Old tenants left behind a wired shelving rack?

[10MantisShrimps]

So I’m currently renting a townhome with a shared basement. Landlord told me a little backstory about how the previous tenants never paid rent AND had extra people living in the basement lol. I avoided going down there until very recently, lo and behold apparently they left behind this wired shelving rack. Thinking about using it for my 20G, 10G, 5G, and 6G. Debated on using it for my plants but I think a mix of SW and FW aquariums would look better.
Just curious if anyone here else has setups using these? I’ve been wanting one for awhile but the cheapest one I saw was probably $60+.

 

[Fish Fan]

In my experience, some of those wire baker's racks can support smaller tanks, though 20 gallons might be pushing it.

 

[braaap]

A 10G would likely be the absolute max of that unit. I would feel more comfortable with a single 5g tank.

 

[10MantisShrimps]

A 10G would likely be the absolute max of that unit. I would feel more comfortable with a single 5g tank.

Hmmm so basically buy and de-rim more tanks is what I’m getting from this, correct? lol

 

[10MantisShrimps]

In my experience, some of those wire baker's racks can support smaller tanks, though 20 gallons might be pushing it.

Thank you for the input and hmm…dang. So buy more 10Gs or turn the 20H into a paludarium…unsure as to how that would work with a SW setup though :( any ideas?

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you for the input and hmm…dang. So buy more 10Gs or turn the 20H into a paludarium…unsure as to how that would work with a SW setup though :( any ideas?

A saltwater paludarium is indeed a thing, but I have zero experience with that, even though I have kept a lot of snakes and lizards over the years.

I would first make sure that wire rack can support any of the tanks you're hoping to keep. My entirely non-expert, non-scientific approach here would be to literally lean on the wire rack. Can it handle your body weight, and does it *feel* rickety or solid? If it's solid, you're likely fine. If you lean on it and you think its questionable in any way, I'd steer clear of using it.

 

[10MantisShrimps]

A saltwater paludarium is indeed a thing, but I have zero experience with that, even though I have kept a lot of snakes and lizards over the years.

I would first make sure that wire rack can support any of the tanks you're hoping to keep. My entirely non-expert, non-scientific approach here would be to literally lean on the wire rack. Can it handle your body weight, and does it *feel* rickety or solid? If it's solid, you're likely fine. If you lean on it and you think its questionable in any way, I'd steer clear of using it.

Yeah I did the ol lean on it with my hands flat/entire weight on it, didn’t even move otherwise I would’ve never brought it up here in the first place…its honestly how I’ve gotten away with uh…never using an actual aquarium stand. Ever *cringe* lol. I think it could safely hold a couple of 10gs but I agree having the 20H completely full on top of the other aquariums would probably be pushing it. Unless I put it on the bottom shelf maybe? Hm

 

[Fish Fan]

Sounds like you're going to be fine, I'd add weight (human or fish tanks) slowly and see how it goes :)

 

[Schulks]

I've had that rack with a 10g aquarium and It worked fine for that. It would probably be fine with a single 20g. I'd test it by sitting on it and if it feels solid while on it I'd go for it.

Edit: i weigh 200 lbs so a bit more than 20 gallons