Make no mistake aquariums are heavy. The water alone in a 36 inch (30 US gallon) tank weighs in excess of 100 kg (230 pounds). Add on the weight of the tank itself, the substrate, rocks, a hood with lights and it goes without saying a sturdy support for the tank is imperative to avoid disaster. Additional consideration should be given to ensure that the floor will also support the load. The stand should be ideally be positioned across the floor joists to distribute the weight.

Use the Tank Volume, Weight and Heater Wattage Calculator to determine the weight of your tank.

You may already have a suitable solid piece of furniture on which to site your tank but, and this advice applies to all types of stand, ensure that it is flat and level and ALWAYS place a sheet of polystyrene, which is at least ½ inch thick between it and the tank. The polystyrene will cushion any irregularities on the surface of the stand. Uneven points on the stand will create pressure on the base of the tank in turn causing the tank to crack without warning.

Stands for standard tanks are easy to come by and a number of choices are available.

Tubular steel stands are cheap and effective. These are essentially rectangular frames upon which a tank can be placed and usually come in single and two tier options. Single tier stands, as the title suggests, support one tank and often have elaborate metal scrolling between the front legs but otherwise the space below the tank is open. This is an ideal area for housing external filters and equipment but is not always aesthetically pleasing. Two tier stands are taller and allow a second tank to be situated in the otherwise empty space below the first. These stands are perfect for those of us who have or want multiple tank set-ups.

Purpose built cabinets are another popular choice, often available in convenient flat pack form and a range of styles. These typically have cupboards underneath the area reserved for the aquarium which solve the problem of hiding equipment and provide a place of storage. Unfortunately, the best designs and most appealing styles also come with the largest price tags. Some purpose built cabinets usually include the aquarium and sometimes ancillary equipment but again these will command a premium price.

If your tank is not a standard size then you may wish to design and build your own. Many materials are suitable; steel, treated timber, brick or stone but always seek expert advice and ensure that it can cope with the intended load.