Best 30-Gallon and 40-Gallon Aquarium Stands & Buyers Guide
Finding the right type of stand for your 40-gallon or 30-gallon aquarium is almost as important as the tank itself. While fish tanks and terrariums are not too heavy when empty, you will soon find out that regular furniture is not strong enough to hold their total weight when filled to the brim. This where special fish stands come in. Stands are designed to support the heavier weight of your fish tank, and thus, they provide stability and safety.
The tricky part about choosing the correct 40-gallon aquarium stand is that there are many factors that you need to take into consideration. Is the material laminated and water-resistant? How much weight can the stand actually hold? This may seem a bit overwhelming, but you don’t need to worry about it because we have your back. We want to help you set up your first aquarium, and we will present you with the top 5 best 30-gallon, and 40-gallon aquarium stands.
The most important rule you should follow when searching for the best stand is for the product to support your aquarium’s total weight. However, that is not the only factor that you should take into consideration. Follow the criteria below to determine what is the best 30 or 40-gallon stand for you.
What material is it made from?
The three most popular materials used for stands are particleboard, plywood, and metal. Each material has its fair share of pros and cons. Let’s go ahead and check them out.
Metal
As you can probably guess, metal stands are renowned for their durability and sturdiness. Metal stands are inherently more durable than the ones built from other materials. Another significant advantage that metal brings is that it doesn’t degrade, and most it is powdered for extra protection against corrosion. The downside to metal stands is that they are quite heavy and sometimes expensive.
Particleboard
Your second option is particleboard stands. These are the most popular among aquarium fans, and the reason behind this is that particleboard stands are affordable. They offer great value for price trade-off. Unfortunately, particleboard is not very durable, and humidity can cause it to degrade in quality over time.
Plywood
If you don’t want to purchase a metal stand but also don’t want to deal with the unreliable durability of particleboard, then plywood is your best choice. Plywood stands are more durable than particleboard, and what makes them stand out is the fact that they look stylish. Also, the price of a plywood stand is not very high.
The Aquarium Weight
One essential factor that you should never overlook when searching for a stand is the weight of the aquarium. Not just that, but you should also take into consideration the material that the aquarium is made from. For example, acrylic tanks are much lighter than glass ones. In addition, an empty 20-gallon tank weighs at 25 pounds. Filling the container with water adds 8 pounds per gallon in the aquarium. Therefore, the stand that you are buying needs to be able to withstand the entire weight.
The following table shows the minimum weight an aquarium stand should hold depending on the size of the fish tank.
Fish Tank Size
Minimum Weight (filled with Water)
2 Gallons
~ 35 lb
5 Gallons
~ 70 lb
10 Gallons
~ 130 lb
15 Gallons
~ 225 lb
20 Gallons
~ 300 lb
30 Gallons
~ 400 lb
40 Gallons
~ 525 lb
50 Gallons
~ 650 lb
55 Gallons
~ 700 lb
75 Gallons
~ 900 lb
90 Gallons
~ 1,050 lb
100 Gallons
~ 1,200 lb
120 Gallons
~ 1,400 lb
150 Gallons
~ 1,750 lb
180 Gallons
~ 2,100 lb
200 Gallons
~ 2,300 lb
220 Gallons
~ 2,500 lb
240 Gallons
~ 2,750 lb
Balanced Support
New aquarium owners don’t usually pay attention to the balanced support of the stand, ending up having a bad experience. When searching for the best fish tank stands, you need to make it your top priority to find one that is leveled and evenly balanced. Otherwise, one edge of the fish tank will hang outside, and seams will be put under stress. This can lead to leaks!
If you spent a large part of your budget on the fish tank, then the Ameriwood Home Laguna Tide is a great option. Despite being a premium product that features a stylish cabinet design, the Ameriwood Home Laguna Tide is still priced affordably. The highlight feature of this 30-gallon aquarium stand is the neutral espresso finish that will look great with any interior design style. You are guaranteed to find the “perfect spot” to place the stand in no time!
The Ameriwood Home Laguna Tide can hold tanks of up to 37-gallons, and it features two doors that conceal a larger shelf. The shelf is a really nice feature since you will always have a safe spot where to store the fish food, nets, and other tools required for an aquarium ecosystem to thrive. In addition to that, you are also getting three open compartments that you can use to improve the overall aesthetics of the room. For example, you can place family photos and trophies that you children won at school. This is a great 30-gallon fish tank stand weighing at 50 pounds. The dimensions are 15.7 x 31.6 x 30.1 inches.
The Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand is a bestselling product on Amazon and there is a good reason behind that. This is a 40-gallon fish tank stand, and it is built from hardened solid steel. Therefore, the construction is sturdy and durable. You will not have to even think about buying a new stand for the years to come! A really cool feature that we’ve only see on metallic stands until now is that they feature adjustable feet. Using this feature, you will be able to find the best position to level before adding the aquarium.
