Habitat - Indoor :: aquarium stand

[crocs27]

I plan on getting either a 125 or a 150 gallon aquarium sometime before xmas. Do you think it would be fine to put it on a long dresser drawer that i currently have my 50 gallon? I can't put it on the floor because i have a cannister filter that needs the gravity. Last thing.. is it a whole lot cheaper to build a stand than to buy one?

[steve]

I have a 125 gallon and there is no way I would put it on a dresser or anything not designed to hold it. I had mine built and unless you know someone who can build it for you, you should buy one when you get your tank.

It was cheaper to have it built since it since it's made of tube steel but that is just the materials, not labor.

[BigCT]

Cheaper to build if you have the means. Table saw level etc.

You can pick up pretty cheap metal shop shelves. most have a weight rating. Home depot caries them.

[staman]

A 150 gallon tank full of water and gravel probably weighs in at about 1000 pounds. Itll probably crush that dresser your talking about...

[marisa]

I've seen pictures with people keeping their turtles on sturdy bureaus, but I think most of the turtles were in stock tanks or Rubbermaids (much lighter than a glass aquarium). A member of the old forum had a 108-gallon aquarium on furniture, though. Unless the furniture was exceptionally well built, though, it most likely wouldn't be safe.

I'm using a canister filter on the floor next to a stock tank at the moment. It can be done, but is noiser and harder to prime than if it were used the way the instructions tell you to (but, if you have an XP3 canister, it doesn't have to be the full 24 inches below the tank to work).

[yosmartpants]

(but, if you have an XP3 canister, it doesn't have to be the full 24 inches below the tank to work).

really? i just posted about my new xp3 but i thought it had to be 24 inches. how close is yours?

[marisa]

Mine is sitting on the floor next to a stock tank, which is also on the floor. It is possible to get it to work in this way, but I don't really advocate it, if possible. It's not the way the filter was intended to operate, and it will be more difficult to prime and it is noisier than if it would be if it were under the tank.

I just responded to your other post. If your problem is with not getting the filter 24 inches below the water level, how far below it is the filter?

[steve]

By not having it setup the way it is intended, you may be forcing additional strain to the motor. Having it below the tank, the motor only has to push water out but if it is adjacent, it must also pull water in, thus reducing it's effectiveness.

[marisa]

It's keeping the water as clean as when I had it on a smaller tank below it. I'm aware I'm probably shortening the life of the motor, but I just couldn't find anything to put the 110-gallon stock tank on that I would feel comfortable with. But, like I said to yosmartpants, I don't recommend using the filter this way.

On another site there was a discussion about having a canister on the floor with a stock tank, and I saw pictures of tanks where people were using it in this way (one was an XP3). One adaption that has to be made, however, is to shorten the hoses to lessen the amount of air that could get into the filter (and lessens the strain on the motor a bit)--the hoses on my filter are less than half of what they would be if the filter was on the floor under a tank (I have an extra set in case I decide to put it on another tank where it would be on the floor below it again).

[kneecole]

Is the 50 gallon on your dresser full w/ water? I have the same size tank and it's on my dresser as well. I'm terrified to fill it to the top for fear of my dresser collapsing or breaking.

As far as stands go if you happen to know someone that's a weldor those metal stands they have in stores are pretty easy to make. I keep nagging my boyfriend to make me one. He says it would be easy and the metal wouldn't be too expensive. He's just lazy. lol.

[crocs27]

Well yes the 50 gallon is filled almost completely. I am almost done building a stand for me and my girlfriends new aquarium. It took up most of the weekend to make. Now i just have the outside to nail to make it look nice and then have it stained. Our new one will be a 125 for our turts. I know in time by this website it will be too small for them, but this will be their permenent home. I know it is not cruel. They will have 72" and 22" to swim around in. I think that will be just fine.