Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: greg y on November 01, 2015, 09:52:14 AM

Title: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: greg y on November 01, 2015, 09:52:14 AM
My wife's boss asked to hire me to install and maintain a planted tank in his office. We were going for something much larger but he ended up using the space for another desk- work area.
So he asked if maybe we could put something on here. I immediately thought not a good idea, but upon inspection the thing seems really heavy and solid, maybe because it's filled with a ton of paper files etc....

What do you think? The top would fit a 40g breeder or maybe a 65gal, think it would be safe?
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: Steve on November 01, 2015, 12:27:45 PM
A 40 would be around 320lb or more. Those stamped metal cabinets are not very strong. I would not chance it if it were me.
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: Ron on November 01, 2015, 05:17:01 PM
Aren't you the guy often worried about tanks potentially leaking? Not a good idea IMO.
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: greg y on November 01, 2015, 06:23:12 PM
I have a history of tanks catastrophically failing. Not kidding, it's happened 5 times or so over the years. Haha
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: GrizzlysDad on November 01, 2015, 06:59:12 PM
No way I'd recommend putting a tank on that type of cabinet....never
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: Ron on November 01, 2015, 07:53:13 PM
No way I'd recommend putting a tank on that type of cabinet....never
What if you'd first filled it with concrete to solidify the structure?  :P
JK of course.

If you have the ability and tools, building a stand would be 1000% better than trying to use a piece of furniture.
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: GrizzlysDad on November 01, 2015, 08:40:54 PM
No way I'd recommend putting a tank on that type of cabinet....never
What if you'd first filled it with concrete to solidify the structure?  :P
JK of course.

If you have the ability and tools, building a stand would be 1000% better than trying to use a piece of furniture.

Well since I would never do what you suggested I think my statement of never is still applicable.  ;)

All kidding aside though, building a stand as Ron suggested would be the way I'd go.

If there's enough clearance next to it for the legs you could build a stand around the cabinet, basically strong uprights and cross members just above the cabinet.
Title: Re: file cabinet as a tank stand?
Post by: greg y on November 01, 2015, 09:51:32 PM
Yeah, I'll run it by him. He has guys on his crew that can fabricate something I'm sure.