One of the downsides to using metallics stands is that they do not look as stylish as cabinets do. Fortunately, this is not the case for the Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand. The manufacturers made sure to equip the stand with a sleek design that does a fantastic job of proudly displaying your fish. We also want to note that Imagitarium is offering the stand in a variety of sizes to suit the design of your fish tank better. If you are worried that a metallic stand is too heavy, you should be pleased to know that the one from Imagitarium weighs in at only 27.3 pounds. Additionally, the dimensions are 36.5 x 18.5 x 29.5 inches.
We previously mentioned that Ameriwood is a leader in the industry; therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the company is making a second appearance on our list. One of the biggest problems that new aquarium owners have to deal with is finding an excellent place for the stand that will not ruin the interior design of their living rooms. The designers at Ameriwood realized that, and the solution that they provide is the Ameriwood Home Aquarium Stand. This product is available in the Rustic Oak color, and it features laminated particleboard and MDF. Therefore, the 30-gallon aquarium stand will fit in excellent alongside regular furniture.
The outstanding cabinet design is not the only thing that you will get by purchasing the 30-gallon aquarium stand from Ameriwood. This is a powerful stand that can hold up to 450lbs of weight. This is quite impressive. If we take a look inside the cabinet, we will find four spacious shelves. The selves hold 25lbs each and provide a perfect place to store the fish food and other essentials. If you need extra room, then you can always adjust the shelves. Furthermore, nickel door handles are brushed with a black steel finish to make them stand out and look stylish. The dimensions are 30.333″ H x 33.0625″ W x 14.6875″ D.
Right from the start, we want to mention that the Aquatic Fundamentals Upright Stand is versatile. The stand is compatible with the following aquarium sizes: 30, 38, and 45-gallon. This makes the Aquatic Fundamentals Upright Stand the ideal choice for beginners who have yet to decide whether to purchase a 30-gallon or 40-gallon aquarium. Another feature worth mentioning is that as the product’s name implies, the Aquatic Fundamentals Upright Stand is available in a different position than all the other products featured on our list. This is going to help make your aquarium the center of attention in the room.
The contemporary design is also a big plus because it looks great alongside all other styles of furniture. Moreover, the 40-gallon aquarium stand is built from dense fiberboard that is covered in a sleek melamine laminate. Top it all off, the stand ships with a solid top design that makes sure your aquarium is safe. It won’t fall off if someone bumps into it. As it is the case with all other cabinet stands, you can use the hidden shelves to store all your tools, not just that. The back panel is open, and you can install necessary equipment such as the water filtration system and keep it away from the main view. Also, the product’s dimensions are 37.37″ L x 13.2″W x 28.25″H.
The Aqua Culture Deluxe Aquarium Stand is ideal for aquariums of up to 20-29 gallons. While most stand manufacturers try their best to come up with unique designs, this is not the case for the Aqua Culture Deluxe Aquarium Stand. This product features a minimalist design that is not going to “steal the spotlight” from your fish. Instead, the stand is helping the fish shine. The stand is equipped with a concealed storage area behind the main door that can store all your equipment. This is great because your fish food bag will no longer stand outside the aquarium, and it will also be easy to access. Therefore, we believe that this 30-gallon fish tank stand is an excellent choice for beginners.
The top, base, and door of the Aqua Culture Deluxe Aquarium Stand are powder coated. Thanks to this, the stand resists moisture, and it is more durable than usual. The annoying thing about cabinet stands is that they ship disassembled, and putting them together can be challenging. Fortunately, the manufacturers who designed this product have a solution to the problem. The stand is bundled with an instructional manual that explains the assembly process in a step-by-step manner. Nonetheless, the dimensions are 14″L x 30″W x 27″H.
We want to make sure that you have all the tools to find the best 30-gallon or 40-gallon aquarium stands, and we will answer the internet’s most asked questions on this topic.
How big is a 40-Gallon Tank?
If you check out the dimensions that we listed for the products above, you will see that they are not all the same. This is because not all 40-gallon tanks feature the same size. Their size varies depending on the design and materials used. Generally, you should expect a tank of this size to feature the following dimensions: 36 3/16 x 18 1/4 x 16 15/16.
How to level Aquarium Stands?
One of the best features that an aquarium stand can offer is adjustable feet. This will help you find the right position to make the colors of your fish come to life. If the stand that you bought doesn’t have adjustable feet, then you can always use shims to level it and find the best position. It’s best to use a rubber mallet when fixating the shims to avoid breaking the stand.
Can I use a TV Stand for an Aquarium?
Yes, but only if you have a sturdy TV stand that can support all the weight. However, this is not advised. The TV stand is not designed to hold aquariums, and you can’t be sure if the tank will fit well. It’s always better to spend more money on a special stand that will keep your aquarium safe. It also looks better.
How much Weight can a Fish Tank Stand hold?
The answer to this question depends on the materials that the stand is made from. Manufacturers usually build stands that are made to be compatible with aquariums of specific sizes. To give you an idea of how much weight a fish tank stand can hold, we can take, for example, 55-gallon stands that can hold more than 500 pounds.
Where should a Fish Tank be placed in a Home?
Finding the best spot to set up your fish tank stand is half the fun. Generally, you can place the stand anywhere that you want, but there is a place that you want to avoid. You shouldn’t put it close to windows because the extra sunlight can cause harm to the fish and help algae grow out of control.
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