Tank stand info

[Benedict]

We are purchasing a tank and a stand. The stands are secondhand and slightly larger than the tank. There is lots of information about not overhanging a tank on a stand, but can a tank be smaller than the stand? Or photographs of stand with tanks on have the tank sitting on the outer edge, and I assume this is to utilise the strength of the side panels on the stand. However, would it be disastrous to have it a bit smaller than the tank stand? In my case the width of the tank is 61 cm and the width of the stand is 81 cm. Thank you.

 

[sharkweek178]

I feel like tank stands are specifically designed to distribute weight over the entire surface and you don't quite get that when the tank is too much smaller than the stand. I have a tank stand that's smaller than the tank so I put some pieces of wood under the tank to better distribute the weight. Just some 2 x 4 pieces I cut to length and laid side by side so that the entire weight of the tank is supported over the entire surface of the stand. (I also painted the wood black just so it would kind of blend in with the stand). Next tank I put on there, I'm going to get rid of the 2 x 4's and cut a piece of plywood to the exact surface area of the stand.

 

[Uberhoust]

Unfortunately it will depend on how the stand is constructed, and how thick and rigid the top plate is. If the top plate is pretty rigid and strong enough you can put a smaller tank on it. If the plate is low grade particle board and not very rigid on its own you might have some issues. You will need to look at how close the supporting structures under the top plate of the stand line up with the outer edges of the tank. On my MarineLand stand the top plate is by design larger than the tank but the supporting framework below the top plate lines up with the other edges of the tank so it is full supported. In most cases a bit smaller tank will be OK but I cannot guarantee that.

 

[Archerfish]

Your tank should always be supported completely around its perimeter. Are you looking at a wrought iron stand that will not allow the tank to be supported completely around the perimeter? Or are you looking at a solid wood (not particle board) stand that is larger (in all dimensions) than the tank? A picture of what you are describing sure would help.