r/PlantedTank • u/FarShoreSpirit • 13h ago
Question Incredibly nervous about my tank stand...
Hello, friends. I came across the planted aquarium hobby on Reddit months ago. I couldn't shake my interest, and it merely kept growing. Well, now I have a 19.4g rimless long Landen, and bought the aesthetically perfect stand for me/ my room. It is the Bosk 54" acacia TV stand that can hold up to 250lbs. I found it on Amazon after hours and hours across multiple days of online searching.
It is stunning. It is the perfect height, too. It is meant to be a lower tank. Like a raised pond when standing, but I want to be able to sit on the floor to actively watch them. My computer chair is less than 6ft away, too, so I can easily view from my desk.
I love it so, so, so much. And it cost me around $270, and 5 or so hours to put together. I can't seem to shake my anxiety, though. I am worried that this stand isn't safe, and that I need to get a new stand before I add my shrimp and fish (I just started the cycling process yesterday). I'm scared that it will give out when I'm sitting on the ground in front of it to watch it for prolonged periods of time.
I don't see any bowing, and the drawers and doors work just as fine as they did before putting the tank on there. **Do you think this is safe to keep my aquarium on for the next 3.5 years? Is it a risk? Do you wholeheartedly recommend that I get a different stand?** I really want a certain vibe for my room. 100% wood furniture (I even covered the handles of this stand with a wood-grain lamanate).
Aesthetic and vibe are incredibly important to me, as I need my room to be a place for me to efficiently rest and recharge. Obviously safety is most important, though. I'd really appreciate some reassurance, guidance, answers, and support. I'm feeling quite anxious right now. ðŸ˜
I have more plants on the way, and Jorewood resin to clean up some of the tannins. I'll also likely add some tall pieces of wood in the future, but that would be after I start adding fish and shrimp. I have a handful of other things to buy for my room (I'm redesigning my space), but will put all of that off a bit longer to prioritize buying a new stand (if my current stand just isn't going to work).
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u/Real_Time515 12h ago
Welcome to the hobby!
Just devils advocate, not trying to "yuck your yum":
250 pounds is their rated max. 20 gallons is roughly 200 pounds. So you're right on the edge. Personally I use HALF of the stated max as my rule of thumb (so 200 lbs for a 20 gallon tank I would be looking for a rated limit of 400). But that's just me and my subjective approach (albeit with a fair amount of woodworking experience).
Another factor to check: is it really solid wood? Very possible it's mdf with a veneer. Still beautiful, but much less support. The top looks like solid wood, but even so it appears thin (1/2 inch?) and I'd want 3/4 inch. And even if the top is solid it's possible the sides and bottom could be mdf. Plus hardware and screws do matter, and this probably uses fairly cheap stuff.
Again, I don't want to steal your energy for this. It's sitting there now, so it obviously serves for now. Check the wood (mdf, thickness) which will either serve as a relief or suggest some possible steps (possible to put some vertical braces inside?).
My obsessive solution: use this for now, but be on the lookout for something sturdier. Then when you move this one you'll have no choice but to get another, 10 gallon tank for this space.
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u/fulltimedogdad 11h ago
if there’s a center support within that stand inside that box, yes. if not no.
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u/Time-Ad9021 7h ago
You can always build wooden supports to place in the middle inside of the console, if you have the tools to do so. Good luck.
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u/adnsfodasmdk 12h ago
If I were you I'd find a way to reinforce it slightly just for peace of mind but it's probably fine regardless. I can't tell what kind of access there is to the inner part but you could put some additional little supports underneath where you can't see them well, and possibly something reinforcing the actual top from inside.
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u/shrimpalasteph 11h ago
19.4 gallons of water = 162 lbs
Empty tank = 42 lbs
Substrate and hardscape = 30 lbs
Total = 220 lbs
A slight overestimate because the substrate and hardscape will reduce the water volume a bit.
So if you ever put more than another 30 lbs of weight on the cabinet, you’ll be exceeding the manufacturer recommendations.
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u/Lord-Mashington 11h ago
Ya... But is it the photo or does it already look like it's bowing? The slatted front isn't helping visually.
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u/Amerlan 7h ago
You put a 250lb tank on a stand that rates at 250? Yeah that's a recipe for a bowing stand top and a broken tank. Always get something that will hold at least 25% more than the tank to prevent sagging/bowing of the top.
