Every aspect of setting up a new aquarium is important, and often, one of the biggest challenges is what you should place the aquarium on to ensure that it is stable, supported, and unlikely to fall over or crash down through the furnishings.
Aquariums can be very heavy (depending on the size) and a fall could result in major damage to both the tank itself and to the inhabitants, so most people look to create the most secure environment they can – which involves finding suitable materials to stand your aquarium on.
There are all sorts of different materials that you can place a fish tank on, but a cinder block aquarium stand is popular for a whole range of reasons, and if you’re looking for a sturdy material, this might be a great option for you.
The most important thing, of course, is to ensure that the stand is safe for your tank.
Aesthetics often matter, but cinder blocks are very unobtrusive, which makes them a popular choice, particularly if you have a plain wall to stand them against.
Furthermore, they are a budget-friendly choice, and this is especially noticeable if the alternative is buying a purpose-built table or cupboard. It’s easy to adjust the size of the stand if you scale your tank up or down, which is another good reason to use them.
Can Cinder Blocks Hold A Fish Tank?
Yes, cinder blocks should be capable of holding even a large fish tank, as they are very sturdy and can support a lot of weight.
You should be looking to place them in the four corners, and possibly add some supports in the middle too, particularly if you have a large tank. Do not leave any corners unsupported, or your tank will be unstable and liable to tip over and smash.
Cinder blocks, on average, can support around 1,700 pounds, or more. It depends a bit on the type of cinder block, because the size of the holes and the overall block will make a difference; bigger blocks with smaller holes should support more weight, whereas small blocks with large holes will support less.
In general, cinder blocks are strong enough to hold a fish tank, as long as they are positioned at the four corners so that the weight is spread evenly between them.
You do also need to think about supporting the center of the tank, however, particularly for large aquariums, which will be extremely heavy. It’s a good idea to calculate how much your aquarium will weigh when it has been filled with water, and check that your blocks are sturdy enough.
How Can I Make A Cheap Cinder Block Aquarium Stand?
Making a cheap cinder block aquarium stand should be fairly straightforward for most people, and you will only need some strong boards, some blocks, and some paint if you wish to color it.
Make sure that you have enough blocks to support the aquarium; you do not want large stretches in which the wood is holding the weight unsupported, so measure the full length of your aquarium and calculate how you are going to space the blocks out to ensure the whole aquarium is supported.
You will also need to work out how tall you want it to be; many people make a cinder block aquarium stand by placing three blocks per stack, as this positions the aquarium at a nice height from the floor.
However, you might wish to raise or lower the display, so calculate accordingly to determine how many blocks you need. Once you have done this, you can buy your materials.
Work out where you want to put the tank and make sure you are happy with it, because it’s not something you will want to move once it has been filled and stocked.
Position your cinder blocks with the holes pointing upward, so they are hidden once the assembly is complete; this maximizes their weight bearing ability and makes the whole project look better.
Set the boards on top and ensure the tank is level by filling it with a little water, and then paint the project if you want to, or leave it plain.
Are Cinder Block Aquarium Stands Safe?
Many people create perfectly good cinder block stands that are capable of bearing the weight of their aquariums; the two key factors are to make sure that the stand is level and placed on a sturdy surface (or the floor), and to ensure that you have enough blocks to support the wood in the center of the aquarium.
Do not space your cinder blocks out so much that the wood is unsupported in any place, or the wood may crack and destabilize the tank.
As long as you have a sturdy surface beneath each corner and plenty of support in the middle, the cinder blocks should be safe.
However, if you do not properly support the corners or the middle, or if you have a tank that is much too heavy for the number of blocks you have used, you will find that the stand is unsafe. Even a small tank must have supports in each corner to be stable.
Always check that the tank is properly supported across its length, because aquariums are very fragile and if there is pressure on the tank’s underside because it isn’t on a flat, firm surface, it will try to warp – which is likely to result in immediate breakage.
Check that your stand is level and there is a surface (such as a wooden plank) beneath the entire base of the tank, and it should be fine.
Conclusion
Making a cinder block aquarium stand is a great, economical way to lift up and support your tank. Many people find that tank stands are very overpriced and often outside their budget, especially for a large aquarium, and it makes sense to create something at home if you feel capable of doing so, particularly since this gives you control over how it looks. However, you should maximize stability over aesthetics to avoid any risk of the tank falling.
