APS Aquarium Stands: Super Lightweight + Fast & Easy Assembly

Innovative Marine has some brand-new aquarium stands coming out that have some unique features which we are really excited about.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak-peek at their new stands and even build one myself to see what Innovative Marine has in store next for aquarium hobbyists.

They’re calling the new stands the Aluminum Profile Series—or APS for short—and that pretty sums up these stands to a tee. They are super lightweight and made of aluminum with an anodized coating to match your home or office décor.

It only took me 10 minutes to assemble the Peninsula 14 gallons stand on my first try. IM has done a great job with the assembly instructions. They provide step-by-step diagrams which are clear and easy to understand … which is helpful, especially if you’re not exactly the technical type.

Each of the aluminum profile bars is extruded from a solid piece of aluminum to create a sturdy support system for your tank. The profiles are locked into place using tension locks which will lock or unlock with a 180° turn. Innovative Marine stressed that securing these locks is the most important detail for assembly.

Each lock must be fastened in place or else the structural stability of the stand will be compromised. Fortunately, the tension locks are easy to use and clearly marked with an indicator dot to let you know they are locked in place. Be mindful of edges and corners during assembly because the precision cuts have sharp edges.

Each stand comes with two dense foam boards. One is placed inside the bottom of the stand and the other is used on top as a leveling mat to support your aquarium. The top foam board is set into place using 4 Phillips head screws.

The first run of APS stands is anodized with a natural wood-like coating. The wood print looks so real it is difficult to tell that it is actually made of metal without touching it. Innovative Marine teased us with a matte black version that will be available later this year.

Innovative Marine APS stands will be available in 8 sizes to fit all of their popular all-in-one aquariums.

The 3 smaller stands are open on all four sides and do not have side panels or cabinet doors. The innovative guys at IM slid a board into the back of this Peninsula 14 stand to mount their HydroFill Ti ATO and pump along with Current USA’s LOOP light and pump controller. Their handsome new 5 gallon HydroFill Ti ATO reservoir fits perfectly in the bottom of the stand.

The stands built for aquariums 25 gallons and larger all come with black panels along with cool magnetically latching doors.

After checking out these stands in person, I was impressed!

The solid aluminum material means these stands will last a lifetime with no risk of warping or rust. The simple assembly and design means you will spend less time hassling with dozens of small dowels and bits of hardware and more time enjoying your tank. The sturdy frames are rated for 300 lbs at each intersection, so they are strong enough to support large tanks while remaining light weight and easy to move around.

If you’d like to learn more about Innovative Marine’s new APS aquarium stands and be notified when they are available, sign up for our email newsletter by clicking HERE!