29g Stand

[SpaceBison]

I'm getting a 29g and I'm using a plastic folding table for a stand. I was wondering If it would hold a 29g?

[Jacko]

I wouldn't, they aren't very sound. I'm 140 lbs and sitting on a table it wobbles and bends and I don't think a 250 plus pound tank will fair any better. Dressers and other furniture work if it's sound enough, with braces to support the weight. Most often it is best just to use a specified aquarium stand or build your own. A wrought iron 29 gallon aquarium stand shouldn't cost more than 50 bucks, you can probably find a used one for much cheaper on craigslist.

[KingFisher]

I would not trust a plastic folding table to hold that much weight. Please reconsider before you end up with a flooded home or worse. You need to get a sturdy wooden or metal stand for a tank that size. Even a dresser would work. I have my 29g on top of a secretaries desk, but it is a good oak one that is very sturdy. :ssmile:

[Lady Hobbs]

No way. I have my 29 gallon on 6 cement blocks with a piece of plywood on top of the blocks for now. A 29 gallon full of water weighs 300 pounds.

[MCHRKiller]

Im all about using pieces of furniture for tank stands, because most tank stands you buy in a LFS are crap. I have my 100G sitting on a solid wood dresser, and my 15G is sitting on a nightstand that matches it. Hit up an antique store...good resources for cheap solid wood furniture that with a little bit of re-inforcing and refinishing can be the best stand youve ever had. All I did for my dresser is to get a piece of 1/2" plywood and stain it to match the dresser :)

[SpaceBison]

Yeah, I just went to Walmart and found a 29g stand, but it was $70. So I looked around and found a 1-2in. thick table that will fit the 29g for $25. It looked like it would easily hold the 29g so thats probaly what I'm going to get.

[gm72]

Potentially real bad idea. Keep in mind the weights that you have been provided above. It is not the thickness of the table but the support structure underneath.

[Rue]

Yup...no plastic tables for fish tanks...unless it's some industrial, space-tough stuff...

[SpaceBison]

well they legs on the bottom of the table were near the middle and were very thick

[AABatteries]

I didn't get a chance to look at the table, probably would've been a good idea. But if the legs are near the middle it wouldn't support as well as a table with the legs near the edge.

[SpaceBison]

they weren't THAT far in the middle mabye just an inch or 2 out from the sides

[Jacko]

How long is the table? Unless the tank is supported on the corners by those legs, so the table can't be more than 32-34" by 14-16" then it won't support the tank. The water+tank+gravel+decorations will probably weigh well over 300 pounds, can you imagine a 300 pound person sitting on this table?

[SpaceBison]

Yeah It's about that size, just enough to fit the 29g

[cocoa_pleco]

theres no way in he11 i would trust a folding table to hold 350lbs. if you need a cheap alternative for a stand, try to find a free solidly built dresser, or use cinder blocks. with the folding table i see the legs giving out after a few hours of the tank being filled

[gm72]

Spacebison can you post a picture of the table to let us give you a more solid opinion? I still say that this is a potentially very bad idea.

[Rue]

...speaking of cinder blocks...

I saw a cinder block stand a while ago. To make it look nice they had put velcro around the blocks somehow, and then velcroed a stained thin piece of wood to the blocks.

You could access underneath (SW tank) by removing the false front. It looked remarkably good.

[gm72]

...speaking of cinder blocks...

I saw a cinder block stand a while ago. To make it look nice they had put velcro around the blocks somehow, and then velcroed a stained thin piece of wood to the blocks.

You could access underneath (SW tank) by removing the false front. It looked remarkably good.

That could be accomplished with velcro just glued to the block. Liquid Nails brand adhesive comes to mind.

[SpaceBison]

Yeah, I'll try to get a pic, and the thing with the cinder block, It's on carpet. Could I just put the tank on the cinder blocks or would I have to put a piece of wood there? How many cider blocks high would i have to be?

[gm72]

I'd cap the cinderflocks with a piece of 1" plywood at least. How high is personal preference.

[SpaceBison]

Here is almost the same exact table [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[SpaceBison]

Well the height, I like the top of the tank about 4ft. or around 4ft.

[gm72]

No way on earth would I trust that to hold 300+ pounds for years on end. The thing to remember is that the load may be held for a while, but for how long? I mean, it might work, but given that "might" is the key word, the question becomes whether or not you are willing to risk having a 300+ pound load with 29 gallons of water come crashing down.

Personally I think not.

[SpaceBison]

ok so should I go with the cinder blocks and wood? But I don't know if my mom will let me. Well could I get some foam on the bottom of the blocks because it's going to be on carpet.

[gm72]

Carpet doesn't matter but if it makes you feel better you could put whatever you want under the blocks.

[SpaceBison]

Ok hopefuly my mom will let me....:sconfused:

[Rue]

As a mom...I like the idea of putting foam under the cinderblocks to help preserve the carpet...

[SpaceBison]

yeah, thats why I suggested it. Well I could really put anything under it, cardboard, a small piece of wood, foam, or really anything.

[gm72]

Wood would probably be best given what you are trying to accomplish.

[SpaceBison]

Yeah, I'll probaly use wood, but if I can find foam I'll use that.

[gm72]

The wood will more consistently distribute the weight given it's rigidity and would therefore be more effective at saving the carpet.

[SpaceBison]

Ok, I just looked in my shed and I found 4 pieces of wood to put under the legs

[Rue]

Just make sure it's clean wood - with no big splinters...

...er, that's me, as a mom, again...

[gm72]

Plywood would be a great decision.

[SpaceBison]

Ok I'll probaly go to my wood store down the road soon

[Lady Hobbs]

If you check out your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or Habitat of Humanity stores, you might be able to find a good, heavy duty dresser for next to nothing.

My blocks sit on the carpet. No problem. I painted the blocks black and have a 1 inch piece of plywood on top.

This stand is on sale online at Petco for $35.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[SpaceBison]

Yeah, I don't have a Petco near me but Walmart has a stand like that but it's $70, so I'll ask my mom if she can take me down to Goodwill and find a nice dresser.

[Nightside_Eclipse]

Yeah, I don't have a Petco near me but Walmart has a stand like that but it's $70, so I'll ask my mom if she can take me down to Goodwill and find a nice dresser.

Make sure it's solid wood and not MD fiberboard. Water + MDF = BAD

[SpaceBison]

Yeah, I'll try to find a nice solid dresser so I can use it for my fish tank and to put some of my stuff in my room in.

[piper_chuck]

Ok, I just looked in my shed and I found 4 pieces of wood to put under the legs
If you, or someone else reading the thread, goes with the cinder block idea, consider the material between the blocks and carpet carefully. It's important to choose something that won't stain the carpet when, not if, you get some water down there. Wood, with some kind of plastic sheeting between it and the carpet would form a physical barrier to protect against the cinder blocks and water stains.