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esandbergger  Hobbyist Posts: 133 Kudos: 128 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2005   | Hello all, I was thinking of buildig a shelf to hold my fish tanks. I have 2 1/2 g, 10g, and 29g. What should it be made of so it does not break? |
 Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 |     |
jasonpisani   *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003   | I would make a table & not a shelf. With the 29 gal. tank on top & the other tanks on the bottom shelf. It can be made by hollow section iron or wood. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 |   |
| esandbergger Hobbyist Posts: 133 Kudos: 128 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2005 | Sweet cool i was thinking of using 1/2 inch ply and 4x4. Is that over engineering? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
Babelfish       Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003   | With a shelf you'll want to remember that the weight will be on the brackets. You should estimate approximatly 10lbs per gallon. Home depot sells some wall shelves that will take quite a bit of weight, however you'll have to be sure that the brackets are mounted properly, and that screws and anchors are able to support the weight. A low table would be safer as the weight would be in four spots rather than two. ^_^[hr width='40%'] The life, the love, You die to heal. The hope that starts, The broken hearts... I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 |   |
keithgh  *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003  | ESANDBERGGER Dont even consider shelves for that weight unless you know exactly what you are doing. The brackets are held by either screws/special bolts etc this is the actual point of direct shear/stress. I once saw a whole bottle shop display wall fall down caused by poor fixing and virbration from the road trafic it was a mess. Keith  Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?  VOTE NOW VOTE NOW |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| esandbergger Hobbyist Posts: 133 Kudos: 128 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2005 | Ouch ya, I was jsut trying to contain my tank collection so maybe a couple of tables would be better |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| jasonpisani *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003 | Tables are much more better than shelves. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003 | While not exactly the most appealing from the decorative standpoint have a look @ Utility shelving sold in most home improvements stores like Home Depot and Lowes. They're designed to hold a few hundred pounds of weight and if we're discussing smaller tanks and betta bowls and vases it might be what you're looking for. Some paint so they're not gunme Home depot I know has one that is a two shelf unit that is long and deep and really rather tempting. ^_^[hr width='40%'] The life, the love, You die to heal. The hope that starts, The broken hearts... I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new." |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| esandbergger Hobbyist Posts: 133 Kudos: 128 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2005 | ok cool that is awesome! I was going to get some shelving from there anyway  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002  | Hi, The only problem with the shelving that Babel mentioned is that while the steel fr the particle board that is used as the shelf will not. By that I mean that it will absorb the moisture from the tank and over time will warp sagging in the middle. If you are going to use that style shelving, I would give serious consideration to replacing the particle board with solid wood, or at least something like marine plywood. I can't tell you how many of these things I've thrown away after folks leave them behind (I manage a storage facility) and in every one the shelving has sagged from excessive weight, and has water or oil marks in the depressions. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| esandbergger Hobbyist Posts: 133 Kudos: 128 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2005 | actually i would like to get food service shelving. It seems to support lot of weight. The stuff that is small welded bars... |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
| keithgh *Ultimate Fish Guru* Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003 | ESANDBERGGER The shelving is not the problem that is the easy part. Correct width,& strong brackets. As I stated before it is the fixing to the wall that is the most important as this is where all the stress and sheer is. It will not matter how strong the shelf is if the fixing is incorrect. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:39 | |
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