Saltwater & Freshwater Fish Tanks - Aquariums

Fish Tank Stand Plan

May 25th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

An important aspect of your aquarium setup is the fish tank stand. Not only must it adequately support the tank itself, it can often serve a wider variety of purposes and needs. You definitely do not want to place your aquarium on a flimsy bookcase or table.

Fish tank stands are designed to hold the immense amount of weight they are subjected to. Each gallon of water weighs almost 10lbs. So, even for a 10-gallon tank, you’ll be looking at close to 100lbs pounds once the fish tank is filled with water. Adding gravel, equipment and decorative items adds even more weight.

The fish tank stand plan should have a minimum construction of 2″ x 4″ timber. Doors can be added to the design and can create useful storage areas for fish tank maintenance equipment.

Fish tank stand plans can be any height, width or depth you wish but the aquarium stand will require vertical supports 18″ apart. A sheet of 1/2″ of plywood should be installed on the top of the frame, with a 1/2″ sheet of polystyrene on top of that. This will give solid support to the tank, and distribute the weight evenly.