10 Best Aquarium Stands That Will Save Your Tank from All Sorts of Damages

One of the biggest challenges that beginner fish enthusiasts face after buying and setting up their aquarium is that they fail to understand where to keep their fish tank on. This is especially true for large aquariums that demand a sturdy and strong stand. The lack of knowledge in buying a proper aquarium stand often leads to a disastrous outcome for your aquarium. This is why we are providing you all the information that you need to buy the best aquarium stand for your home. So, let us get straight into it.  

Factors to Consider While Buying an Aquarium Stand

There are a bunch of aspects that you need to keep in mind before buying an aquarium stand. You just can’t go on a whim and buy anything that you lay your hands on. Thus, to help make the right choice, please keep the following things in mind.

Type of Material

Aquarium stands usually are made of three kinds of materials – MDF (particle board), plywood and metal. The type of material that you need will be determined by your fish tank.

For a small aquarium, MDF is a great choice since they are less expensive. Plywood is suited for medium-sized tank as they are more durable compared to MDF. For large-sized aquarium, we recommend you to use metal-based stands since they are built to uphold heavy weights.

We also strongly advise you to use only metal-based stands for saltwater aquariums irrespective of their size as wood is not compatible with humidity and is vulnerable to get degraded over time.

Openings

Usually, an aquarium stand for a glass aquarium is open at the top. However, if you are going for an acrylic tank, then you would need to provide support for the entire bottom portion of the tank.

For rimless aquariums, you need to buy a self-leveling mat since the stand can sometimes cause pressure points in the glass, causing it to break.  An opening at the top also helps you in placing a sump.

Storage for Equipment

There are a lot of equipment that you need to install in an aquarium. As a result, the chances of them cluttering up the space is pretty high, especially in case of reef aquariums.

Therefore, go for aquarium stands that have big door openings and concealable storage along with holes in the backboard where you can feed the wires and store your equipment in.

Height

The height of the aquarium stand will play a vital role in its visual appeal. You need to decide which way you are going to spend the majority of your time viewing the aquarium – sitting or standing.

The ideal height for an aquarium stand that you want to enjoy while sitting down is less than 30” (76 cm). If you are going to keep it at a place where there is no sofa, couch or chair for people to sit and look at it, go for a height of around 36” (91 cm).

Ease of Setup

You must take into account your experience of assembling the parts of an aquarium stand, especially if you are a beginner aquarist. Unfortunately, this is one of the most overlooked aspects that people tend to ignore. It’s only when they have to deal with it, they realize how big of a factor it is.

Some aquarium stands come with cam fittings of metal which are extremely difficult to assemble, especially when compared to wooden screws. So, make sure you consider this point.

10 Best Aquarium Stands to Buy

While keeping the aforementioned points in mind, you have to look for the ideal one among the numerous aquarium stands available in the market. For your convenience, we have sorted them into three different categories based on their sizes.  Take a look at our top picks.

Best Aquarium Stands for Small Tanks

Small tanks refer to an aquarium that has a capacity of holding 5-30 gallons of water. The ideal aquarium stands for upholding these tanks are as follows:

Made from solid, real wood, the Imagitarium Preferred Winston Tank Stand features an espresso stain finish. This 29-gallon tank stand has raised feet beneath and provides ample storage for your equipment.

The highly-adjustable internal shelf is another added bonus of this sturdy stand. What makes it even more of an enticing buy is the fact that it is extremely easy to set up. Thus, it is ideal for beginners who don’t have a lot of experience in setting up an aquarium stand.

Tailor-made for slim tanks, the Aquatic Fundamentals 102102 Metal Aquarium Stand is specifically designed to last long. The steel-based product has a powder-coated finish and is resistant to moisture.

The classic stroll design is bound to elevate the aesthetics of your fish tank. Furthermore, it doesn’t take up too much space and is quite easy to setup. Al the tools that you would need to assemble it are already included in the package, unlike most other aquarium stands.

Coming with a fine crossbar wood piece situated at the back of the top, the Coralife Designer Biocube Stand allows its users to conveniently mount a power strip in the interiors, thereby hiding the visually unappealing electric cords. It can hold up to 29-32 gallon of water.

In addition, it is very stable and is known for its firm grip of the fish tank. The door comes equipped with glass panels which provide a great look to the overall appearance of your fish home. As its name suggests, it is compatible with BioCube tanks and comes with acrylic tinted panels. And if you think it would be vulnerable to the moisture of the tank, let us assure you that it is moisture-resistant.

Able to uphold a tank volume of 20-29 gallon, the Aqua Culture Deluxe Aquarium Stand features a hidden storage located at the backside of its door that enables you to stock equipment without jeopardizing the look of your fish tank.

