Fish tanks come in all shapes and sizes, they can either take up one small space in the corner of your flat or they can cover the entire west wall of a restaurant. But with a great fish tank comes great responsibility.
55-gallon fish tanks are one of the most popular sizes as they can fit a whole host of incredible fish as well as being big enough to provide entertainment for days on end. If you are considering a 55-gallon aquarium, you might already be wondering how durable your support has to be.
Getting the right 55-gallon fish tank stand is incredibly important, here are some things to look out for: a sturdy body, evenly placed legs, something that can evenly distribute the weight of your entire tank with and without water.
You’ll need to make sure that it is made from the right materials too, as well as the right construction to make sure it doesn’t fall apart. There are plenty of cheap fish tank stands and the last thing you’ll want is to have your tank shatter on the floor or experience leaks that could damage your home as well as your fish!
Best 55 Gallon Aquarium Stands
Now we will run through our recommended 55-gallon aquarium stands, which are two of the best on the market today, providing much needed stability and also a great platform to view your aquarium community, whether it's saltwater 55-gallon fish or freshwater.
Both of the tank stands have their own descriptions as well as pros and cons to both of them from our first-hand experience.
This first stand is simply amazing when it comes to supporting your fish tank. It is a mixed media stand, which means that it combines the best and worst elements of both metal and wooden fish tanks.
This stand is in the shape of a cabinet, giving you space to keep all your fish tank accessories - introducing the Aquatic Fundamentals Wood Aquarium Stand.
This cabinet unit doesn’t weigh too much, but it will give you a solid grounding for your aquarium stand.
This is made from sound fibreboard with a moisture-resistant lacquer. This cabinet contains metal parts that are not only great for resisting rust and dampness, but also give the whole unit a much more sturdy foundation.
Pros:
- This unit is very easy to assemble, so you won’t have to worry about it falling over once that you’ve put it all together. You’ll only need a few tools to lash this one together.
- This locking cam is made from metal parts, so you won’t have to concern yourself with it falling off its hinges after a few months of use.
- This is a great-looking unit that will undoubtedly blend in with various styles of home. If you have wood or solid brass furnishings, then this stand will be a very attractive addition.
- This is great for both glass and acrylic tanks, it provides you with enough support across the entire length of the fish tank itself.
Cons:
- This is very pricey - you’ll be spending more than a few hundred dollars on this stand, so make sure that you have the money for this and the various tank accessories.
This tank is one of the most sophisticated on this list, with a very sleek and simple frame that can be lashed together relatively easily with just a few tools.
This is a stunning frame that will suit the decor of any home, with a simple metal skirting that will be perfect for supporting glass or acrylic fish tanks - introducing Caitec TitanEze Double Aquarium Stand.
This is a very narrow stand that can sit comfortably within most compact environments. You actually need zero tools to assemble this device, so you won’t have to worry about not having any DIY knowledge. This has a storage space underneath that you can furnish with some very attractive plants or some of your favorite vases.
Pros:
- The two-tier storage system will give you everything you need if you want to save yourself some much-needed space.
- The assembly - with zero need for tools, so you won’t have to worry about your shelf falling over after you’ve taken a mere hour or so to lash it together.
- This unit is highly resilient to water and rust damage, which makes it a must-have for most fish tank units. We would certainly recommend that you have this one as part of an outdoor aquarium setup.
- The feet of this fish tank are made from very sturdy polymer, which makes them the perfect unit to keep your fish tank securely fixed to the floor.
Cons:
- The price - yet again, we have an expensive unit, so be prepared to dig deep into your pockets for this one.
55 Gallon Aquarium Stand Buyer's Guide
Below is our buyer's guide to these awesome aquarium stands.
What Types Of Aquarium Stands Are Available?
Luckily for you, there are various types of stand out there that will be perfect for your needs, each one made from a wide variety of materials, including wood, metal and mixed media, which is basically a combination of all of the above. Which one you buy will all depend on where you plan on placing it although it should always provide you with stability.
Now we’ll take a stroll through each stand, giving you a detailed description of performance, stability and longevity:
Metal Aquarium Stands
This is probably the most popular choice, because metal is obviously very tough and will give you everything you need for support and solid construction. If bolted together properly, this one will really deliver you 100% performance, which is vital if you want to keep a medium-sized tank in the same position.
Metal is very good for glass fish tanks, as they support the edges of your tank very well, which is often where a lot of the weight is distributed. This type of tank stand does not fare so well with acrylic stands, so make sure that you bear that in mind before going out and buying one.
One major downside of this type of stand is the fact that it is in such close contact with water that it is very susceptible to corrosion. You’ll need to make sure that this has corrosion-resistant elements in there, as the likelihood of this tank getting wet and ultimately rusting is very high.
