Tank Size??

SouthernJustice · 07-17-2005, 12:10 PM

I have two quite strong nightstand type things. They're pretty strong, so Im not really worried about them breaking. Both of them together total about 37 inches in width.. But I was wondering if I would be able to balance a 55 gallon (48 inches) across them. So like there is about 5 inches hanging off of each end. Do you think that would work? Like do you think there will be a problem with 5 inches of each side hanging off of the base?

baby~doll · 07-17-2005, 12:13 PM

with it filled up with water... i dont think it would budge, let alone fall off
i think the five inches on each end would be fine because its NOT like someone is going to bump it and it just fall over hehe

SouthernJustice · 07-17-2005, 12:17 PM

Ok thanks. Thats reassuring.

**Damon** · 07-17-2005, 12:34 PM

I don't recommend it. The tank thats not being supported will cause stress over the other joints of the tank. In short you risk fracturing your tank from stress. Water weight a lot and 55 gallons of water weigh approx 450lbs. Not a good idea.

(RC) · 07-17-2005, 12:36 PM

Having the 5 inches of the tank hanging off of each end of the stand will put stress on the corners of the tank. It might not be enough pressure to cause a problem, but it very well could be. I wouldn't do it in my living room, but I might give it a try in my fishroom where 55G of water on the floor is not a problem.

RC

flynngriff · 07-17-2005, 01:14 PM

I wouldn't do it...

But if you're set on it, I would recommend spacing the nightstands spaced 3 inches apart, so you have 3.5 inches on each end, and 3 inches unsupported in the middle. I think this would distribute the stress a bit more evenly, and you'd have better odds of it working.

I still wouldn't do it in my house, though, especially with any tanks larger than 55 gallons...

-Flynn

baby~doll · 07-17-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flynngriff

I wouldn't do it...

But if you're set on it, I would recommend spacing the nightstands spaced 3 inches apart, so you have 3.5 inches on each end, and 3 inches unsupported in the middle. I think this would distribute the stress a bit more evenly, and you'd have better odds of it working.

I still wouldn't do it in my house, though, especially with any tanks larger than 55 gallons...

-Flynn

that spacing thing is a good idea!
yeah i guess yall are kind of right... tho ive never had any problems with it
guess maybe ive been lucky?
so my post just came from experience i guess

fishfreaks · 07-17-2005, 05:41 PM

imo i wouldnt do it, too much to worry about for me. and too much money down the drain in the end

**Scuba Kid** · 07-17-2005, 07:03 PM

a 55 gallon is about 625 lbs when filled.

**Fishfirst** · 07-17-2005, 08:37 PM

definately not. Tanks bust when they are uneven or unsupported. STANDS are the ONLY way to go with that big of a tank. Heck, I could build one sturdy enough for under 75 dollars.

**TheOldSalt** · 07-17-2005, 09:19 PM

The cheapest, simplest solution is to put a board across the top of the two stands, and move the stand out to match the ends of the board, like in this little picture.
.

_________
l___l l___l

Make sure the tank is completely supported by the board. If it isn't you're begging for trouble.

SouthernJustice · 07-17-2005, 11:43 PM

Well, I just found a 3rd nightstand thing. So now I can have the entire tank held steady. I don't think that there will be a problem with it crushing the stands or anything, since one stand can easily hold my little brother and I sitting on top of it (about 250 pounds). And I have 3 of them.

**Baby_Baby** · 07-18-2005, 08:01 AM

okay. hope everything goes well.

euRasian32 · 07-18-2005, 09:46 AM

I'm with oldsalt. the board will distribute the weight evenly, as long as there isn't a great deal of overhang.

With the board method, you could make the gap in the middle bigger and have no overhang.

Place it on a board or a piece of 3/4in plywood anyway, even if you have enough space.

**Damon** · 07-18-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Kid

a 55 gallon is about 625 lbs when filled.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get that conclusion from?

