Seems like it could work to me. Its the perfect size for my 66 gallon. Its a simple coffee table, just 4 legs and a top. I was thinking of strengthing it up with some 2x4s. Any thoughts/comments?
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Reinforcing an old coffee table to use as a tank stand...
- Thread starter ROLLIN
- Start date
The legs aren't designed to hold that much weight if any force is applied vertically...
They would hold the tank up, but it wouldn't take much of a bump to send it all over sideways. That would be my biggest concern.
You can definitely make it work.
They would hold the tank up, but it wouldn't take much of a bump to send it all over sideways. That would be my biggest concern.
You can definitely make it work.
Well, the table will have to support between 525 and 660 pounds, so you probably don't want to take any chances.
Is this an enclosed coffee table, so you could brace it from within? If it's an open bottom - a tabletop with four free-standing legs - you'll have a much more difficult making it strong enough.
Three things I'd be most concerned about:
1. Make sure the deck in which the tank will sit is fully supported the entire perimeter of the tank. Whatever understructure is beneath the tank must take the load and transfer it uniformly to the legs.
2. The load-bearing legs should connect directly to whatever supports the tank perimeter, as well as to whatever sort of base comes in contact with the floor. The more you can disperse the load, the better. Generally, stands where four small feet rest on the floor are less stable than stands where the load is distributed over a solid rectangular frame. (This isn't a big deal with very strong floors - like concrete - but if you're in an old house and have a stand that has four small feet, it's possible to crack or warp the flooring.)
3. Cross-bracing ads substantially to the strength of a stand by limiting side-to-side or back-to-front movement. That's why an open coffee table would be very difficult to modify. On a closed-side coffee table, the sides tend to act as cross-bracing.
HTH,
Jim
Is this an enclosed coffee table, so you could brace it from within? If it's an open bottom - a tabletop with four free-standing legs - you'll have a much more difficult making it strong enough.
Three things I'd be most concerned about:
1. Make sure the deck in which the tank will sit is fully supported the entire perimeter of the tank. Whatever understructure is beneath the tank must take the load and transfer it uniformly to the legs.
2. The load-bearing legs should connect directly to whatever supports the tank perimeter, as well as to whatever sort of base comes in contact with the floor. The more you can disperse the load, the better. Generally, stands where four small feet rest on the floor are less stable than stands where the load is distributed over a solid rectangular frame. (This isn't a big deal with very strong floors - like concrete - but if you're in an old house and have a stand that has four small feet, it's possible to crack or warp the flooring.)
3. Cross-bracing ads substantially to the strength of a stand by limiting side-to-side or back-to-front movement. That's why an open coffee table would be very difficult to modify. On a closed-side coffee table, the sides tend to act as cross-bracing.
HTH,
Jim
I found a different coffee table to use (I actually used to have a tank on this one, but not as big as a 66), its pretty heavy for a coffee table and quite solid, I have confidence in it. It isnt really that low. This coffee table (not that other one that I planned to use before) is enclosed. Have any of you 3 ever tried anything like this?
JSchmidt is right on target.
I used a coffee table to support a 55 gallon tank for many years. The original design of the table had 6 1"x2"s as support--one at each corner and 2 in the middle. These supports were between the top and a lower portion very similar to the top of the table. The lower portion of the table was supported along the entire perimeter; thus transmitting the weight to the floor. That is why I thought the coffee table was suited to use as an aquarium stand.
I improved the support by adding a cut to fit 2"x2" at the spot of each original 1"x2".
In retrospect, I don't think these additional supports were necessary--although I was glad they were there. Even small pieces of wood can support a lot of weight along this dimension, that is, stood on end.
I would be certain, however, that the structure is absolutely level and won't be subject to any movement.
Maybe you could test your finished product by having a couple of people stand on it.
Bill in WI
I used a coffee table to support a 55 gallon tank for many years. The original design of the table had 6 1"x2"s as support--one at each corner and 2 in the middle. These supports were between the top and a lower portion very similar to the top of the table. The lower portion of the table was supported along the entire perimeter; thus transmitting the weight to the floor. That is why I thought the coffee table was suited to use as an aquarium stand.
I improved the support by adding a cut to fit 2"x2" at the spot of each original 1"x2".
In retrospect, I don't think these additional supports were necessary--although I was glad they were there. Even small pieces of wood can support a lot of weight along this dimension, that is, stood on end.
I would be certain, however, that the structure is absolutely level and won't be subject to any movement.
Maybe you could test your finished product by having a couple of people stand on it.
Bill in WI
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No, I built my own stand. It sits on a rectangle base supporting the load from above. If you check my link below, you can check out the prints I made/used to do it. Don't know if it will help.
The original point I was trying to convey (as JSchmidt and Rio have pointed out) is that the legs will hold the weight but make sure they are secured to the top and secured from lateral movement (front to back, left to right).
If you have a couple people stand on it to test it, have them try to rock it back and forth, to and fro (are those words?).
The original point I was trying to convey (as JSchmidt and Rio have pointed out) is that the legs will hold the weight but make sure they are secured to the top and secured from lateral movement (front to back, left to right).
If you have a couple people stand on it to test it, have them try to rock it back and forth, to and fro (are those words?).
I haven't tried this specifically (using a coffee table) but I have built a number of stands for my tanks.
Rollin, your second table sounds like it might fit the bill. Just be sure to look at the joinery; you might need to add a screw or two at joints where pieces of wood meet. Depending on how the table was constructed, it might have pretty lightweight joinery (e.g., glue and biscuits).
As long as you can see what structural elements will be bearing the load, and you can tell how the weight is born from the tank to floor (and those elements look sound), you should be OK.
Let us know how it turns out... maybe some pics?
Jim
Rollin, your second table sounds like it might fit the bill. Just be sure to look at the joinery; you might need to add a screw or two at joints where pieces of wood meet. Depending on how the table was constructed, it might have pretty lightweight joinery (e.g., glue and biscuits).
As long as you can see what structural elements will be bearing the load, and you can tell how the weight is born from the tank to floor (and those elements look sound), you should be OK.
Let us know how it turns out... maybe some pics?
Jim
Thanks for the advice everyone. Jim, I guess its not fully enclosed like a box type thing. I will try to get pics while doing it, I'll have to borrow a camera.
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I have a 37-gallon sitting on a pair of speaker stands made of solid metal. Each stand supports the weight from the center of tank distributing the weight equally to their bases that spread to the sides, the top of each stand has metal plates sort of platforms, in order to support the tank I mounted a 3/4 tick hardwood same size as tank's footprint over the plates.
I had the same questions once, then I tested it for a week but because of the solid construction of the stands they don't even shake, of course a solid floor helps too.
Good Luck
I had the same questions once, then I tested it for a week but because of the solid construction of the stands they don't even shake, of course a solid floor helps too.
Good Luck