Would This Work For A 20-long?

[dizzied]

http/www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30053921

The dimensions are good enough, but do you think it'll hold the weight of a 20 gallon tank?

 

[wendywc]

I'd go to IKEA and check it out in person. If there's any wobble, you could brace it with a cross brace in the back. Also since it's particle board, if it gets wet, the water will just stay and pool underneath the tank on the top of the dresser (trapped in between). A glass top on the dresser would prevent this though.

But I'd tend to check out garge sales or ads for proper fish tanks stand or at least solid wood furniture instead.

 

[dizzied]

Surely gives me an excuse to check out the new Ikea that opened up in town.

I needed some storage, so I thought I'd attempt to kill two birds with this one. Well, that and aquarium furniture is so expensive around here.

 

[Hawkins]

its expensive everywhere

i go for the cheapest option when i get tanks, and i have three different ones..

i dont have proper stands for them, so none look really good.
i might check this MALM stuff out, its cheap and quite nice..

but 3 drawers for each tank is a bit extreme, as i dont need space

 

[waterdrop]

I'll throw in two comments, neither of which may be pertinent to you..

My son and I are using a particle-board stand, one of those ones that matches the tank it came with. On our first attempt, some drips of water that came down the tank front/side were not noticed by us and the entered the particle board at a place it was drilled for a supporting screw (in the top surface of the stand.) The particle board subsequently swelled up (quite a bit, when looked at in hindsight) and literally lifted one corner of the tank a quarter inch in the air. The bottom of the tank cracked and began leaking 28G/106L all over my son's room.

I ended up replacing the stand (& tank of course) with the exact same type pair (only because that was the easiest, most timely solution in the end) and this time I have placed a fairly strong sheet of plastic between the tank and particle board, such that the plastic matches the shape of the tank and is not too evident. We are much more careful now about stray water.

Secondly, I guess this seems a pretty trivial question but, I assume you have thought through that you don't want any kind of cabinet below that tank that can take an external cannister or electric wires or other sorts of things that work well with cabinets. If you change your mind and want those things, drawers usually just don't work at all for that sort of thing.

Anyway, good luck and seems like you've made a good find if it is strong enough,

~~waterdrop~~

 

[dizzied]

Hey everyone, thanks for the input.

How water affects the wood is certainly the greatest concern. Though I'm careful, I'm prone to the occasional spill like everyone else. I'll also have to check it out in person to see if weight could be an issue.

I've already thought about the "no cabinet" thing, and it won't be an issue. The power strip will be elsewhere, and being just a 20 gallon, it's unlikely I'll need to go canister for it.

 

[dizzied]

Thought I'd throw in a little update.

I checked it out at Ikea today. It's very sturdy, so the only thing to worry about is the particleboard's reaction to water. Coincidentally enough, Ikea also makes a glass top to match the drawer. The entire thing is basically saying "Hey, buy me". I might pick one up next time.

 

[vinylman]

I'd be very wary putting any tank on something that wasn't made for the purpose. If you've ever had a tank stand to assemble yourself, you'd see that the screws and such are of much better quality and are made to tolerate the tremendous CONSTANT weight of water, substrate and tank that will be placed on it. Always bear in mind, too, what your household insurance covers if you put a tank on a support that wasn't made for the job. A purpose-made tank stand/cabinet may seem expensive, but it's a 'pay once, job done' purchase.

 

[rossyboy]

You wana get something more solid mate or at least with a solid wooden top... it'll cost a bit more maybe but it's going to be worth it in the long run.

 

[Arachnidzone]

If you do insist on buying for whatever reason, ascetics etc, then DO buy or dig out some good wooden offcuts and reinforce this. I wouldnt use this without doing so.

I adapted kitchen units for a fishtank stand, all chipboard and has had loads of leaks! they are the usual double door kitchen units which are mounted on the wall above the kitchen surface. I took of the wall and used cheap softwood 4"x4" posts down the middle of the double cabinets and on the back, then a sheet of chipboard to match the base of the tank, cheap polystyrene ceiling tiles on top of theat, then the 6ft x 18" x 18" 42 (UK) gallon tank. So effectively i have 4 legs and a chipboard frame holding a large tank up. The 4"x4" legs hold the weight and the cupboards hold the legs together. Thats been setup for 4 years no problems. theres also 10 12" tall 4"x4" legs under the entire thing lifting the lot off the floor.

PERSONALLY, i say you could pay little for 6 solid wooden stumps, a good piece of wood as the top and cheap boarding to box it in, that would cost the same as the ikea flat pack jobby but you could jump on it and be safe! (Dont try though! )

 

[dizzied]

I've kinda thrown this on the backburner, since I have other things to attend to.

The 20-long has been on a DIY stand for several years now, it's sturdy sure, but it's hella ugly as well. It's probably unusual to look at house furniture rather than "proper" aquarium stands, but it'll serve as storage as well, something I desperately need. The other thing is the prices of aquarium stands, they're just so expensive. I'm also not impressed with the condition the LFS around here keeps them in, and having them shipped from elsewhere will likely incur damage.

The weight issue I'm not much worried about at this point. I've seen the cabinet in person, it's very sturdy. I've also used furniture as stands for my other tanks without problem, though admittedly, none of them as heavy as a 20g.

 

[tyyrlym]

It's not really that odd to look at furniture for a tank stand. In fact for 20 gallon or less aquariums its not a huge problem. Just ask yourself would you be comfortable with a 200 lb man sitting on top of the piece for a few years. If you wouldn't be then don't buy it.

Speaking as someone who works with wood from time to time I have no faith in particle board. You can make inexpensive furniture out of it but it won't last and setting a fish tank on top of it is asking for trouble. Between water changes, water testing, redecorating, etc, you will get that particle board wet and then you're in trouble.

If you are going to buy regular furniture for use as a tank stand then look for something made from plywood at a minimum.

I doubt your tank stand would be damaged if shipped to you, most sellers provide some warranty against damage during delivery.

Alternately look into finding a metal worker in your area, there's a good chance they could fabricate a tubular steel stand for your tank that would be both plenty sturdy and minimalist.

 

[dizzied]

It is indeed particleboard I'm worried about, although even if I started looking at aquarium stands, some 80% of them are made from particleboard as well.

Count metal stands out, I look like them much aesthetically, and they won't provide much storage.