Is It Strong Enough?

[mishmash]

Hi

I am the proud new owner (though not yet collected) of an Aqua One Aquience 800R aquarium. These are a lovely design and look great, and this one is just the right size for the room its intended (see pic below).

My question is; "Is my chest of drawers strong enough to hold it, and if not could I strengthen it somehow" ?

The chest of drawers is normal flatpack construction compressed chipboard, but seems pretty sturdy, and the top is nice and flat and thicker than the sides. I have put a pic up for reference... The back is only held together with a thin board and it would be my intention to brace against lateral movement by attaching a thick piece of marine ply. I could also add internal bracing to prevent bowing. It would then have sturdy sides and back. The only variation from a standard aquarium cabinet would be the lack of centre support. However, as the aquarium sits in a support frame of its own, minor movement ought not to have an effect (???).

Here are the pics, your comments would be welcome. If you do not feel it is suitable or can be made so, please can you suggest alternatives that might be able to incorporate the drawer unit. Thanks.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received

Just as an edit....

Saw this sort of thing on ebay... If I got something like this made up to "wrap over" the chest of drawers, would that be OK ? Essentially the chest of drawers then would not be taking the weight it would be the metal frame that was built to fit around the chest right ? Only thing would be I would want the front lower horizontal bar to be lower than in the pic. Thoughts?

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there

That metal stand is perfect, these are the best kind of stand, and seem to last forever (just protect them from rust by avoiding spillages).

I would say that you can easily either cut and shut your existing set of drawers to fit over the base of the frame (so that it rests its own weight independently, and not actually on the stand).

Or, you could get hold of some wood and try making your own around the stand? (The problem with compressed chipboard, is that if it gets wet/damp/condensation etc.) which it may, depsite how careful one is with water changes etc.! it expands, resulting in bulging panels under the effect layer.

so just to clarify, looking at the tank stand side on:

So that the stand is essentially independent of the furniture.

I hope that helps!

 

[mishmash]

Hi there

That metal stand is perfect, these are the best kind of stand, and seem to last forever (just protect them from rust by avoiding spillages).

I would say that you can easily either cut and shut your existing set of drawers to fit over the base of the frame (so that it rests its own weight independently, and not actually on the stand).

Not sure I get what you mean... probably me being dense but if you could elaborate ?

Or, you could get hold of some wood and try making your own around the stand? (The problem with compressed chipboard, is that if it gets wet/damp/condensation etc.) which it may, depsite how careful one is with water changes etc.! it expands, resulting in bulging panels under the effect layer.

Erm, I must be having a blond day...making my own "what" around the stand ?

so just to clarify, looking at the tank stand side on:

***will insert diagram soon can't do it inletters! ;p***

Looking forward to an idiot proof diagram, lol


So that the stand is essentially independent of the furniture.

I hope that helps!

 

[mishmash]

Hi Nurglepuss thanks for that diagram i see what you mean. The sides on the chest of drawers (COD) are solid and go right to the ground so bars running through like that are not possible. I had something slightly different in mind where the metal stand basically went over the top of the COD and down the sides with toe front lower bar of the metal stand running underneath the lowest drawer (as per COD picture in first post) and a low and mid point horizontal running along the back. The bars of the top of the metal stand would form a rectangle similar to your diagram. Bear in mind the COD top is the exact footprint of the aquarium

So looking at your diagram, the front and back legs of the metal frame would line up with the front and back of the COD. The back horizontal braces would attach to the BACK of the legs rather than the INSIDE, meaning it would run behind the COD, and the front horizontal brace would be slightly smaller in size but run lower, to fit underneath the lowest drawer on the COD but as per your diagram, run from inside to inside of the front legs (as opposed to the back of the legs as described for the back legs).

Is that clearer than it sounds ? lol. If you have time to do a diagram of what you think i mean, you can have some free plants when I finally get this up and running..

 

[nurglespuss]

I think that sounds great, should work fine, getting all the strength from the stand and just the look of the drawers

 

[cynic]

Your talking about something like this.....Its holding my daughters 100l tank for her fancy metalic 'Bubbles'

The chest of draw's isn't actually taking the weight, on the sides there is a 100x25mm pine support with 50x50 feet. Topped with a 50x50 frame and then more pine planking supporting the bottom of the tank. There is also 6mm ply instead of the hardboard backing to strengthen it all diagonally.

The supports for the tank are ever so slightly higher by a couple of mill to once it had settled the furniture didn't actually carry any weight. You can actually see the gap in the last pic clearly.

 

[mishmash]

Your talking about something like this.....Its holding my daughters 100l tank for her fancy metalic 'Bubbles'

The chest of draw's isn't actually taking the weight, on the sides there is a 100x25mm pine support with 50x50 feet. Topped with a 50x50 frame and then more pine planking supporting the bottom of the tank. There is also 6mm ply instead of the hardboard backing to strengthen it all diagonally.

The supports for the tank are ever so slightly higher by a couple of mill to once it had settled the furniture didn't actually carry any weight. You can actually see the gap in the last pic clearly.

Thanks Cynic, yeah something along those lines, though my tank is almost 190L so I would go for supports front and back on the sides and might go metal to make it safer too

 

[mishmash]

THANKS to everyone who contributed to this thread. I have now decided that Im just gonna buy a purpose made cabinet for the tank. Can't stand the worry of trying to make something.

I had decided I was going to deconstruct the drawers, build an internal wooden frame with centre support, then construct the drawer faces as a hinged door but by the time I have bought the wood and screws and all the other bit and pieces that would be required as they creep out of the woodwork, I can get a proper cabinet. Cheers anyway. I have got some ideas for the future

 

[cynic]

I had decided I was going to deconstruct the drawers, build an internal wooden frame with centre support, then construct the drawer faces as a hinged door but by the time I have bought the wood and screws and all the other bit and pieces that would be required as they creep out of the woodwork, I can get a proper cabinet. Cheers anyway. I have got some ideas for the future

Very true, i'm a diy nut so i had it in the garage anyhow.

I'm building a steel reinforced retaining wall for a friend of mine He seems to think its hard work

Thats a foundation trench 3ft wide by 3 deep and 24 ft long, by hand. Any offers