The Aquarium Lady :: Gallon Aquariums Articles :: Buying Your 55 Gallon Aquarium Stand
Buying Your 55 Gallon Aquarium Stand
By Trish The Aquarium Lady
Sponsored Links
Today most aquariums that people have in their homes or at work, will be made either from glass or acrylic. You need to be aware that the weight of a 55 gallon aquarium is three times that of an acrylic one, so your 55 gallon aquarium stand will need to be extremely sturdy to hold all this weight. As for the stand for a 55 gallon acrylic aquarium, this one needs to provide support along the tank's full length and width. Yet a 55 gallon aquarium stand for a glass one only needs to provide support for the tank's outer edges.
What Kinds Of 55 Gallon Aquarium Stands Can One Get?
There are two different categories of stands which one can purchase to provide support for their aquarium. Which one you go for will actually depend upon which material the aquarium you purchase is made from. When it comes to not just 55 gallon aquarium stands, but for any size of aquarium, you can choose between an open or closed one.
The open type is the simplest of them all, and is often made from woods such as cherry or oak, but you need to make sure that they are sturdy enough to hold the weight of a glass tank. Whereas the closed stand is a much more complex design, it is perfectly capable of holding the weight of aquariums that hold 55 gallons or more of water in them. These types of stands come with both a top and bottom platform, and the bottom platform is slightly larger in size than the top, so it provides better stability to the tank on top. A closed 55 gallon aquarium stand is ideal for use with both glass and acrylic tanks.
Things To Consider Before You Purchase A 55 Gallon Stand
It is a good idea that you look closely at the trim on your tank before you go out and buy your 55 gallon aquarium stand. Make sure that the material from which the stand is made, is one that will actually compliment the look of your aquarium. Plus you need to make sure that the 55 gallon aquarium stand and aquarium you get, fit in with the décor of the room where it is to be situated.
Often when you visit an aquarium supply company or go online, they will have the stands already with the aquariums so you can see how easily they complement each other. All you now need to do is actually compare the prices of each design.
If you are intending to buy both your aquarium and the stand for it online, then it is important that you find out what the costs are going to be for shipping it to you. You may find that although the 55 gallon aquarium stand and tank you want cost less online, by the time you have paid the shipping costs, it could work out the same as if you had purchased it from a local aquarium supply store.
Certainly the best types of stands to use are those which are both quick and easy for you to assemble, or which already come preassembled. Again you need to spend time comparing the prices of ready assembled 55 gallon aquarium stands against those that you need to put together yourself.
Related Products
Read the next Gallon Aquariums article on Essential Equipment For A Gallon Fish Aquarium