**Fishfirst** · 07-18-2005, 10:29 AM

water weighs about 8lbs per gallon 440lbs + tank weighs about 50lbs + 50-60lbs of gravel + decorations weight 10-20lbs = about 570 at the most

07-17-2005, 12:10 PM	#1
SouthernJustice Self Described Huguenot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan, but my heart resides in the South. Age: 20 Posts: 103	Tank Size?? I have two quite strong nightstand type things. They're pretty strong, so Im not really worried about them breaking. Both of them together total about 37 inches in width.. But I was wondering if I would be able to balance a 55 gallon (48 inches) across them. So like there is about 5 inches hanging off of each end. Do you think that would work? Like do you think there will be a problem with 5 inches of each side hanging off of the base? __________________ 10 Gallon: FW Community 20 Gal Whisper Filter, Heater, Red Gravel, Fake Plants and a plastic Artillery gun 55 Gallon: 4 Red Belly Piranha

07-17-2005, 12:13 PM	#2
baby~doll Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Age: 19 Posts: 246	with it filled up with water... i dont think it would budge, let alone fall off i think the five inches on each end would be fine because its NOT like someone is going to bump it and it just fall over hehe __________________ .:l.i.v.e. .f.o.r.e.v.e.r. .o.r. .d.i.e. .t.r.y.i.n.g:. Last edited by baby~doll; 07-17-2005 at 12:23 PM.

07-17-2005, 12:17 PM	#3
SouthernJustice Self Described Huguenot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan, but my heart resides in the South. Age: 20 Posts: 103	Ok thanks. Thats reassuring. __________________ 10 Gallon: FW Community 20 Gal Whisper Filter, Heater, Red Gravel, Fake Plants and a plastic Artillery gun 55 Gallon: 4 Red Belly Piranha

07-17-2005, 12:34 PM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	I don't recommend it. The tank thats not being supported will cause stress over the other joints of the tank. In short you risk fracturing your tank from stress. Water weight a lot and 55 gallons of water weigh approx 450lbs. Not a good idea. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

07-17-2005, 12:36 PM	#5
(RC) nobody Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: upstate NY Age: 46 Posts: 793	Having the 5 inches of the tank hanging off of each end of the stand will put stress on the corners of the tank. It might not be enough pressure to cause a problem, but it very well could be. I wouldn't do it in my living room, but I might give it a try in my fishroom where 55G of water on the floor is not a problem. RC __________________ "Lead by Example, Follow by Choice" http://www.ibcbettas.org/ http://www.cnybc.org/

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07-17-2005, 01:14 PM	#6
flynngriff Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 35 Posts: 443	I wouldn't do it... But if you're set on it, I would recommend spacing the nightstands spaced 3 inches apart, so you have 3.5 inches on each end, and 3 inches unsupported in the middle. I think this would distribute the stress a bit more evenly, and you'd have better odds of it working. I still wouldn't do it in my house, though, especially with any tanks larger than 55 gallons... -Flynn

07-17-2005, 05:41 PM	#8
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	imo i wouldnt do it, too much to worry about for me. and too much money down the drain in the end __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-17-2005, 07:03 PM	#9
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 18 Posts: 4,224	a 55 gallon is about 625 lbs when filled. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

07-17-2005, 08:37 PM	#10
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,546	definately not. Tanks bust when they are uneven or unsupported. STANDS are the ONLY way to go with that big of a tank. Heck, I could build one sturdy enough for under 75 dollars. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

07-17-2005, 09:19 PM	#11
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,367	The cheapest, simplest solution is to put a board across the top of the two stands, and move the stand out to match the ends of the board, like in this little picture. . _________ l___l l___l Make sure the tank is completely supported by the board. If it isn't you're begging for trouble.

07-17-2005, 11:43 PM	#12
SouthernJustice Self Described Huguenot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan, but my heart resides in the South. Age: 20 Posts: 103	Well, I just found a 3rd nightstand thing. So now I can have the entire tank held steady. I don't think that there will be a problem with it crushing the stands or anything, since one stand can easily hold my little brother and I sitting on top of it (about 250 pounds). And I have 3 of them. __________________ 10 Gallon: FW Community 20 Gal Whisper Filter, Heater, Red Gravel, Fake Plants and a plastic Artillery gun 55 Gallon: 4 Red Belly Piranha

07-18-2005, 08:01 AM	#13
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,685	okay. hope everything goes well. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

07-18-2005, 09:46 AM	#14
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	I'm with oldsalt. the board will distribute the weight evenly, as long as there isn't a great deal of overhang. With the board method, you could make the gap in the middle bigger and have no overhang. Place it on a board or a piece of 3/4in plywood anyway, even if you have enough space. __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

07-18-2005, 10:29 AM	#16
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,546	water weighs about 8lbs per gallon 440lbs + tank weighs about 50lbs + 50-60lbs of gravel + decorations weight 10-20lbs = about 570 at the most __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

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