Particle Board Stand?

Wouldn't use anything particle board around the tank. I've seen what happens to it when it gets wet.

 

it will probably hold the tank, you would be surprised how much wait these composites can hold when set up the right way.

That said if it starts absorbing water or gets knocked hard when fully loaded it may collapse. A particle board stand definitely isn't my first choice. I would reinforce it at the least.

 

The newer particle boards are made with a Marine grade resin that coats the wood fibers and keep the from absorbing moisture like the older stuff did. Particle board is made using resins an tons of pressure which forces the resins into the wood fibers.

Most Commercial stands, although they don't look like it are made from Veneered Particle board sheets. As long as the tank is sitting on top of the edge there should be no problems.

A really simple and cost effective way to reinforce a stand like that would be to use some 1/2" or 3/4" plywood strips that you can glue and screwed (with stainless screws) to the inside of the existing stand. One in each corner and one at each of the middle braces then a band around the top sitting on top of the ones in the corner would be more than sufficient. Takes up allot less room under the stand and is as strong or stronger than the 2x4's.

 

Now that I didn't know.