Normal bookshelf hold a 10gal tank?

A 10 gal tank weighs around 110 lbs when full (plus decor/substrate). While I think almost any piece of furniture would hold a 10g tank, I'd have to know the actual weight capacity of the bookshelf to say for sure. You should be able to find this info printed on the box, or in the instruction manual. If you ask to open the box to check the specs, I'm sure they'd let you. In fact, I'm actually headed to Walmart in a few minutes to get more storage bins for my fish gear. If I happen to find that bookshelf, I'll try and get the specs for you.

As for using non-tank stand items, I've used a pair of nightstands for both for a 20g and then a 29g. I also used a TV stand for the same 2 tanks at other points in time. The nightstands were fairly old, and therefore built very well, and a big old style TV weighs only slightly less than the 29g did, so I figured they were both safe. The biggest issue I had with the non-stands was that of stability. They had a tendency to be rather wobbly, which always made me nervous.

All my tanks are on tank stands now.
 
Maybe if you put a sheet of Ply on the backside of it.

Can never be too careful. I personally wouldnt put it on that.
 
oo7genie said:
A 10 gal tank weighs around 110 lbs when full (plus decor/substrate). While I think almost any piece of furniture would hold a 10g tank, I'd have to know the actual weight capacity of the bookshelf to say for sure. You should be able to find this info printed on the box, or in the instruction manual. If you ask to open the box to check the specs, I'm sure they'd let you. In fact, I'm actually headed to Walmart in a few minutes to get more storage bins for my fish gear. If I happen to find that bookshelf, I'll try and get the specs for you.

As for using non-tank stand items, I've used a pair of nightstands for both for a 20g and then a 29g. I also used a TV stand for the same 2 tanks at other points in time. The nightstands were fairly old, and therefore built very well, and a big old style TV weighs only slightly less than the 29g did, so I figured they were both safe. The biggest issue I had with the non-stands was that of stability. They had a tendency to be rather wobbly, which always made me nervous.

All my tanks are on tank stands now.
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"Headed to walmart in a few minutes" ?? There are walmarts that are opened that late?

For the most part, any cheap 2 or 3 shelf bookshelf seem to work. Just that not sure how much weight it'll hold.
Another Walmart bookshelf of interest: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-3-Shelf-Bookcase-Black/11072955
Here's the Petco one that looks just like the first link I put and reviews even say its cheap: http://www.petco.com/product/101400....aspx?CoreCat=MM_FishSupplies_StandsFurniture
(One review says "This stand cannot stand even the tiniest amount of water! Any surface of this stand will puff up and crack upon contact with water." )
 
Lol,CDX,they don't have 24 hour wally world's where you live?That sucks,kinda... :) Anyway,my advice is to get a stand made to hold an aquarium.I prefer the better safe than sorry approach.And,if you get something your not sure of,you will spend time worrying if its gonna collapse instead of enjoying the tank.But,yes,there are a lot of tables,stands,etc. that can easily hold a 10g tank.But,I would recommend any volume tank over that to get an aquarium stand.I like the old school wire stands myself.Good luck...
 
spacefish34 said:
Lol,CDX,they don't have 24 hour wally world's where you live?That sucks,kinda... :) Anyway,my advice is to get a stand made to hold an aquarium.I prefer the better safe than sorry approach.And,if you get something your not sure of,you will spend time worrying if its gonna collapse instead of enjoying the tank.But,yes,there are a lot of tables,stands,etc. that can easily hold a 10g tank.But,I would recommend any volume tank over that to get an aquarium stand.I like the old school wire stands myself.Good luck...
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We do have one 24hr Kmart, haha.
 
Walmart put Kmart out of business here. And both our Walmarts are 24hrs.

As for the bookshelf, it looks like they don't carry it at the one I went to.

As far as water tolerance is concerned, any piece of furniture made of pressboard and covered with the thin "wood look" tack paper, is going to bubble and tear if water sits on it for very long, whether it comes from Walmart, Petco, or anywhere else.
 
cdx008 said:
This stand looks very similar to a Petco stand that's like 5 times the price. Wondering if anyone used normal bookshelves or non-specific fish tank stands for their aquariums.

This one seems to be good for a 10 gallon I plan to use.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/3-Shelf-Bookcase-Black-Light-Oak/3610558

Got an extra 10gal sitting around so maybe set that up in the family room.
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The only thing you need to consider is whether you want to eventually clean up ten gallons of water. It may hold for a while. But it will eventually sag and then say "Adios"
 
I have seen people use shelves like this for multiple 10s:
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/672763/672763107441lg.jpg

I had this bookshelf already:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11061207&findingMethod=rr

I got a pine board from Lowe's for $7 and stained it the same color as the book case (just happened to already have that color stain) and ran it across the top so it could hold a 10 gallon. It doesn't detract at all aesthetically, in truth you can hardly even see it, but it provides the needed support. Particleboard just won't cut it.
 
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