Can my shelf hold the weight?

[cross7fu]

Hello everyone. I just bought my first 4 feet tank, and I'm wondering if my shelf can hold its weight.
I break this question down into 3 parts:
1. I currently have a 3 1/2 ft tank on one of the shelfs and it's doing fine, I'm planning to put the 4-ft on the other one.
I've lost the package so I donno how much weight it can hold, I believe it is the one in the link below, it says "4,000 lb unit capacity", but does it mean by each shelf or the whole thing with 5 shelves?
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/heavy-duty-steel-shelving-5-shelf-48-inch-w-x-24-inch-d/925732

2. I'm not sure about the weight of the aquarium after it is filled up. I did google for online aquarium calculators but they just gave me different answers, so if you guys can help me out. The dimensions are 48" x 21" x 18", plus the weight of the aquarium itself(which I will update it soon cause I need a hand to left it) plus around 60-70lbs of wood and rocks, that would be the weight of the whole thing.

3. Can the wood panel hold the weight? Is it going to break? I'm not sure what it is made of, looks like some kind of compressed wood, it is very hard but it absorbs water and when it does it bends, and it certainly holds the 3 1/2 ft tank, just slightly bended.

This is the biggest tank I've ever had so far, same as the trouble I would had if I screw this up, I really need to get this clear, please help!

[twotone12valve]

I'm thinking you have a 90gal so 90x8=720lb I believe. But your going to displace water for rock and tge wood and so on. So when its all said and done one sure you'll have around 850+lb in that tank. I'm sure the 4000 lb is for the total weight the shelving can hold.

[lou zello]

yes the 4000lb's is the toal the unit will hold.that is a 55gal tank and water weight is 8lb's a gal.the wood you have on there looks to be 1/2 inch thick,get some 3/4 inch thick TREATED(for outdoor use)plywood and you won,t have any trouble

[cross7fu]

I see. Thanks for the reply guys!

[Diana]

Rough number: an aquarium weighs about 10 pounds per gallon of water.
Your measurements come out to 43 gallons. I have several tanks about that size, 4' long and a variety of heights and widths and I simply call them all 45 gallon tanks.

I have that shelving unit in the 3' long style.
Very strong.
The wood is particle board. PAINT IT! Do not expose it to water.

I swapped out all the particle board for exterior grade of plywood, painted with 2 coats of exterior paint.
I have one or two pieces of particle board still in use (painted!) but I am only holding light weight aquarium stuff, not tanks, on it.

I have set up the shelves in 2 racks, like yours, but about 6" apart. I have the following tanks on them:

Left:
20 regular, 20 long
Right:
29 regular, 15 gallon that is the footprint of a 20 regular, just not so high.
and on some shelves that span between the shelf units:
2 x 10 gallon regular tanks.
total weight: 1,340 lbs
I have the shelves set up on some concrete blocks so the lower tanks can be siphoned. I have had them on concrete floor just fine, but when I put them on carpet I added some feet, usually 2 x 4, so the legs did not cut into the carpet.

I am considering putting some larger tanks on the shelves, and I would feel safe doing this. I am thinking about moving my 40 gallon breeder (3' long) and a 45 gallon show tank (1' x 2' x 3')
The smaller tanks sit on the shelves, away from the supports and are OK, except the particle board sagged when it got damp. Plywood is holding up just fine.
The larger tanks would span the full width of the shelves (both tanks are 3' long), so would be supported at both ends by the braces.

At the current time these shelves are not attached to the walls. I think that would be a good idea, though, since I am in earthquake country. I have not had problems, though, and we have had several earthquakes.

[cross7fu]

Rough number: an aquarium weighs about 10 pounds per gallon of water.
Your measurements come out to 43 gallons. I have several tanks about that size, 4' long and a variety of heights and widths and I simply call them all 45 gallon tanks.

I have that shelving unit in the 3' long style.
Very strong.
The wood is particle board. PAINT IT! Do not expose it to water.

I swapped out all the particle board for exterior grade of plywood, painted with 2 coats of exterior paint.
I have one or two pieces of particle board still in use (painted!) but I am only holding light weight aquarium stuff, not tanks, on it.

I have set up the shelves in 2 racks, like yours, but about 6" apart. I have the following tanks on them:

Left:
20 regular, 20 long
Right:
29 regular, 15 gallon that is the footprint of a 20 regular, just not so high.
and on some shelves that span between the shelf units:
2 x 10 gallon regular tanks.
total weight: 1,340 lbs
I have the shelves set up on some concrete blocks so the lower tanks can be siphoned. I have had them on concrete floor just fine, but when I put them on carpet I added some feet, usually 2 x 4, so the legs did not cut into the carpet.

I am considering putting some larger tanks on the shelves, and I would feel safe doing this. I am thinking about moving my 40 gallon breeder (3' long) and a 45 gallon show tank (1' x 2' x 3')
The smaller tanks sit on the shelves, away from the supports and are OK, except the particle board sagged when it got damp. Plywood is holding up just fine.
The larger tanks would span the full width of the shelves (both tanks are 3' long), so would be supported at both ends by the braces.

