I was just curious about how to build a proper stand for an acrylic. I know the entire bottom of the tank has to be supported and not open like a glass tank can be.

The stand that came with my 300 gal. just doesn't seem all that sturdy and I think i'd rather have my dad build one for me that looks a little nicer anyway. He built the stand for my 90 gal. and it looks great and its rock solid (my dad does woodworking as a hobby of his and is damn good! haha!)

I was wondering how do you add support into the stand for the tank especially if you use a sump where it takes up much of the interior of the stand? Can anyone post some good pics of their stands for an acrylic tank so I have an idea of what to do for supports? I would appreciate it.

I just can't see the stand that came with the tank supporting the tank and about 2500 lbs of water with how much it "wiggles" when you move it.

any tank of that size requires a sturdy and strong stand. as a thumb rule,
always consider the swaying factor to determine the resistance against shearing
on its joints. however, shearing can be neutralized by wall panel of the cabinet
itself.

Yeah that is what makes me uncomfortable about the stand that came with the tank. It does seem to move alot if you push and pull on it. Either I need to beef this one up or build a new one. Leaning towards building a new one since my Dad can help me and I know it will look much nicer!

why don't you show first the stand with your dad.... woodwork expert can easily
evaluate and adapt what has to be done to reinforce it....

Yeah I will do that...just wondering where to put the supports assuming I use a sump filter...wondering if maybe two large canister filters wouldn't be easier to use.

I'm thinking to beef this one up I would almost have to rebuild most of it so I might just build a new one. It would look much nicer and I could design it how I like then.

ikkie78 wrote:


Glass tanks can have an open bottom?


I never knew that, and even if it's possible I would never take the chance.

SauRoN wrote:





its not only possible, its common with glass tanks. my 55, and my 8 footer, both have open bottoms. acrylic on the otherhand does require a full bottom.

the above pic... i crawled inside my 8 foot stand to take lol... dont think i didnt think about the 3000+ lb of rock and water over my head lol.

And here I am worried about rock formations in my tanks falling over and potentially cracking the side glass, while other people are running tanks with no bottoms.


I'll rather play it safe thank you very much.

that bottom plate is 5/8". and its also braced in 2 places, you can just see the edge of one on the top of the pic. thats where you build your structures from in your decor

that glass easily holds 3000lb of weight in my tank.

structurally speaking... glass is stronger than concrete.


if it wasnt, i dont suppose they would use it for common things like floors.



or bottoms in boats lol

Makes sense when you think about it I guess.

oh, and fyi, acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass of the same thickness and weighs half as much. stuff is amazing. but it scratches easily.

Yeah almost every stand I've seen for a glass tank has a "skeleton" type top that you can see through. I know I read on a few places that acrylics require a flat bottom that they sit on to support the whole bottom plate.

I was more worried about where to support the bottom in the stand...basically vertical supports in the stand to support the weight and fit a sump into them.

Hey Penn...I know you have a 300 gal...would it be possible to get a couple pics of the inside of your stand just so I can see how the supports are with your sump in there as well...might help me figure out how to support everything. Thanks!