I was recently given a new fish tank stand as my old one didn't fit into my new place --- I have a ten gallon glass freshwater tank...my old stand was basically like a wooden table with a ledge around the edge so the tank wouldn't fall off and the bottom of the tank sat on a secure wooden plank...but my new stand doesn't have either---my new stand is a stable metal frame (can support the weight of myself and my oversized boyfriend---does not wobble or wiggle) however my new stand does not have a bottom to it so there is no support for the bottom of the tank in the middle where the glass is! If left on that stand for a long time-with no support for the glass bottom of the tank, will the glass on the bottom of the tank break?!
should I cut a piece of wood to attach to the stand as reinforcement for the glass bottom of the tank-or can the glass in the tank with stand all the weight of the water and other stuff in the tank?
2007-05-22 18:00:59 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
thanks everyone-I feel alot safer setting it up now!
2007-05-22 18:17:25 · update #1
It's supposed to be like that. On your old stand if you look closely, even though the table part had a middle, the lip on the bottom of the tank never let the glass touch it anyway. The glass is strong and does not need any support. DO NOT put anything underneath it that will touch the glass part. You cannot make it so that you get even pressure on the entire piece of glass and it may break at the point of highest pressure.
2007-05-22 18:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by Princess Leia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aquariums are stronger than you might think. I've filled a 10 gallon with gravel and moved it without bottom support and it didn't break. The bigger dangers are twisting the tank from an uneven base (which can crack the seals and cause leaks), or a sharp blow to the glass. I've got a 29 and two 55s set up on the metal tank stands like you've got and never had any problems. And one is a saltwater tank with about 60 pounds of live rock plus coral substrate along with the weight of the water.
The weight of the tank is meant to rest on the plastic at the bottom, not the glass (even if it's sitting on a table, it's only supported by the edges - check out the bottom of an empty one the next time you're in a pet store!).
2007-05-22 18:13:01 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've had frames or stands as you describe over the years for the most part these have been up-to 4'x1'x1' the larger the tank the thicker the base for the tank the joints sit on the frames and i never had any serious problem, with the advent of safety glass, float glass the problems of yesteryear have gone to a great degree,
we have a difference of opinion with one guy say 120 gallons, mine is about that it being 6x2x2 and id not like to put the weight or pressures involved to the test in something that size however id see no reason why something up-to 40/50 gallons (imperial) wouldn't be safe having run a fish house with that size tanks on 3 tier racking system.
2007-05-22 19:02:12 · answer #3 · answered by andyjh_uk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your stand is just like mine for my 10 gallon, my 55 gallon and my 120 gallon. They are designed that way to allow for even distribution of forces on the bottom of the tank so the tank will not break. The glass is made strong and you have nothing to worry about.
2007-05-22 18:11:38 · answer #4 · answered by climbhikebikeguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have seen lots of metal stands that only support the edges of the tank. If it were a big tank, it might be a concern, but a 10-gallon tank only weighs about 88 pounds, and so far I've never seen one break on a stand like that.
Enjoy!
2007-05-22 18:09:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its definitely not safe for your tank. Heres what you can do:
take it to place where welding of steel is done. They should have spare sheets of steel. ask them to cut it into strips and to a size which matches the inner width of your stand. Get three or four done like this and ask them to use these strips as 'crossbars'. these will be libe metallic strips connecting the two lengths of your stand at many places.
this should help take thestress off your aquarium.
sorry if this explanation is complicated but it should do the job
after laying the cross bars, put a plank of wood as you have mentioned.
best of luck
2007-05-22 18:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glass aquariums are fine on a stand that supports only the corners,however if you were to get an acrylic tank, the entire base needs support.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/algae/bb/bybstand.htm
2007-05-23 00:25:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing you need to put under the tank is a 10mm piece of polystyrene, the glass does not need anything else as the tank will ease into the polystyrene
2007-05-22 20:49:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