If your metal stand is starting to corrode, then you’ll want to make sure that it doesn’t collapse on you after a few months, as this will be disastrous not only for your fish but certainly for the furniture in your flat too.
Another issue that faces a lot of metal stands is the fact that there is often not a lot of space around them where you can fit your aquarium equipment. If you are buying a metal aquarium stand then you’ll want to make sure that there is plenty of space underneath and around the tank itself where you can store your other aquarium equipment.
Wood Aquarium Stands
This is another very popular choice, although you’d certainly be right if you have guessed that this material is not as sturdy as some of the others on this list. However, they do provide very valuable support, with the thick wood being able to evenly distribute the weight across every corner of your aquarium.
Another major plus point that a wooden aquarium stand has over the metal varieties is that they blend in much better with the decor of your home. You can buy many different styles of wood, each one complementing your sofa and other soft furnishings.
When it comes to water damage, a wooden stand doesn’t really fare that well either, as it will often succumb to things such as wood rot and can collapse if left in prolonged exposure to water. We would recommend cleaning a wooden stand regularly, as this will help prevent rotting.
Another major downside to metal stands is the fact that they are usually more expensive than metal stands, possibly owing to the ornate wooden carved features. Some wood stands are made with particle board or MDF, although the MDF models will have a much higher resistance to water damage.
Mixed Media Aquarium Stands
This type of stand tries to offer the best of both metal and aluminum stands, although they often come with a higher price point. This type of stand is great for supporting acrylic tanks.
These not only can support a full tank, but they also blend in well with the overall shape of the tank itself. If you have a larger tank, then this will be the sort of stand that you’ll want to be investing in.
Why You Should Have A Ready-Made Stand
You’ll need to know the measurements of your tank before you go shopping for a new stand. This way you’ll be able to rule out getting a stand that is too small, which you won’t be able to make work, no matter where you place the top of your stand.
You’ll also need to know the material of your tank. If you have one that is made from glass, then you’ll only need a stand that supports the four corners of your tank. However, an acrylic tank is very heavy across the entire base, so you’ll need support in the center as well as the corners of your tank.
Having a tank stand that fans out at the bottom will be a great method of distributing weight along the entire bottom of your tank. However, this will also give you less room to maneuver, which will especially be difficult if you have a small living area.
Why You Shouldn’t Have A Ready-Made Stand
It will definitely not be a plus point if you are looking to save some money when it comes to buying your fish tank equipment. If you have spent thousands of dollars on a decent tank and don’t want to spend any more money on a stand, then you should find an existing and flat enough surface for you to rest your tank on.
Buying a ready-made stand will make your room very appealing to look at and can make the whole aesthetic of your home look completely different. It is important to get one of these stands to balance out the overall vibe of your living room.
Where’s The Best Spot For An Aquarium Stand?
Finding the ideal place for a fish tank in your apartment or living room will be very important, not only for the aesthetics but also for general safety.
You’ll want to keep your fish out of direct sunlight, but you also won’t want to keep them too much in the dark as this will affect the overall health of your fish later down the line.
You’ll want to make sure that your tank is also not within the knocking distance of any doors or below any shelving units. Remember that if your tank is made from glass then it can be easily shattered.
If you have it beneath bookshelves that are stacked with books or electrical appliances, then you’ll have to be sure that they don’t fall into the tank itself.
Power sockets and electrical items should be kept far enough away from your fish tank, as obviously water and electricity do not make a great combination. Even in a small apartment, it is important to keep your fish tank a good few meters away from the nearest electrical outlet, as water can splash quite far from the source.
However, you will need to be close enough to power the pump units of your fish tank. This way you’ll be certain that you’ll be able to get as much clean water in and out of your tank as possible.
You might want to invest in a decent waterproof extension cord, as this will keep your fish tank and your electrical appliances at a healthy distance apart.
You should try and put your fish tank against a wall to give it as much support as possible. If you place your fish tank in the middle of the floor, then you are just increasing the chances of knocking it over.
Placing it against the wall will decrease the chances of it leaking over your floor and potentially ruining your furniture.
So there you have it, just a few of some of the best fish tank stands that you can find on the market currently. Not only are these units sleek and stylish, but they are also great for holding full or empty tanks of water.
Our Final Say
We hope our guide to sturdy fish tank stands has helped you to find some of the best units out there for your next 55-gallon tank. Not only is this made from very solid metals, but they will look quite frankly divine when it comes to fitting it in with your home.
Make sure that you remember to assemble your fish tank stand together properly and that you test to see if it can support an empty fish tank, then tested it again with a fish tank containing water and no fish.
