Affordable But Trustworthy Stand

I have a 20 Gallon high salt water tank and a 10 gallon brackish tank. I want to place them both in my living room to display to my guest/family. but I don't have much cash on hand to purchase a fancy stand to place them both. any one have a good stand besides the steel bar kind. I want an actual cabinet looking stand that I can place them both on top of. I don't really like one tank under the other kind of look, just cause water changes are difficult when one tank is so low to the ground.
any suggestions?
thank you all


FYI this is the kind I currently have and I hate it

 

Hello For small tanks like that, you could look for used tv stands. The kind that hold the old, heavy tube tvs. They're meant to hold quite a bit of weight. I have a 20 gallon on one I picked up for 10 bucks, been there for a year and holds just fine

 

assemble this and put it horizontally...I had a 30 gallon saltwater tank on this exact shelf for three years, along with being full of books! Even in the specs it says 30lbs per shelf...they have to be conservative. Put together properly, it isn't even going to notice.
You're not dealing with a whole ton of weight, only about 350 lbs.

 

so far I like where this is going. used TV stand sounds good, ill have a look around. Ikea scares me, but if you say the 30 gallon is on there for years perhaps I may trust that suggestion

 

so far I like where this is going. used TV stand sounds good, ill have a look around. Ikea scares me, but if you say the 30 gallon is on there for years perhaps I may trust that suggestion

This was my $10 score.. the bottom has glass doors, even, and wheels! But, please ignore the mess in there. Its my catch all stand, lol

I like the idea of the ikea shelf, but that may make water changes a bit challenging depending on the equipment you use. I bet it would look really nice, though.

 

This was my $10 score.. the bottom has glass doors, even, and wheels! But, please ignore the mess in there. Its my catch all stand, lol

I like the idea of the ikea shelf, but that may make water changes a bit challenging depending on the equipment you use. I bet it would look really nice, though.View attachment 528202

I do have to be careful with water, because it is foil over MDF, but most TV stands are as well. Ikea furniture is all in how you put it together. I have ikea furniture that is over 20 years old. I only have a 5 gallon on this shelf now, but it held this 30 gallon acrylic tank, and then later a 29 gallon glass Saltwater tank (I've been through a few!). I thought it looked pretty This is the only photo I could find that showed the stand at all. This was a really fun setup.

 

I do have to be careful with water, because it is foil over MDF, but most TV stands are as well. Ikea furniture is all in how you put it together. I have ikea furniture that is over 20 years old. I only have a 5 gallon on this shelf now, but it held this 30 gallon acrylic tank, and then later a 29 gallon glass Saltwater tank (I've been through a few!). I thought it looked pretty This is the only photo I could find that showed the stand at all. This was a really fun setup.

I do like this look very much. I suppose I could add some 2x4 to reinforce the top I guess, to give me a piece of mind.

 

I do have to be careful with water, because it is foil over MDF, but most TV stands are as well. Ikea furniture is all in how you put it together. I have ikea furniture that is over 20 years old. I only have a 5 gallon on this shelf now, but it held this 30 gallon acrylic tank, and then later a 29 gallon glass Saltwater tank (I've been through a few!). I thought it looked pretty This is the only photo I could find that showed the stand at all. This was a really fun setup.

That's very nice, I was picturing something a lot shorter, which is why I mentioned w/cs might be hard. I like that look a lot, especially with the books underneath. One can never have enough books (or fish) imo

 

I might end up picking that up, matches my TV stand I have, same style. thanks for the info and picture, is also priced just right and I'm sure I can put both tanks on there too.

 

I do like this look very much. I suppose I could add some 2x4 to reinforce the top I guess, to give me a piece of mind.

You could do 2x4 or what I was thinking might be smart, is get some metal angle brackets just to keep the corners square and carry the load securely to the sides. That way you wouldn't be able to see them from the front. Just a thought. Or if you skinned the back and secured it all around that would make it really strong too! Like with a 1/8" piece of beadboard from Lowe's or something...

 

You could do 2x4 or what I was thinking might be smart, is get some metal angle brackets just to keep the corners square and carry the load securely to the sides. That way you wouldn't be able to see them from the front. Just a thought. Or if you skinned the back and secured it all around that would make it really strong too! Like with a 1/8" piece of beadboard from Lowe's or something...

yes I was thinking about adding the metal angle brackets for sure. this sounds doable under $100

 

I'm pretty sure I'm using that same bookshelf put horizontal as well. It's had a tank on it for going on two years now. First a 20 Long, and now the 37 gallon upgrade. If I spill water on it I just quickly wipe it up. No bubbling or anything so far.

 

build your own and paint it for about $15-20 worth of 2x4's and a small can of paint you will have a stand that could hold 1500 lbs. We built and painted this for my 55 and its never budged a millimeter

 

Cinderblocks are also a great option. 8 of them and a couple pieces of plywood and after u can always add a piece of fabric. pile the cinders 4 high but after u lay the first one down put a piece of plywood then place the other 3 on top to make a nice size shelf below and then finish with a piece of 1/2"-3/4" plywood for your tank to sit on. I believe it should hold the weight of a mid-size car but don't hold me to it.

 

Cinderblocks are also a great option. 8 of them and a couple pieces of plywood and after u can always add a piece of fabric. pile the cinders 4 high but after u lay the first one down put a piece of plywood then place the other 3 on top to make a nice size shelf below and then finish with a piece of 1/2"-3/4" plywood for your tank to sit on. I believe it should hold the weight of a mid-size car but don't hold me to it.

I'll have to remember this if I ever have a basement. Lol.

 

I have it in my living room. with a 20 long on it. I also have a 10 gallon on 4 cinders I painted gray a pedestal style. If their looking at your stand then that only means one thing. your tank isn't all that interesting

 

Hello For small tanks like that, you could look for used tv stands. The kind that hold the old, heavy tube tvs. They're meant to hold quite a bit of weight. I have a 20 gallon on one I picked up for 10 bucks, been there for a year and holds just fine

Mine is on a sofa table that is super strong well built quality piece holds a lot of weight my hubby sat on it for quite a while and stood on it, I was more worried about the floor lol