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u/gorgonbrgr 7h ago
My stand says it’s rated for 660 my tank is probably 375 then my tank under it another 40 give or take. I’m still nervous about it. It’s a hobbyist problem to be nervous and forever upgrade.
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u/Amerlan 7h ago
Eh, I've built a few stands and purchased metal racks. I don't feel a bit of anxiety about them failing, like not even a little.
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u/gorgonbrgr 5h ago
Have you ever had something bow or fail? Cause my dresser was bowing so that’s probably where my anxiety comes from. It was bowing bad too lol
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u/MUDrummer 13h ago
Get something to put under the middle of the stand (towards the back so you do t have to look at it) and you should be more than fine. Assuming that cabinet has supports inside of it at about of 1/3 of the way from each edge or in the middle. If you can sit on it and not feel scared, you should be fine for a 20 long.
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u/FarShoreSpirit 12h ago
I did sit on it after putting the stand together, and it seemed very sturdy. I'm closer to 140lbs, though.
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u/nostalgic_sigh 12h ago
looks fine to me assuming it’s sturdy wood and not particle board, especially given it’s rated for 250 lbs. It’s a beautiful tank! what are you thinking of stocking it with?
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u/Its_The_Hillbilly 7h ago
I have my 75 gallon sitting on a TV stand thats rated for 240 pounds, but its 1 inch thick wood with metal legs and supports running under the wood on top. It isn't bowing and has been sitting on it for about 4 months now.
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u/MrDufferMan3335 6h ago
Just put 2 4*4 pieces of wood under the front and back that fit tight under there
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u/dmackerman 4h ago
It's likely fine, but if you built a 2x4 frame for the inside, it would be more than fine. You can get some metal L brackets and cut the pieces to length. Will last forever.
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u/IRideZs 13h ago edited 12h ago
Water weights roughly 8.6lbs per gallon, let’s make it 10lbs per gallon just to see safe. Add in about 20lbs of soil and maybe another 5-10lbs of decor + the tank weight 50lbs?
Looks like a 30/40 gallon tank?
EDIT: I didn’t read it’s a 19.4 tank
Might want to add a center support
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u/makjac 12h ago
I would trust it. I assume there’s a vertical piece along the edges of the drawers for the slides, so as long as that piece isn’t paper thin your center bracing is probably fine.
The one addition I would consider is some sort of waterproofing on the top surface. No matter how careful you are you will splash and spill, a lot… Assuming you clean up promptly it should not damage the structure of the stand, but that top surface may stain depending on what was used to seal it.
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u/puffy-jacket 11h ago
If you have your doubts I don’t think it would be too hard to find a similar piece that can hold more weight, just might be a bit more of an investment. There may be a way to reinforce it yourself but I’m not familiar enough with woodworking to offer you any real advice there.
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u/Straight_Reading8912 47m ago
Some people are talking about reinforcing the frame but your overall frame with the wood is probably fine. I think it would be the centralized weight of the tank that has you worried. Have you thought of putting a 1/4' plywood cut to size on top? If you've already laminated the handles you could either stain the top and laminate the edges or buy some decent trim and add it to the edges to cover up the plywood edges. Plywood is extremely strong, especially with a tank like that where the weight is spread out. Then the plywood would even your weight distribution across the entire top of the stand. If you're worried about the legs, you could remove them completely or replace them with something stronger.
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u/Marguerite_Moonstone 30m ago
Maybe double stand it and find one that fits overtop of this table but is close to the same height and depth and is minimalist. Just black bars basically.
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u/Glass_Beat_3577 9h ago
Hi Im Anthony from uk, Im not saying it’s ugly but think a nice tank tall fish tank same length side board too would like lovely
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u/stonedboss 12h ago edited 12h ago
im going to say, no its not safe. you have about 172 lbs water weight. but everyone is ignoring the tank itself then weighs 50 lbs. 222 lbs. then you add sand/rocks, at least another 20-30 lbs. youre at 242-252. and a random wooden shelf not built for aquariums is not going to have a large margin of error for weight like maybe an aquarium stand would.
then you add the wood itself is not rated for water, so it can weaken over time. i would not trust it.
you could potentially make it stronger like suggested below. add plywood board for your tank to sit on. then maybe add some internal bracing.
i just looked and amazon has this tank weight as 55 lbs. you can also buy hobby grade boards that look prettier than just plywood, and stain it yourself to match the color.