How bad is this stand design?

[fishgate]

Is this as bad as I think it is? Those tanks on top are 50 gallon tanks.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=336714&stc=1&d=1450466716

[ncaldwell]

What are the shelves made of? Press board?

[fishgate]

I believe they are are metal.

[monkey4life]

I have very similar racks in my garage. old school for sure. wouldn't trust them with more than a 20l at the most, and that would be with a 3/4" ply layer to strengthen it.

On a side note, this setup looks awesome once the stand is sorted out.

[eb2292]

Depends how thick the metal is. Hard to tell from the pic. Can you get some measurements? Steel can make a fantastic tank stand and can be much stronger than wood.

[fishgate]

I don't know how thick. It is one of those stands they sell at home stores for putting in the garage and shop. Bolted together with clips to hold the shelves.

[A1t2o]

Do not have the sump going across the 2 shelves. That will cause stress since there will be more give in the middle than the ends of the shelves. So that joint will cause a major pressure point and could cause your sump to leak.

[sixpackgarage]

that's not a stand design, that's some random utility shelving. I wouldn't trust any aquarium on it.

[fishgate]

FYI - This isn't mine. It was on another forum that shall remain nameless. And the title of this thread would be better as "Is it bad to use a utility shelf for an aquarium stand?".

[Pieface]

I want to watch.......lets fill it with water and see how it holds.

[billdogg]

that's not a stand design, that's some random utility shelving. I wouldn't trust any aquarium on it.

I want to watch.......lets fill it with water and see how it holds.

what they said.

wouldja post it on youtube?

[Bogue Chitto]

I don't think I would sleep too good at night knowing I had that much weight on thet kind or rack.

[Ron Reefman]

Not in a million years... unless it was outside or in a garage and then I'd want it mounted to a wall!

That is called a disaster looking for a place to happen!

[Fredfish]

Not in a million years... unless it was outside or in a garage and then I'd want it mounted to a wall!

That is called a disaster looking for a place to happen!
Even then, not in a million years. Those stands are really not designed to hold all that weight on the top shelf. I just bought one of these for our IT room. It was one of the 'heavy duty' consumer one's from Home Depot. Its rated for 1200 lb max. I would never consider loading it to close to its max capacity and never ever would I consider putting that much weight just on the top self.

Two fifty gallon tanks with water rocks sand etc are probably in the range of 1,000 lb.

[insane]

When a metal shelving unit like that has cross members it is because it is weak and it needs them to prevent twisting.

If you can push your hand down on a bare shelf and it bends down then it is really going to move down when you put 400+ lbs of weight on it.

Take a tank off and have two grown men stand on a shelf and see how it holds up. If the shelf buckles then you will know what will happen if you put a full tank on it.

[zachts]

I wouldn't trust that in a million years! Even the heavy utility shelving is not suitable for a stand even if it can support the weight, they are not rigid enough and will flex, twist, and ultimately crack the tank........at least without serous reinforcing....

[chilli_reef]

That ish will fold up and hit the floor faster then a virgins pantys on prom night as soon as they are filled.

[RCFiftyone]

Why take the chance? There is a lot of expensive equipment there all counting on some flimsy metal to keep it from being completely destroyed

[kmbyrnes]

Kill it before you fill it!

[zachts]

O lordy I just noticed the sump tank is spanning both stands........that will probably be the first thing to go, I really hope there is a video of this when it gets filled up. Assuming the originator of the photo did not wise up first. I also hope they have good insurance and/or a very forgiving land lord........

[rjallen]

Is this as bad as I think it is? Those tanks on top are 50 gallon tanks.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=336714&stc=1&d=1450466716

Would you stand on top of your setup with three other people?
Not counting rock, sand, equipment ,your two "50" tanks. The sea water alone will weigh over 800 pounds and that does not take into consideration your sump, water and equipment on the lower level.

As another said your concept/ layout is vert interesting. Just change out the stand for a properly designed steel, aluminum or wood stand.

Seawater= 8.556 lbs per gallon.

Good luck

RJ

[shifty51008]

I would stand on my tank with 3 other people without a sweat but on that stand i wouldnt trust just the tanks half full