Shelving Unit for 5.5 and 10 Gallon

[jcunningham0295]

Ok, looking for some advice here. I am looking at purchasing the below shelving unit to hold around 20 tanks at sizes of 5.5 and 10 gallons. Is anyone already using one like this?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_319468-1281-MR4824WGB_0__?productId=3529780&Ntt=shelving+unit&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dshelving%2Bunit&facetInfo=

Thanks,
Josh

[Regalblue]

After looking at the reviews - I would rather build my own.

[Marty]

Well, the rating is 1000lbs per shelf.

A gallon of water is 8lbs so a 5 gallon tank is a approximately 40lbs and a 10 gallon is approximately 80.  So it just depends on how many tanks you want on a shelf (you'll be lucky to fit 4 ten gallons if you place them sideways)

If the shelves are fiberboard, you'll eventually end up replacing it with plywood because it will get wet.  And once it does, it will likely swell up and be uneven.

Also, if you have them in a fish room, the humidity will eventually cause the steel to rust.

[jcunningham0295]

After looking at the reviews - I would rather build my own.

Do you have any designs I could look at?  I thinking building my own is probably best.

[Regalblue]

Check the DIY section - Ron has a thread showing a rack he built.  It's what I used when I built my last rack. Which BTW -Dale from F.Fins says could hold a tank. (Military not aquarium tank)

[dbosman]

When I wholesaled, I used that type shelving for storage. The particle board has a slot, cut near the edge, that hangs on the metal supports. So you lose half the strength of the particle board at the support edges. I think it might take the rated load if it were bricks laid down one at a time. I don't believe it will last more than a year or three holding tanks. Less if you spill water. I redid mine with 3/4" flooring grade chip board as the particle board wore out.
If yo bang into the long supports with anything heavy, they will buckle.