Aquarium stand

shobby

Member
Just curious, I am going from a 55 to a 120, don't have the new one quite yet but getting it. My question is this. My husband wants to put the new stand on wheels, he thinks that he can get heavy duty wheels from Home Depot, build a nice solid base for support and put the stand on top then fill. Has anyone ever heard of this? My fear is the stand cracking, falling, and aquarium breaking. Can this be done?
Thanks Shell
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't do it myself lol. Your talking almost half a ton of just water plus whatev else u put in the tank.
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by shobby http:///t/396783/aquarium-stand#post_3535205
Just curious, I am going from a 55 to a 120, don't have the new one quite yet but getting it. My question is this. My husband wants to put the new stand on wheels, he thinks that he can get heavy duty wheels from Home Depot, build a nice solid base for support and put the stand on top then fill. Has anyone ever heard of this? My fear is the stand cracking, falling, and aquarium breaking. Can this be done?
Thanks Shell

Hi,

A fish tank is SUPER heavy...but so is a piano. My piano had tiny little brass wheels...not just 4 on each corner. It was still a bear to move. Can it be done?...Well folks move houses. Have you seen the new Infinity commercial...you CAN move the TV if you have U-verse...but why would you want to?
 

silverado61

Well-Known Member
There are a few things you need to take into consideration before you attempt this idea.

First, yes, a piano is in wheels. But even a grand piano only weighs in at about 1,000 lbs. Your looking at over 1/2 ton in water alone if you have a sump. Add in at least 200 lbs of rock and sand, the stand and all your equipment. Now the needles pointing at close to 1 ton (2,000 lbs). If the tank isn't sitting on a concrete slab, you'll be supporting the floor underneath to carry all this weight. If you move the tank for any reason, your moving it off that support and onto unsupported floor. Not a good idea. Even if you move it 6 inches, your compromising the integrity of that support.

Second, a good tank stand will have full contact with the floor all around the bottom to evenly distribute the weight of the tank. If your husband does build the stand, he should make the top and bottom framing out of doubled up 2x6's for strength and install at least 6 of the largest casters he can find and double up the support on those as well.

Third, Water is not a solid. It wants to move, even after the container it's in stops moving, the water wants to keep going. If you've ever carried a bowl of water, soup or even a glass of milk that's full to the top, you'll know what I'm talking about. Not only does the liquid shift, the weight of that liquid does also. A tank on a stand also raises the tipping point creating a higher center of gravity making it top heavy. Try carrying a glass of wine by resting it in the palm of your hand and then stop dead in your tracks while trying to keep the glass or bowl balanced.

Last but not least, do not attempt to do this on carpet. No matter how big the wheels are, they will dig into the carpet and you might as well be trying to push your tank up a hill.

I'm sorry to say this but the odds of success in the long run are not in your favor.

But that's my .02
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Yeah it can be done with some heavy duty casters. But your concerns of the stand or tank cracking are very real. Tanks really shouldn't be moved when they're full of water. Youd have to be extremely careful and even then I wouldn't attempt it on anything other than a flat, concrete surface. The wheels could leave depressions on a wood floor or possibly crack tile floors. I'd worry about the stand cracking trying to roll across carpet.
 

shobby

Member
Now I feel better, seems that the consensus is not to do it and that is how I felt about it. Thanks Shelley.
 

deejeff442

Active Member
i have a grand piano.lol i think the wheels are for show .for one the legs arent sturdy really to push it around .plus it aint full of water to splash around
 
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