Not really a DIY stand, butttt....

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milkman407

milkman407

Peacock Bass
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Jul 15, 2006
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So I've been seeing a lot of people use these https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Kobalt-72-in-Work-Table/5000045517 and putting 40-50 gallon tanks side by side on it.

What's anyone's opinion on this? Considering it's able to hold up to 1500 lb weight and is 72x24 (maybe not 24" at the ends due to the cut's they made )

With the price of ( time x labor x cost of materials ) and my 60x24x24 tank arriving soon, I feel like this is not only cheaper but actually has a unique look to it. The thing that worries me though, no center bracing and no front brace, but I'm not a architect so maybe someone can shed some light.

the 60x24x24 will be bare bottom so let's just say 1,251 lbs ( because realistically it's not going to be filled to the brim and acrylic tanks weigh almost nothing. )
 
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milkman407 said:
The thing that worries me though, no center bracing and no front brace, but I'm not a architect so maybe someone can shed some light.
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That would be my concern. Although the work bench is rated for 1500lbs will it hold that weight long term.
I personally would build a stand structured with proper length and width for aquarium.
 
tlindsey said:
That would be my concern. Although the work bench is rated for 1500lbs will it hold that weight long term.
I personally would build a stand structured with proper length and width for aquarium.
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agreed, I know someone who has 2x 50 gallons side by side on it and it's been fine for the past year. But this is going in one of my rentals and I don't want to get a call one day.
 
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Your tank is about 180 gallons and I suspect it will be heavier than you think all in; even if its just tank and water, 180 x 8lb is over 1400 pounds. And why on earth would you not fill it right to the top?

But the table is rated for 1500 pounds...wooden top over an inch thick, with what appears to be square steel tubing running all the way around the bottom of the top...solid-looking steel framework and legs...I'll be honest and say that I would use that thing in a heartbeat. There's probably a safety factor of 3 or 4 involved, and I don't think weight will be an issue at all. Being a cheapskate I would be more likely to build one; for that price I could probably make four stands that size. But I think that will be more than up to the job and you will save a lot of time.

One proviso: I don't like those hokey little leg-levelling gadgets that screw in and out. If I were using it, I would remove them completely and just make sure that it was on a level floor, or use shims to keep it permanently leveled.
 
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jjohnwm said:
Your tank is about 180 gallons and I suspect it will be heavier than you think all in; even if its just tank and water, 180 x 8lb is over 1400 pounds. And why on earth would you not fill it right to the top?

But the table is rated for 1500 pounds...wooden top over an inch thick, with what appears to be square steel tubing running all the way around the bottom of the top...solid-looking steel framework and legs...I'll be honest and say that I would use that thing in a heartbeat. There's probably a safety factor of 3 or 4 involved, and I don't think weight will be an issue at all. Being a cheapskate I would be more likely to build one; for that price I could probably make four stands that size. But I think that will be more than up to the job and you will save a lot of time.

One proviso: I don't like those hokey little leg-levelling gadgets that screw in and out. If I were using it, I would remove them completely and just make sure that it was on a level floor, or use shims to keep it permanently leveled.
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150 gallons, to be more accurate. with these acrylic tanks they're usually not filled to the exact top, most of mine sit at about 1" from being full to the brim because of where the plumbing is. I'm gonna go inspect it in person as my local lowes has one set up. I agree though, those bottom feet need to go.
 
i've used something like that for my 40 gallon breeders before. It just looks tacky? I'm building a stand for my tank that's coming, I was just curious what everyone though about the work bench.
 
This thing would work imo, but probably not ideal. I would make sure to run it with the extendable legs all the way distended (so its short as could be). A full 60x24x24 is too close to the rated 1500lbs capacity for me personally.

The biggest issue with this imo is potential for shock loading and the stand twisting and racking. If you were to bump into that stand with something with some force-- maybe moving furniture, kids rough-housing, maybe an odd earthquake--that 1400 lbs of water starts sloshing around and can transmit a lot of torsional force to those 4 metal posts. those mild steel posts could bend or the fastenings that attach them to the tabletop could rip right out of that wood. This is all worst case scenario stuff of course.
 
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Backfromthedead said:
This thing would work imo, but probably not ideal. I would make sure to run it with the extendable legs all the way distended (so its short as could be). A full 60x24x24 is too close to the rated 1500lbs capacity for me personally.

The biggest issue with this imo is potential for shock loading and the stand twisting and racking. If you were to bump into that stand with something with some force-- maybe moving furniture, kids rough-housing, maybe an odd earthquake--that 1400 lbs of water starts sloshing around and can transmit a lot of torsional force to those 4 metal posts. those mild steel posts could bend or the fastenings that attach them to the tabletop could rip right out of that wood. This is all worst case scenario stuff of course.
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Worst case scenario should always be considered.
 
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