Here fishy, fishy, fishy

July 17, 2012 10:31 PM

Please help me find the perfect Aquarium stand...or, really, just one that is functional and not hideous.

I am setting up our 20 gallon fish tank after a long hiatus. I would like to find a stand that has storage underneath with doors that close (we have a two year old). Black or a dark wood would be preferable. I've done the standard google and amazon search. We are super happy to use something that is not sold as an "aquarium stand," but it will have to be able to hold 225 pounds. Hoping to spend $100 or less, but would go up to $200 for the right stand.

I don't think it matters, but just in case, it will be a freshwater tank in a well shaded area in Denver.

Thanks in advance!

posted by fyrebelley to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

you could also look for TV stands. a lot of them are made of wood, could probably hold a fair amount of weight without much issue, and have doors to keep the curious fingers out. many are very nice and not crazy expensive.
posted by koroshiya at 10:36 PM on July 17, 2012

Pro-tip: look for TV stands instead of aquarium stands. Like all items in the pet industry, aquarium stands are hugely marked up, but you can find great TV stands from Ikea or even Walmart that are just as good, if not better.
posted by internet!Hannah at 11:03 PM on July 17, 2012

I was just searching on Craigslist for a credenza - and there were lots to choose from. Most were made of wood and looked pretty solid. Also try used office furniture stores. A friend of mine found a beautiful credenza with a granite counter that had been used in a bank - he was using it as stand for a 40 gallon aquarium.
posted by kbar1 at 11:08 PM on July 17, 2012

I ended up building my own for my wife's aquarium; you might consider asking a local furniture maker how much it might be. But it will undoubtedly be considerably more than your budget. Me mail if you want photos.
posted by maxwelton at 11:17 PM on July 17, 2012

My aquarium is on an old (read: wooden, well-built, possibly close to antique) wooden dresser that used to have a mirror mounted on top. I'd look at thrift stores for solid tables or the like that are big enough for your aquarium.
posted by ThisKindNepenthe at 11:45 PM on July 17, 2012

Not a pro-tip, but an experienced amateur tip: if it's a glass aquarium, don't use a solid-topped stand.

Stands for anything other than small glass aquariums only support the edges of the base for a reason: any imperfection, piece of grit, or variation from perfectly flat will cause the aquarium to break. It may not be straight away, and it may take years, but it will eventually break.

If you must to use a solid-topped stand, you can reduce - but not eliminate - the risk by sitting the aquarium on a thin sheet of styrofoam (think 1/8" styrofoam wrapping, not 1/2" foam sheet). But the longer you leave it there, the more chance that one day you'll ear a crack! and be frantically bailing out & mopping up water for the next few hours…
posted by Pinback at 12:10 AM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]