Water-resistance by nature, it is suitable for saltwater aquariums. It is highly durable and is constructed to last long since the front panels, which are reversible by the way,  are made up of solid, real wood. As an added bonus, it comes in two irresistible color variants – black and cherry – for you to select from.

Best Aquarium Stands for Medium Tanks

A medium-sized tank is any tank within the 30-55 gallon range. Based on our market survey, the best aquarium stands under this category are as follows:

The cabinet-style structure of Aquatic Fundamentals Upright Aquarium Stand is one of the most sought-after aquarium stands in today’s times. Weighing 74.6 lbs., this stand offers full bottom support to your fish tank. It comes in 29, 30 and 50-gallon size variants.

It also comes with clear user-friendly instructions that makes it very easy to set up. Although this 55-gallon tank stand doesn’t feature adjustable feet for leveling, its other features make up for this absence. This waterproof stand sports a powder–coat finish and is built from dense fibreboard.

It also adopts a classic old-school look which differentiates it from the other tank stands available in the market today. The black color of the stand fits in perfectly with virtually every type of aquariums, irrespective of their look. It is also available in two other color variants – ‘Solar Oak and ‘Serene Cherry’.

Made of MDF and rustic wood, the Ameriwood Home Wildwood Aquarium Stand is well suited for a 55-gallon tank. Its amazing storage facility, which includes four doors and shelves, makes it a tempting choice for any aquarist.

Each of the shelves is built to hold up to 15 lbs. of weight. Besides, it comes with laminated particleboard alongside black metal hardware accents which gives it a sleek design.

When it comes to sturdy aquarium stands, there is hardly any other product that can compete with its built. However, it is not moisture-resistant, which means, it is not suited for saltwater aquariums.

One aquarium is good, but two aquariums are better. If you are of same thought process, then the Caitec Bird Toys Double Aquarium Stand is what you need. Featuring two shelves, both of which have the capacity to uphold 55-gallon tanks each; it is waterproof and corrosion-resistant due to its remarkable and strong powder-coating.

Its basic design calls for an easy setup. It also saves up a lot of your floor space. Many fish enthusiasts love displaying different species of fish in separate tanks. Sometimes, they need a separate tank for encouraging breeding of their aquatic pets. In these circumstances, this double aquarium stand is a boon, to say the least.

Featuring highly convenient adjustable feet, the Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand enables you to alter its height to suit your preference.

This 40-gallon tank stand is made from solid steel, which speaks volumes about its durability. Available in various sizes, this tank stand provides a sturdy base to your aquarium. The simple yet alluring style of this product blends smoothly with the interiors of your home, thereby contributing to the aesthetics of your fish home.

Furthermore, it is extremely easy to set up and it is a great choice for those who have an uneven floor. Not to mention, it is also easy on your pocket since it is extremely budget-friendly.

Best Aquarium Stands for Large Tanks

Large tanks refer to aquariums with the capacity of upholding 55+ gallons of water. So naturally, you can understand these tasks require sturdy stands with a strong built.  Keeping that in mind, we recommend the following aquarium stands:

The 72-gallon Aquatic Fundamentals Bowfront Aquarium Stand true to its name features a bowfront design and is suited to uphold tanks of varied sizes.

Extremely economical by nature, this is ideal for those who are looking for an aquarium stand to fit their large-sized tank within a limited budget. It is also very spacious and is easy to set up despite its humungous size.

It also conveniently hides the wires and tubes in its backside, which is open except for one support brace. Thus, you don’t have to worry about the equipment of your aquarium creating a clumsy look.

Coming with a water-resistant platform, the Sauder 416444 Select Aquarium Stand features a Jamocha wood finish, thereby making it fit as high-end furniture. Suitable for large aquariums, it comes in 75, 90, and 110 gallon-tank support size.

The double-door and adjustable shelves of this aquarium stand provide ample room for storage. Besides, it is also equipped with an efficient and impressive cord management system. Look, we won’t deny that it is a bit tricky to set up, but given its intricate design and substantial size, this is to a certain extent, excusable.

Final Verdict

Most aquarists give so much thought into buying the perfect aquarium that by the end of the day they fail to make any effort in searching for an apt aquarium stand. It’s remarkable that the stand, which is the base of a fish tank, gets so little attention. As a result, people suffer from buyer’s remorse after buying the stand.  

Not only that, but a weak stand can overtime corrode and result in your tank falling off, thereby posing a threat to the life of your aquatic pets, which you definitely want to avoid. In addition, homes with children are also at risk because their innocent handling of the tank stand can lead to a shattering outcome for the life of your pets.

To make yourself not go through that feeling, you have got to dig deep and remember the key aspects that will dictate your choice in buying an aquarium stand. But with our guide, we hope you will be well-equipped to make an efficient decision.  

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