Cinderblock stand on carpet?

[Visionist]

I'm considering doing a cinderblock stand for my 50g aquarium but I'm having some thoughts about it being on carpet. Would the cinderblocks be fine directly on the carpet or should I put something on it? If so what should I put on it? A sheet of plywood? Cardboard?
thanks

 

[cfosgate]

Many people who use the blocks put cardboard under the blocks, trimmed to the same size as the blocks.

 

[dishsnthings]

I'm thinking it would be great for support. In my head I have a few issues with cinder right on top of the carpet though. One would be moisture and mildew/mold. No matter what we do, sometimes we drip water from our tanks and cinders can hold a huge amount of moisture. Second I can see terrible staining of your carpet underneath. Any substance/dust on those blocks and add any moisture it will wick to your rug.
Just a suggestion - Home Depot sells white vinyl garage trim. It is 8" x 8 or 10 feet. They have two thicknesses, 3/8" or 1/2" thick, your preference. The face side has a wood grain to it. It is sold as garage door trim, but I use it for a million things because it is easy to cut/rip. If it were me wanting to do this, I would make a vinyl 'perimeter pad' to set the blocks on. Pretty cheap too, IIRC $12 a length.

 

[yorkite]

I have cinder blocks in my basement, it is concrete with carpeting. I painted the exposed sides of the blocks with a gloss black (for water resistance as well as aesthetics), and threw a sheet of 1/2" particle board the full width of the stand down first. I figured if I ever moved the tank, I'd rather look at a rectangular depression in the carpet, than a cinder-block outline.....sometimes (depending on carpet pad) those depressions are permanent. Another thing by using the particle board, it allowed me something to screw into at the bottom and add a wood cabinet between the two vertical rows of blocks. If I had a picture, I'd post it.

 

[BBradbury]

Block Tank Stand

I'm considering doing a cinderblock stand for my 50g aquarium but I'm having some thoughts about it being on carpet. Would the cinderblocks be fine directly on the carpet or should I put something on it? If so what should I put on it? A sheet of plywood? Cardboard?
thanks

Hello Vis...

This type of stand is cheap and very sturdy. Good choice. I'd use a piece of particle board on top of the blocks, under the tank. A towel over the particle board will cushion the glass. The same type board at the bottom to protect the carpet. You can drape a colored sheet over the top before you place the tank to cover the block unless you don't mind looking at the grey blocks.

B

 

[Visionist]

Why particle board instead of plywood?

 

[BBradbury]

Tank Stand

Why particle board instead of plywood?

Hello Vis...

No reason, really. I used particle board. It was cheap, but sturdy.

B

 

[yorkite]

Why particle board instead of plywood?

Not sure if that question was directed to me or the other poster, but that's what I had laying around as scraps from house projects, that's all....If I'd had plywood, would have used that.

 

[Visionist]

Because that's what I had laying around as scraps from house projects, that's all....If I'd had plywood, would have used that.

Ahh, I had plywood lying around so I just used that

Sent from my LG G2 using Aquarium Advice mobile app.

 

[cfosgate]

Looks good. Mine is similar except I have another sheet of plywood between the first and second blocks for ten gallon tanks, or storage if you prefer.