180 Stand vs. 220 Stand

[Fish Tank Travis]

Hello all,

I am currently looking at a 220 gallon tank on my local craigslist. It has a few drawbacks, it is not drilled and it only has an ugly 2x4 stand. I am going to be displaying this tank in the open so I will need a nice finished stand and I'm not very good with wood so I don't want to try to finish this one myself.

There is also somebody selling a stand that he said was bought for a 180 gallon aquarium. I know that the 220 gallon and the 180 gallon have the same footprint but the additional 40 gallons is a lot of additional weight. This brings me to my question, are stands sold for the 180 gallon that are not suitable for the extra weight of the 220 gallon or is the stand usually just built for both tanks and you can use it with either of them?

Thank you

 

[tlindsey]

The 180 stand was built specifically to support the weight of a 180.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Thank you.

Do you know how difficult it would be to reinforce the stand with some additional bracing to support the 220 gallon?

Depending on how the stand looks (I am supposed to get a picture tonight) I might look into adding some bracing so that I can use it. It would look a lot better than the 2x4 stand that the tank being offered with.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

Most stands are built tough and can withstand more than you think. a 180 gallon tank with bare bottom is different with additional 100lbs of stand plus 40-80 lbs of rocks in it. If this was me I would do it.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Ok, thank you for the advise.

 

[tlindsey]

Thank you.

Do you know how difficult it would be to reinforce the stand with some additional bracing to support the 220 gallon?

Depending on how the stand looks (I am supposed to get a picture tonight) I might look into adding some bracing so that I can use it. It would look a lot better than the 2x4 stand that the tank being offered with.

You probably could brace it but I have no experience with that but if the 180 stand is made out of solid wood that would be great. Just recently built a stand for my 180 , the old stand is over 15 yrs. old and is made out pressed wood, still level but my conscience says it's time. My aquarium is in the basement so not concerned about cosmetics, but I agree with wanted your stand to look nice in the living space. My wife already complains about a oak stand that one of my aquariums is sitting on lol.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Ok, thank you. I will wait to check out the picture of it tonight and if I like it I will probably start trying to work out a deal with the guy with the 220 gallon aquarium and the guy with the 180 gallon stand. I think that if I am lucky I might be able to get them both for about $500 total. Then I will just have to try to get filtration, substrate and decorations figured out for another $500 (My wife isn't really ok with spending any more than that). But I think that after I get the tank drilled and find a cheap 55 gallon tank to turn into a sump, it can be done.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[xraycer]

I agree with Ihsnshaik , tank/water weight between a 180 and a 220 is not that drastic at all in regards to commercial stand supporting structure capability.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I would put a 220 on a (good) 180 stand without hesitation.

 

[Def Leppard Hysteria]

In the case of Marineland, there is no difference placing a 180 or a 220 on their 72"x24" stands. Same with Aqueon's 180 & 210. If it is good shape, I don't see it being an issue at all.