But hear me out. I'm hoping this new stand I bought is strong enough to support a 16 gallon long. It's got a metal frame and everything does feel sturdy. Even the few reviews this thing has show much bigger setups than mine resting on it. My real concern comes down to all the weight being on these little plastic pegs (picture 3) and the fact that the main board is actually two pieces (picture 4). Should I take the plastic pegs off and have it rest on the metal frame on a carpet instead? Or what can I do to improve my chances? My tank has been sitting on its current stand (picture 5) for 3 years no problem, but I just wanted something more long term. What do you guys think?
Posted by TheCarrionQueen
9 Comments
16 gallon tank filled with water should be around 150lbs. First picture says this stand holds 800lbs.
Are the pegs metal underneath maybe? If you turn it over and unscrew maybe its just coated in plastic to protect the floor? Odd that it would have these plastic pegs.
The real purpose of the feet is to level everything out front to back and side to side. If everything is perfectly level without the feet, then by all means skip the feet. The only piece that makes me question this is the fact that the top is 2 separate pieces rather than one continuous surface. But given this is a rimless tank, I assume you will be using a leveling mat which should compensate for any slight differences.
Sixteen gallons is only about 140lb. If you can sit on the table and it doesn’t wobble, it’s good as a stand. Those feet will be important to keep the surface level, and they’ll be plenty strong to support 35lb each. That pressboard shelf you have it on now will collapse from water damage first.
If you can sit on it securely it should be fine.
The stand is fine. Just go by it’s maximum weight capacity. So it isn’t just the tank and its accessories. But if you add potted plants or books or whatever to the shelves know what the weight of those are too.
Like a couple other people are saying you’re putting a roughly 150 pound tank on a product that says it can support 800 pounds and when I look at it that central circle does look like it is providing structurally sound support for the center because it has enough internal connections to act as artistic spokes, holding the wheels shape, keeping downward pressure from deforming it, but I’m only an armchair engineer, learning it as a byproduct of learning welding
That can hold bigger than a 16 if you kept the wood dry. I def wouldn’t attempt the aquarium in the photo, lol.
I would remove the feet and put it on carpet to protect the floor, and make sure the seam on the top board it sealed so if it gets wet it doesn’t get thick or weird like pressed board can.