At the current time these shelves are not attached to the walls. I think that would be a good idea, though, since I am in earthquake country. I have not had problems, though, and we have had several earthquakes.

Thanks Diana, that is a lot of info!
But something just happened to my shelf yesterday. I have a plastic storage tub(about 3' long) as a tank for one of my turtles, placed on the bottom of the left shelf(and I'm planning to put my new 4 ft on its top shelf), yesterday while I was working on the plastic tub, the front steel bar that supports the board bended and the board dropped down I cannot imagine what would happen if the top shelf did the same thing while the 4 ft tank is on it...I think these shelfs are suitable for industrial storage, but it might not a good idea for holding aquariums......

[J.B.]

I think these shelfs are suitable for industrial storage, but it might not a good idea for holding aquariums......

I totally agree!

[Diana]

Uh oh. I have not seen that happen. Maybe I had better not put anything larger on these shelves.

[Dutchman]

I think these shelfs are suitable for industrial storage, but it might not a good idea for holding aquariums......

I totally agree!

The advantage of industrial storage frames is that they can hold a lot of weight, but they have a tendency to wobble side-ways and you definitely don't want that. To prevent that you should mount diagonal cross-braces on the back of the frame.

The compressed wood should indeed be painted and the panels should be supported with cross-braces. Better still is to replace the panels with marine plywood (painted) including at least one center cross-brace.

Take a look at this supporting shelf (and wonder ):

[align=center][/align]

If you give me the glass thickness I can work-out the weight of the tank, with and without water for you.

[essabee]

I would not trust the slotted steel angles to holds heavy weights. They are totally unreliable under those conditions. These angles are manufactured by punching holes in mild steel sheets and then bending them to angular shape. They do not have the strength of extruded angles.

PS welcome back Dutchman.

[Dutchman]

Thank you Essabee,

I estimate that Diana's propsed new tank wil weigh ±400lbs fully loaded. Surely that stand should be able to support that comfortably.

[Dutchman]

Sorry,

I meant cross7fu instead of "Diana's new tank ".

[cross7fu]

I think these shelfs are suitable for industrial storage, but it might not a good idea for holding aquariums......

I totally agree!

The advantage of industrial storage frames is that they can hold a lot of weight, but they have a tendency to wobble side-ways and you definitely don't want that. To prevent that you should mount diagonal cross-braces on the back of the frame.

The compressed wood should indeed be painted and the panels should be supported with cross-braces. Better still is to replace the panels with marine plywood (painted) including at least one center cross-brace.

Take a look at this supporting shelf (and wonder ):

[align=center][/align]

If you give me the glass thickness I can work-out the weight of the tank, with and without water for you.

WOW your shelf looks really cool and strong, what is the size of that tank and how did you hang the shelf on to the wall?

I had a friend came by and take a look at my shelf today, he said the shelves are totally unsafe, the panels may crack anytime. I spent my past few days to build a stand for my new aquarium, it is way more solid. I think I will build another stand and get rid of both of the shelves, but also I have to keep an eye on the floor coz there is a lot of weight on it and it may overload.

BTW the glass thickness is 1/2", I think it weights 100lbs, it was a great work out to move it from my garage to the 2nd floor

[Dutchman]

OK,
I don’t think ½” is correct. That’s unusually thick. It would also make the tank weigh ≈ 160 lbs. I think 5/16” is more likely. That will give us 99 lbs.

Filling the tank up to 2” below the rim will take 66 gallon. This makes the whole affair weigh: 650 lbs.

If your frame can hold 4000 lbs then it should obviously be able to support this tank, except that the construction doesn’t look very stable (a bit “wobbly”). Diagonal struts on the back and the sides are recommended and you must also replace the shelves as explained previously.

On the other hand, you seem to have done a wonderful job making this new stand. Congrats!

As for the “wonder” shelf . . . This is what’s inside it:

[align=center][/align]

The tank is 6' x 1' x 1.25' and weighs 600 lbs

[cross7fu]

OK,
I don’t think ½” is correct. That’s unusually thick. It would also make the tank weigh ≈ 160 lbs. I think 5/16” is more likely. That will give us 99 lbs.

Filling the tank up to 2” below the rim will take 66 gallon. This makes the whole affair weigh: 650 lbs.

If your frame can hold 4000 lbs then it should obviously be able to support this tank, except that the construction doesn’t look very stable (a bit “wobbly”). Diagonal struts on the back and the sides are recommended and you must also replace the shelves as explained previously.

On the other hand, you seem to have done a wonderful job making this new stand. Congrats!

As for the “wonder” shelf . . . This is what’s inside it:
[/align]

The tank is 6' x 1' x 1.25' and weighs 600 lbs

I can't really tell the thickness of the glass because it's all covered by black silicone, it could be 3/8", but maybe you are right.

I think the meaning of "holding 4000lbs" is holding 4000lbs of items separately instead of one big tank. Even if it can hold one giant tank, like you said it needs reenforcement and some stronger shelves. I like my new stand a lot, it is super strong, I will consider to build another one instead of reinforcing my shelf if I have time to do it.

Your tank is very interesting Do you think if it's possible to build that stand on wood studs? It looks like concrete wall in your photo.