Off the wall 29g...actually it's on the wall
- Thread starter activecactus
- Start date
activecactus
New member
I understand that there is the potential of the whole thing falling, but I think it would be a slow process. First the plaster used to mend the pieces of drywall would have to crack, at which point I could add legs.
ratimpulse
New member
It wont be slow. Maybe small hairline fractures will occur but when it happens theres nothing thats going to stop it. Its gonne come down.
I don't think that tank is going any where. If I am not mistaken are those not 1/4in lag bolts? Which means they would be going completely through the 2x4 and bolted on the other side. Same concept you use when building a tree house.
If it is lag bolts like what I think it looks like, the only way that tank will fall is if the 2x4s snap in half under the weight, or your iron stand buckles. Neither of which should happen. If you want to just be safe on the stand, add a diagonal brace like suggested from Jeepman3sk from the top front corner to the back bottom corner on each side to form a triangle. This would help disperse the weight a little more onto the wall. Personally, I don't think that tank is going any where if I am right on the lag bolts.
If it is lag bolts like what I think it looks like, the only way that tank will fall is if the 2x4s snap in half under the weight, or your iron stand buckles. Neither of which should happen. If you want to just be safe on the stand, add a diagonal brace like suggested from Jeepman3sk from the top front corner to the back bottom corner on each side to form a triangle. This would help disperse the weight a little more onto the wall. Personally, I don't think that tank is going any where if I am right on the lag bolts.
hooterhead
New member
Cool idea. I'm no engineer but I'm not too sure I would trust it. 350-400lbs seems like a lot to put on a few bolts. It's up to you in the end but I would ask an engineer or builder what they think first.
activecactus
New member
If it doesn't...oh well.
Just thought it would be neat to try something different.
I should have it filled with water and rocks this weekend.
Just thought it would be neat to try something different.
I should have it filled with water and rocks this weekend.
ratimpulse
New member
Well goodluck with whatever you decide on doing.
im taggin along and hopin that you prove all these guys wrong. i am glad your tryin it out before i had the idea though. Good luck and i agree with at least possible putting in a piece of metal that went from the front corners of the sump to the studs in a triangle fasion that would probably help to support the weight. also if you have a closet behind there you could bolt a 2x4 to the ground and run a diaganal 2x4 to the beams where the tank is supported by to help with sagging/fallin. good luck and thats just my .02
Jeepman3sk
New member
THe bolts should hold the weight. That is nothte problem. Its the frame that is the problem. If you look at anything that is build there are always cross beams. aka triangles everywhere in the frame. The triangle are uch more stuctural sound then squares. There i would put a triangle at the bottom of the frame and one int he middle where the sump is on the sides for the weight. That way the weight will go through thoughs beams to the wall and not be hanging off of hte wall. Please trust me on this I have taken. Classes about all of this with structural beams when they are in compression and stretching (sorry couldnt think of the word this second) but basically if you have a beam from the outside of the tank (part farthest from the wall and have it connect with the corner next to the wall on th ebottom of the frae then the weight from the tank will go directly to the wall and not create a moment. Well atleast not such a great moment. I can do all of the caculations for the tank with your frame if you would like to see. Do you know what weight the lag bolts will sheer at? That might be a concern too. Also do you know how the 2x4s are attached to the main support aka the cross 2x4. Usually they are only attached by one or two 3 inch nails. Sorry to be so critical just I design and build off-road race cars and there it is life or death. Having it over done is a must with everything. All engineers over do it.
dadrummerray
New member
hey guys,
i registered pretty much just to comment on this idea.
#1: great idea, looks sweet and not too many people have the stones to d it
#2: has anyone ever tried this? so how do they know it won't work.
#3: me and my uncle work on cars so we have all kinds of parts laying around that we have put in a shelving unit hanging on his wall (made of 2x4's 16" on center. the shelving unit is 12" deep, 3' tall, and 4' long. inside we have a couple alternators, power steering pumps, intakes, misc cans and some tools. a god guess would be about 5 to 6 hundred pounds. it is held on by 8 3" screws (not bolts, or lag bolts, SCREWS) and the cabinet has been there for about a year with no problems.
don't take my word for it, but i am sure that he will not have a problem. with what i have seen on his pics, he is on the right track and i would have to say that he isn't going to have a problem. if he does, i will reply back and apologize for saying he would. his design looks ok, and i totally hope he proves everyone wrong that said it isn't going to hold.
i registered pretty much just to comment on this idea.
#1: great idea, looks sweet and not too many people have the stones to d it
#2: has anyone ever tried this? so how do they know it won't work.
#3: me and my uncle work on cars so we have all kinds of parts laying around that we have put in a shelving unit hanging on his wall (made of 2x4's 16" on center. the shelving unit is 12" deep, 3' tall, and 4' long. inside we have a couple alternators, power steering pumps, intakes, misc cans and some tools. a god guess would be about 5 to 6 hundred pounds. it is held on by 8 3" screws (not bolts, or lag bolts, SCREWS) and the cabinet has been there for about a year with no problems.
don't take my word for it, but i am sure that he will not have a problem. with what i have seen on his pics, he is on the right track and i would have to say that he isn't going to have a problem. if he does, i will reply back and apologize for saying he would. his design looks ok, and i totally hope he proves everyone wrong that said it isn't going to hold.
