Habitat - Indoor :: Need 55 Gallon Tank stand Ideas!!

[Laineestar]

I would like to Update my Turtles 10 Gallon Tank to a 55 Gallon. I have a 55 Gallon but need a Stand for it. I really can't Afford to Buy one right now so i'm looking for ideas on what i can put Under it to Support it? I don't really have alot of Room so it can't be anting to Big. Would i be able to use a Big Rubbermaid Container? I'm not sure if that will Support it or not?


Thanks,

Lainee

[Andrew7769]

if you dont mind you can use the floor like jen...the rubbermaid will def. not support it nor will many other plastic structures...keep in mid a gallon of water weighs 8 pounds so we are talking hundreds of pounds here

[Kallistos]

I agree, there's no way any rubbermaid container could hold up a 55 gallon tank. Don't try it, it may seem all fine and dandy for a few months, but someday you'll come home and you'll have a mini ocean.

Try supporting the floor, with wood or concrete blocks. You have to take much precaution to make sure the floor is COMPLETLEY steady and even. If it's not even on one side the tank will be under stress.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Unfortunately I wouldn't put it on a rubbermaid container....that won't support it properly & the tank will just crack & leak.

If you want to set the tank on the floor for now, that would be fine, but just put a layer of plywood under the tank as additional support (just in case the floor of your house is a bit uneven). Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and have them cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood ($28/sheet) to be maybe 2 inches longer/wider than your tank so the tank will fit on it well. "Plywood" is a sheet of mashed up wood that has been all glued together & is very stiff/sturdy & has a bit of a rough wood texture. Not pretty to look at, but it works.

Many yrs ago, my dad made me a tank stand out of an old cabinet & he put this plywood on top for my 55 gallon tank. I never had a problem with the tank leaking or cracking.

[flutterby]

If you don't mind the tank being "not pretty" you can go with the Rubbermaid stock tanks.

[Pizza]

What I have right now for my 90 Gallon tank is a heavy duty steel rack (which I didn't have to pay for, it was collecting dust in the garage), but they are about 50-80 USD. Make sure that the shelves are slightly bigger than your tank, and that it states it can hold 500+ pounds per shelf as a minimum (most hold 800-1000 lbs. per shelf). If you have your worries, reinforce the rack with additional metal rods or wood. I set mine up like a table, and only used 2 of the 5 shelves included in the package (one shelf on top like a tabletop, another near the bottom to give the legs added support, and to hold food, filter etc.) .

[DaddySkittles]

Would a coffee table work?? One of those sturdy ones? Just a suggestion.

[Kallistos]

Be very careful when you start looking around your house for things that "seem" that they'll be able to hold the tank. Chances are the average furniture piece will be unable to hold a 55 gallon tank. Your looking at around 500 pounds here, that's not the same as your breakfast and a cup of orange juice! I doubt a coffee table will work, their base is very skinny so the outer edges of the table will be very weak. Kristin's father knew what he was doing before he put the tank on the cabinet, unless the stand in question is supported at intervals and is made out of solid wood or metal I wouldn't reccomend it. Use your own caution, all I'll reccomend is a stand rated for the aquarium or the floor!

[steve]

If there is someone handy there, a basic stand could be made easily and cheaply. Do a search for DIY + reef

Those are some serious hobbyists and they make a lot of their own stuff, some have even posted materials/instructions. Thats where I got the idea to make a custom tank/stand.

[Laineestar]

I thought about putting it on the floor for time being but i'm Afraid my @-Year Old is going to take a Swim with them. I do have a Very Heavy Duty dresser that DH said would Hold the Tank but i'm not sure if i'm going to use it or not? Thanks for the ideas!!! I'm going to Talk to my Step Dad about Possibly making something for me. He is good at making stuff like that. in the meantime i Bought a 20 Gallon for them.

[VelvetAlley]

Go hippie style; plywood and cinder blocks!

[grey goose]

If you can talk you step dad into helping, go here:
http://www.garf.org/stand.html
The basic stand is just 2x4's screwed together and a piece of 3/4" plywood. Shouldn't cost more than $30. Then later you can dress it up....

[industrial_girl_2000]

Kristin's father knew what he was doing before he put the tank on the cabinet, unless the stand in question is supported at intervals and is made out of solid wood or metal I wouldn't reccomend it. Use your own caution, all I'll reccomend is a stand rated for the aquarium or the floor!

My dad basically did some "garbage picking" when he was out painting a house & grabbed one of those old solid wood kitchen cabinets (70s style) that someone was throwing away with 2 doors on the front of it so I would have some storage under the tank. He screwed on the 3/4 inch plywood all the way around on the top of the cabinet. This thing was very heavy when he was done. My dad's not a carpentar, but that stand lasted me for 12 yrs.

[mkoby]

Did you try craigslist.com? (I'm so addicted to this site!) There are tons of tanks and stands really cheap posted in my area. I think the average price for a stand was $30.

[steve]

Some DIY pages (it can be DONE!):

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diysta ... _Plans.htm

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/75g_stand/index.shtml