Top of tank strength.

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fishhead0103666

fishhead0103666

Alligator Gar
MFK Member
May 14, 2018
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Hello, after I move I believe it will be time to go after a project I’ve been wanting to do for a while now which is basically getting some planter boxes, putting them over the tank trim, and using a pump to pump water into it where it’ll drain out through a hole along with plants in the box.

Now that you have the general jist of it, does anyone have any idea of how much weight I can safely put on the trim? I’m wanting to do either four 24” boxes or four 36” boxes to maximize the space I can get for plants.


This one, if it’s only filled halfway would have 4.15 gallons so 4 of them would be 16.6 gallons which is a lot of weight. I’m not even sure how much water would need to be in each one to get things to where I need them but maybe only 1/4 full would be necessary so 8.3 gallons in that case which is still a lot.


Does anyone have any advice for me?
 
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Is it a glass tank? As long as the boxes are seated on the vertical glass panes, you can support all kinds of weight. Aquariums are built to not have too much bow in the glass, but the glass is much stronger vertically.

If it's a plexiglass tank, the lid will have less strength because it extends a long ways from the vertical panes.
 
You could build a simple wooden frame slightly larger than the tank to take the weight if you are concerned, a bit of paint and it will look presentable enough.
Another thing to consider is what you are growing the plants in. Soil is pretty heavy, I cant remember what they are called but there is something similar to bioballs from your filter that is used in aquaponics you could try which would cut down the weight. Also as the water will be constantly flowing through the planter it may not be "full" at any time which may also reduce the weight a bit.
 
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There is a lot of pressure already forcing outwards on the glass panels of a full aquarium. Resting quite heavy objects on top of the tank too, to me, just adds to the potential danger factor, especially if the weight on top of the tank isn't distributed over the whole top edge. For that reason i'd design a system where the planters were to the side of the tank, or even better, in another room near a window. But that's just me, I digress.

If you are planning on putting all this extra weight on top, then i'd distribute that weight evenly over the top of the whole rim of the tank. That is easily done. I don't know what your DIY skills are like but i'd build a 2x2 rectangular framework that sits on top of your tank, finalise the positions where the planters are going, and then i'd add more 2x2 short lengths within the framework so that the planters were sat on the struts (use wood glue and strong screws). That way the outer rectangular framework is distributing the weight all over the top rim.

The picture below shows the canopy I built for my 180. The basic rectangular framework is what sits on the glass, and the rest is customisable for whatever you want. For me, it was to incorporate my panels, for you it will be to incorporate "joists" for your planters to sit on. You get the gist. It's an idea for you, better than resting all the planters directly on your rim.

A few other points. Your system would mean you have a pump in your tank, not everyone's cup of tea. Whatever you end up going with make sure, at maintainance time, that you aren't left with a right struggle vacuuming your tank etc. If you use as many planters as you say, they're going to be a tad obstructive.

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I have had quite a few tanks that have had canopies on them. My 180 stand and canopy are walnut canopy is length and width of the tank (obviously) and 14" tall. It's made from 3/4" boards. I'm not sure exactly how much it weighs but believe me it's not light by any means. I'd guess 100lbs at least.
 
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twentyleagues said:
I have had quite a few tanks that have had canopies on them. My 180 stand and canopy are walnut canopy is length and width of the tank (obviously) and 14" tall. It's made from 3/4" boards. I'm not sure exactly how much it weighs but believe me it's not light by any means. I'd guess 100lbs at least.
Click to expand...

Yes, canopies can weigh quite a bit, especially the deeper ones which house lights inside. My point is that as long as the weight is distributed quite evenly over the whole of the top rim, as in the case of your example, then that's safer, in my view, than if the weight was concentrated in "spots" along the rim. I suspect that if the OP was to just put a few planters on top, width ways, then that would fall, imo, into the least safe category. That's how I envisage it in my mind anyway.
 
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