MalawianDude
New member
Definetaly coming along except for the stand thing...
Remember the story not long ago in the news, a aquarium fell onto a lil girl in th ebedroom, put her into nearly dieing in the hospital, just one of the reasons why i wouldnt do it, too much chance when i have lil ones around...
Remember the story not long ago in the news, a aquarium fell onto a lil girl in th ebedroom, put her into nearly dieing in the hospital, just one of the reasons why i wouldnt do it, too much chance when i have lil ones around...
big rocks eh?
big rocks eh?
I guess I personally like big rocks...in the aquarium. Live rocks going in would be pretty heavy. Is it the location you like or the fact that it's hanging?
If it is simply the location why not put up a couple studs at the corners and wrap a wall around it? That would look cool and very personalized. Hey, it might be really nice like that. Then you would have your triangle of three walls to bolt into.
What do you think of that idea?
Hey, then you could build a shelf or two...or three above it, put something beautiful on the shelf...or fish books...well it could turn into quite a nice little nook if you wanted?
big rocks eh?
I guess I personally like big rocks...in the aquarium. Live rocks going in would be pretty heavy. Is it the location you like or the fact that it's hanging?
If it is simply the location why not put up a couple studs at the corners and wrap a wall around it? That would look cool and very personalized. Hey, it might be really nice like that. Then you would have your triangle of three walls to bolt into.
What do you think of that idea?
Hey, then you could build a shelf or two...or three above it, put something beautiful on the shelf...or fish books...well it could turn into quite a nice little nook if you wanted?
daFrimpster
New member
Have you yourself stood on the stand? Would you? I agree with some braces as described above it could work. Why not find 300lbs of something (steel,rocks,concrete blocks) and set them on the stand. At least then if it failed you wouldn;t lose any tanks.
its a great idea. and should look great when fiished but for christ sake dont fill it
i was involed in a tank braking up in front of me (it was a 35gal uk gallons) it nearly killed me i was 14 at the time. i noticed the front seem to bulge out and went to inspect pushed it back in and the front pane just cracked and 35 gals of water and a lot of glass came straight for me. it hits so hard (broke one rib) it gave me concusion and the cuts and bruises i was in intensive care for 3 days and in a normal bed for another 5 days (last time i DIY a tank) and the cost for florring and plaster work was about $3000
hope this changes your mind im 15 now still keeping fish but every time i hear a noise from my tank i **** my self. i dont feel safe around tanks with crappy silicon jobs.
please put legs on there its not fair to you and your family
if you still want to do this idea get 2 iron gurders put in the wall for the tank 2 2x4s wont do
i was involed in a tank braking up in front of me (it was a 35gal uk gallons) it nearly killed me i was 14 at the time. i noticed the front seem to bulge out and went to inspect pushed it back in and the front pane just cracked and 35 gals of water and a lot of glass came straight for me. it hits so hard (broke one rib) it gave me concusion and the cuts and bruises i was in intensive care for 3 days and in a normal bed for another 5 days (last time i DIY a tank) and the cost for florring and plaster work was about $3000
hope this changes your mind im 15 now still keeping fish but every time i hear a noise from my tank i **** my self. i dont feel safe around tanks with crappy silicon jobs.
please put legs on there its not fair to you and your family
if you still want to do this idea get 2 iron gurders put in the wall for the tank 2 2x4s wont do
activecactus
New member
Yes I have stood on the stand, with my wife even and it held fine.
I thought I mentioned that I filled it up ( tank and sump) with water and left it in overnight without any problems.
I might add a cross brace(triangle) to the sides of the sump area, but I feel it's not necessary. The whole set up will weigh 500 lbs tops.
My main concern is with the top of the embedded angle iron and the amount of force that its tring to pull away from the 2x4's. As Joedelt said on an earlier post its cantelevered(sp) and the bulk of the weight is already at the base.
I would have used a triangle at the top of the angle iron to the bottom of the other side of the closet, but that would have gone through the middle of both closets.
I thought I mentioned that I filled it up ( tank and sump) with water and left it in overnight without any problems.
I might add a cross brace(triangle) to the sides of the sump area, but I feel it's not necessary. The whole set up will weigh 500 lbs tops.
My main concern is with the top of the embedded angle iron and the amount of force that its tring to pull away from the 2x4's. As Joedelt said on an earlier post its cantelevered(sp) and the bulk of the weight is already at the base.
I would have used a triangle at the top of the angle iron to the bottom of the other side of the closet, but that would have gone through the middle of both closets.
daFrimpster
New member
It sounds like you've tested it thoroughly. Go for it! Take a bunch of pictures too.
Bow down to this guy! He has Brass ones! 
These are the same people that would be saying "The World Is Flat" & "The Sound Barrier could never be Broken". Wall Mounted Reefs take guts and look really sharp! Im going to be watching the prgress of this tank for sure!
Way to go Activecactus! Bout time some one tried something diffrent 'round here!
These are the same people that would be saying "The World Is Flat" & "The Sound Barrier could never be Broken". Wall Mounted Reefs take guts and look really sharp! Im going to be watching the prgress of this tank for sure!
Way to go Activecactus! Bout time some one tried something diffrent 'round here!
