Can this shelf support a 50 gallon tank?

[Victor_C3]

I’m sorry if I’m posting this in the wrong forum, but as the title says...

It’s an 8’ span and the shelf is built with 1/2” plywood and three 2x4’s. The end of the shelf is held up with a 2x4 anchors to wall studs.

I want to put the tank flush to the wall on the right hand side. The tank measures 48” long x 12” wide x 19” tall. So basically it’d be supported by two of the three 2x4’s.

Basically, it’s going to be filled with about 40 gallons of water, weighing in at 400 pounds

The tank will most likely be filled with 30-40 gallons of water and it’s going to be divided into several sections and used for fish quarantine and breeding being shrimp and copepods.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Webslinger]

I would put some std's in under the 2x4 anchored to the wall

 

[mike550]

@Victor_C3 so if I'm seeing this right, you want to place a 48" long / 12" wide tank onto a shelf that's 96" long. But it's on the "right" side, so really it's center of gravity is around 24" from the right wall.

I can see that you've secured the ends, but is there another 2x4 along alongside the back wall that's also supported? Or is this basically a 96" "bridge"?

 

[Victor_C3]

@Victor_C3 so if I'm seeing this right, you want to place a 48" long / 12" wide tank onto a shelf that's 96" long. But it's on the "right" side, so really it's center of gravity is around 24" from the right wall.

I can see that you've secured the ends, but is there another 2x4 along alongside the back wall that's also supported? Or is this basically a 96" "bridge"?

Basically it’s a 2x4 bridge that’s not supported anywhere except by the very ends. The shelf is about 3” away from the back wall of the closet.

It’s a great spot to stash all of my cables and make myself look organized.

 

[Bender]

Can you do something like this?

Move the middle over and add an additional 2 x 4, then add to vertical two 2x4 vertical supports to the ground under each side? Should hold some major weight after that.

EDIT:

Something like this. What you have is screwed into the studs, however the only strength is the shear strength of what looks like 4 screws in each side. Vertical supports will go a long way to transfer the load to the floor.

 

[Backreefing]

It will hold it , but it will certainly sag in the middle

 

[Victor_C3]

Can you do something like this?

Move the middle over and add an additional 2 x 4, then add to vertical two 2x4 vertical supports to the ground under each side? Should hold some major weight after that.

Yeah, I sure can do that. Thanks for the help!

 

[TriggerFinger]

I wouldn’t do that myself. If it fails, it’s taking your sump and plumbing and electronics with it in the fall.

 

[Bender]

Yeah, I sure can do that. Thanks for the help!

I elaborated more on my post via EDIT.

 

[Sailingeric]

Add a few 2x4's legs. They are cheap insurance

 

[Webslinger]

Add a few 2x4's legs. They are cheap insurance

that's what i said

 

[Ef4life]

Without a vertical support in the middle it will sag with an aquarium on it, but as long as the side 2x4 supports are actually anchored into the 2x4 with good structural screws it should be able to hold the weight of an aquarium just fine.

 

[Devaji]

what screws and how many did you use to anchor it to the studs?
any way to add a cple to the back wall? could be a simple L made from 2x4 that would add alot of support.

I still would add some 2x4 legs to as others have said cheap insurance.
looks like you got a nice sump be a real pity for it to get broke from a tank falling on it.

looks like it's an easy fix tho.