 50bucks!

I paid almost $120 for this one. It better hold up my tank or I wont be very happy.

--Jim C.

Well ya looks are important. Its in my theatre room. It needs to LOOK nice! I can definitely do some mods to it and make sure it will support it. I wanted to build a small REFUGIUM stand type thing underneath anyways.

How much does SALTWATER weigh per gallon?

--Jim C.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11562900#post11562900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ProHaloSniper [/i]
[B]lol under 50bucks!

I paid almost $120 for this one. It better hold up my tank or I wont be very happy.

--Jim C. [/B][/QUOTE] IMHO your better SAFE THAN SORRY, you can ghetto a stand CHEAP and STRONG for FAR LESS than im sure you paid for Cheap Wafer board at wal mart. But it will require some work and effort to build.IMHO take the wal mart stand Back and use the Money to buy the wood and BUILD your own Stand! and yes My Stand Cost me less that 50.00 to make here is the breakdown.

18-2x4's cut to 24 inches(.75 each untreated pine) 13.50

4-2x6s for the top cut to 63 inches (also Untreated pine 5.00 each) 20.00

3 packs of 50 3 inch screws 3 bucks each 12.00

12- 6 inch long hex head screws 3.00

Total Cost = 48.50

Will hold about 5000lbs Compared to your Wal mart Stand that "looks Pretty" for 120.00 and has a max weight of 500 or so lbs. And the weight is says IS NOT A GUESS that is the weight that it held without Falling down any more weight can and more than likely WILL CRUSH THE STAND!!! IMHO its not worth the risk (Look at the cost of Livestock for your tank DO YOU REALLY WANT TO RISK IT? Just my 2cents.

lol^^^

Never heard it called "wafer board." Very funny!

I will make a decison. There isn't anything in the tank atm.

Thanks for the plans.

--Jim C.

Re: Walmart Fish Stand Sufficient?
 

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11562723#post11562723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ProHaloSniper [/i]
[B]I bought a Walmart brand particle board stand for my 55 gallon tank.The sticker inside said NO MORE THAN 550lbs filled. Do you think this is an ok stand or should I add more support?

I know SW Tanks are heavier than freshies.

Let me know.

--Jim C. [/B][/QUOTE]


Also Lets Break Down Tank weight...

55g water at 8.3 lbs per gallon = 456.5 lbs

Live rock figure 110lbs thats figuring 2lbs per gallon of water (thats low i will have about 125lbs in my tank)

Sand 55 lbs(Again figuring Low i am going to have about 80 lbs in my tank)

The Tank Itself around 75lbs (mine is Prolly closer to 100lbs its 3/4 inch glass)

Total Weight =696.5 lbs Your Stands Max Weight 550 lbs Your OVER your Limit By 146.5 lbs THIS IS NOT SAFE IMHO!

if you don't want to build it yourself try stopping in at a petco for

[url]http://www.petco.com/product/101395/Aquatic-Fundamentals-50-or-65-Gallon-Upright-Aquarium-Stand.aspx[/url] that might work. but also check to see how much weight it holds

^^ That link is the SAME THING I HAVE LOL!!!!

Maybe it's just for freshies?

--Jim C.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11563316#post11563316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ProHaloSniper [/i]
[B]^^ That link is the SAME THING I HAVE LOL!!!!

Maybe it's just for freshies?

--Jim C. [/B][/QUOTE]

Ya prolly MOST saltwater stands (at least the fancy ones are custom) I would just hate to see you get your tank up and running looking good with pretty Expensive fish, have some water slosh over the back or front while doing a water change OR from evaporation from the fuge water soaks into the Particle (wafer) Board it weakens and CRASH down it comes! Not worth the risk for a "pretty" stand IMHO Also you could Contact this site about a stand [url]http://www.freewebs.com/rjs8540/[/url] they do custom stands! that are ALL WOOD so much Stronger!

The walmart stand is split into two underneeth. Making it hard to make a sump/fug in the tight space.
You can only fit one 10g tank on either side of it.