Will it hold?

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

The title is pretty self explanatory, the 10 gallon is behind it and I estimate it to weigh 100 lbs, will the shelf thats rated 400lbs evenly distributed hold this weight? Or is it too much to ask. I feel like im a bit paranoid here, cause the rack its on now is warping, and the new rack even though is rated 400lbs, still is made of sheetwood or something and id just wanna ask yals opinion like would you trust it? Yes its only 10 gallons but you never know right

 

[Fish Fan]

I can’t say with certainty whether or not your rack will hold, but it think it quite likely. People do use those wire baker’s racks as aquariums stands.

 

[Dom]

The title is pretty self explanatory, the 10 gallon is behind it and I estimate it to weigh 100 lbs, will the shelf thats rated 400lbs evenly distributed hold this weight? Or is it too much to ask. I feel like im a bit paranoid here, cause the rack its on now is warping, and the new rack even though is rated 400lbs, still is made of sheetwood or something and id just wanna ask yals opinion like would you trust it? Yes its only 10 gallons but you never know right

Well, 1 gallon of water is about 8 pounds. In a 10 gallon tank, that's 80 pounds.

If the shelf is rated 400 pounds, you're good.

 

[mfinn]

The rack itself should be good for the weight with no issue.
I don't know what sheetwood is. If it's plywood ( 1/2" at least) should be good.
I would not trust any kind of particle board.

 

[RedReefer]

If you change out the particleboard for half inch to three-quarter inch plywood, you’ll be good. The particleboard in the picture if it gets wet, it’s done.

 

[Dom]

If you change out the particleboard for half inch to three-quarter inch plywood, you’ll be good. The particleboard in the picture if it gets wet, it’s done.

Yes, particle board does not play well with water, but swapping it out is a big expense.

A simple moisture barrier between the tank and particle board will do the job.

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

I cant tell the difference between plywood and particleboard, is there any way to test? I have a spare shelf i can potentially cut into to see if its the thing

I refuse to believe the shelf thats supposed to hold 400 lbs on one shelf came with particleboard and not plywood

 

[Fish Fan]

When I posted above I was on my phone and I thought you were asking about the wire rack in the background with the than on it. I see now that you are asking about the shelf in the foreground

With the 400 pound weight limit, I don't think you'll have any problems supporting the weight. But as others have said above, that wood on the shelves is some kind of particle board or MDF, both of which do not play well with water.

I'm also concerned with what's under those wooden shelves, is there any support underneath besides around the edges? I'd be concerned that if there's not support underneath, when you place the tank in the middle of the shelf, it might start sagging down.

I cant tell the difference between plywood and particleboard, is there any way to test? I have a spare shelf i can potentially cut into to see if its the thing

Post a close up pics of the shelf material, I can tell you for sure what it is.

I refuse to believe the shelf thats supposed to hold 400 lbs on one shelf came with particleboard and not plywood

It's honestly not likely that this is plywood, which is more expensive than particle boards and MDF. There's nothing wrong at all with particle board or MDF in terms of weight, it's just not a good material around water.

Plywood is a better option around water, it will last quite a bit longer than particle boards, but if plywood gets wet it too will delaminate (come apart).

Best would be to seal the plywood with exterior paint or polyurethane, making sure to get the edges too. I use a product called Polycrylic, it's water based, no fumes, easy to apply and holds up well on both freshwater and saltwater stands I've built.

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

This is a side view of one of the panels. It seems to be solid wood and not particleboard. Can someone confirm this?

 

[Fish Fan]

This is a side view of one of the panels. It seems to be solid wood and not particleboard. Can someone confirm this?

That really look like MDF to me. Can you take a pic of the flat side, not the edge?

 

[Fish Fan]

This is MDF:

 

[jonelder68]

I run my 20 long QT on same/similar shelf unit. Ya ideally switch the particle board to plywood. But I haven’t yet either but it’s been fine. I just move tank to back and one side edge so the metals directly below 2 sides.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm not sure if you have to use that shelf, but just as an option it's very easy to build a 2x4 stand with not much more than a circular saw and drill gun.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/basic-diy-stand-calculator.1138386/

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Closeup of board

 

[jonelder68]

I'm not sure if you have to use that shelf, but just as an option it's very easy to build a 2x4 stand with not much more than a circular saw and drill gun.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/basic-diy-stand-calculator.1138386/

Agree if it’s a permanent stand I’d DYI one. Mines a QT set up so I like I can set it up and take it apart in just a few minutes.

 

[Fish Fan]

Agree if it’s a permanent stand I’d DYI one. Mines a QT set up so I like I can set it up and take it apart in just a few minutes.

For sure, and I totally agree that the MDF or particle board isn't going to instantly dissolve if it gets splashed

 

[Fish Fan]

Closeup of board

That's MDF, a very common material for shelving like this

 

[jonelder68]

I also doubled the wood shelve on the layer the tanks on. Forgot to mention that I put 2 shelve boards there.

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

I think im going to seal the current board with polycrylic, just to be safe. I think that's the best course of action here, i wouldn't have to cut a new board to scale but I also have a crafty beaver of a dad that might want to cut a piece of plywood to size and seal it himself, so changing out the board for plywood and seal with polyurethane is seeming like the best option here. Can I seal the board with it or do i have to switch to plywood. I think the idea here is making the board waterproof to prevent catastrophic failure

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

I also doubled the wood shelve on the layer the tanks on. Forgot to mention that I put 2 shelve boards there.

I don't know why i didnt think of that. I have an extra shelf board. Surely a double board will hold