How to reinforce a stand?

Hi guys. I just bought a new stand for my 20 gallon-high from my local LFS. It took me a while to find a stand with the interior dimensions that I've been looking for. I've been wanting to upgrade my 5.5 gallon fuge to a 10 gallon, and move my HOB skimmer to the 10 gallon. The stand I'm using now consists of 3 shelves and steel poles holding it together, so there's only enough room for the 5.5 gallon, not to mention there isn't any space for me to access the fuge. I need to pull out the overflow and return lines and slide it out to do any maintenance.

But the new stand came assembled and I don't see nails or anything in it. I would like to reinforce it somehow before I change out my stands. From what I can see, the stand looks like its held together mostly by glue, unless it has the peg and hole assembly system. I have no carpentry skills what so ever, so any advice would be much appreciated. I've seen people use those brackets that can wrap the edge of the corners(don't know what they're called), and those L-brackets. Any other advice?

Also, I need to knock out one of the boards in the back to fit in the 10 gallon. It looks like its glued in. Whats the best way to remove this? Thanks again guys!

 

Why do you think you need to reinforce the new stand? A 20g tank doesn't weigh that much.

 

It may be a little OCD of me, but the fact that the stand didn't come out of a box and I didn't put it together myself makes me a little uneasy. Since I can't see any nails, screws, staples or anything in it. If it was assembled entirely of glue would that be strong enough? Thanks.

 

Lamination is stronger than the wood it's self. The brad nails are there just to hold the wood In place as the glue dries and you are putting together the stand

 

Oh I see. Awesome. So if I cut out one of the boards on the back, I want to make it so that I can remove it and put it back at anytime. I was going to glue it back originally, but I may be moving within 6 months so I want it to be removable if I need to take it down again. Any ideas? Thanks again!

 

Honestly if you are that worried about it i suggest building a stand yourself so you know its legit. That being said I have never had a crumby particle board stand fail on me even after several floods lol.

 

You'd be amazed at what wood can hold. The stand for my 120 is primarily 1/2" wood, glued.

 

Alright, thanks guys. It wouldn't hurt if I put a few nails into it though right? =]

 

Actually, yes Nails will hold two pieces of wood together, but actually hurt the structural integrity of the wood. A proper glue is far better than nails.

Honestly I think you're stressing a little much for a 20g tank. I recently temporarily set up a 40g sick tank on a nightstand.

If you were talking about a 90g or 100g or larger and had serious concerns it might be worth talking about, but for 200lb worth of tank, water and rock, it's not. I could put a patch of Gorilla Glue on a few square inches in area between two pieces of wood and probably suspend 200lb from it. Tanks sit on stands and the wood takes the weight in compression. The glue holds the wood together and takes very little stress.

 

cool. Thanks guys. Yeah I don't know why I was worrying so much. I worried just as much when I put together the stand I'm using now, and the stand for my 40 gallon breeder. LOL. Nothing has happened to either of those stands too. Ok so at most I'll probably just add some glue. Thanks again guys!