Will the tank hold on my bookshelf?

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi,


I got a marineland 2.5 gallon fish tank. I want to put it on my bookself that looks like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-5-Shelf-Bookcase-Black/11072956?findingMethod=rr


The bookshelf is made out of fiberboard. The middle shelf is suppose to be the strongest and is rated to hold 50 lbs. The tank filled with water and gravel etc weighs about 31 lbs. There will probably be about 2-3 more lbs added. Do you think its a good idea to place the tank on the shelf? I already have it on the shelf, it seems fine but I have no idea how it will be in the long term.

 

[NCStateFisher]

i don't think that tank is big enough for there to be any kind of issue.. if you're that worried about it put some sort of small makeshift wood support beam between the top shelf and the shelf below it

 

[bbortko]

i don't think that tank is big enough for there to be any kind of issue.. if you're that worried about it put some sort of small makeshift wood support beam between the top shelf and the shelf below it

I agree. You may also want to find a plastic placemat to put under your tank, water and fiberboard aren't friends.

 

[MonsterMinis]

Does it bow at all? if so.. move it.. if not. should be okay, but I agree bracing it wouldn't hurt.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Yeah I got plastic under it. I put the tank all the way on the bottom shelf. The view isn't as great. But I feel safer with it there. I'm just not sure I trust the shelf to hold. It's a 3 gallon instead of 2.5 like I said.

 

[Gallons]

You'll be fine with that setup - as others have said, as long as your shelf doesn't continuously get wet which will break down the glues in the board and eventually it will fail. Otherwise - looks great!

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Its not held by glue. It's held by screws and locks on the screws. It has 2 on each size. The wood is fiberboard.

 

[metalhed3]

itll be fine. i had my 5 gallon nano reef on the 3 shelf version of that on the middle shelf. did fine. i just moved it because i didnt exactly like it there.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

You are talking about those cheap fiberboard bookshelves you get at walmart right?

 

[Mac.]

My girlfriend has a shelve very similar just a different color and we put a 2 1/2 on it and was fine for months...should be for your too