cleanable surface for tank stand: kitchen counter

[Sk8r]

If you need something to sit atop a stand to support your tank, a section of kitchen countertop (Lowes or HD) is a good bet. As long as your stand is adequately braced and solid (beware of composite wood that can deteriorate fast if it gets wet) a section of kitchen counter can be a good, waterproof, nearly impervious top that comes prefinished and resists chemicals and water.

Bracing a stand: triangles make for good bracing. Triangular braces in the corners, or slanting braces from side to center of a long run that might sag, all helpful adding strength to the structure. T joints are strong vertically, but can be made stronger against lateral force by adding a triangular wedge on either side of the upright.

I did this for a basement sump: I found a distressed stand, and a larger chunk of old kitchen counter, and it's provided support and stayed strong and unstained (it's white) for a decade of abuse. It's of course pre-finished, sheds water and stain, and is fairly well indestructible. Finally, in a remodel, replaced it with a bit of nicer beige chip-pattern laminate, and set the old white counter outside the fence intending to dispose of it.

Somebody ran off with it, so I suppose the old counter is in for a new career as somebody's workbench.

[mcgyvr]

And by Kitchen counter top you mean those cheap laminated mdf ones they sell/stock which are really not waterproof at all and will bubble up if any water gets in the seams?
Or maybe something else?

[billdogg]

And by Kitchen counter top you mean those cheap laminated mdf ones they sell/stock which are really not waterproof at all and will bubble up if any water gets in the seams?
Or maybe something else?

Probably so. I would take the extra step and seal all the unlaminated surfaces with a good coat or three of polyurethane just to prevent any troubles if it were mine.

The top of my stand is a DIY laminated MDF core (2 layers of 3/4)that is, and will remain, rock solid. What I did was laminate all 6 surfaces, starting with the bottom, then the sides, and finally the top, so that any spills would not sit on a seam. I had looked at other surfaces and quickly dismissed them due to cost.