How to best go about evaluating weight capacity of a cabinet?

[ChadTower]

The aquarium base I have seems to be solid oak ply... I can get pics if anyone wants for specific evaluation.  The tank on it now is about half full, a 55 gal, and is not an issue at all.

The turtles inside, however, need a bigger tank.  They need more space.  My wife really likes this stand, it matches the furniture, and until the basement is finished this is where they turtles live.  I'm thinking that for the time being I can keep on the lookout for a cheap bigger tank but keep the stand.  I'll have to build a small adapter so that the cabinet isn't supporting the tank via the middle of the bottom glass, but that's simple enough. 

My question is, how do I know if I get one big enough that weight would be an issue?

[ScottS]

I'd be surprised if there weren't some internal bracing. I know there was with the 55-gallon tank my Dad had when we were growing up. Glass breaks easily, so you'll need to ensure that it's evenly supported everywhere. With the stand my Dad used, you could mount a smaller tank or a taller tank, but you couldn't mount a tank with a larger length or width and have it adequately supported.

FYI, 55 gallons of water weighs around 460lbs. If your new tank + contents weigh less than that, your current stand should be able to support them.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, it's turtles, so the tank is only half full.  Much more than that and they can climb out.  Turtles are astonishingly adept climbers.  These are big turtles, too, not the tiny pet store size you can hold in your palm, and they're still just over half grown.

Haven't looked for internal bracing but I will tonight.  I suppose I could add some, too, if it feels like a problem as I fill a new tank.

What I have in mind for an adapter is basically a plywood sheet, cut to the tank size or bigger, with frame on the bottom to fit nicely over the top of the cabinet, and a frame on top to fit nicely around the bottom of the new tank.

[leapinlew]

ok, so I have a turtle story for you.

When I was a young'n, I used to pickup snapping turtles that were maybe 5-6" wide. Anytime I would approach them, they would hide in their shell and I could grab'em from behind and all would be well.

Fast forward 25 years... I'm driving down the road and a huge snapping turtle (I'd say about 20" across) was trying to cross the road. There isn't much traffic so I decide I'll help the "little" guy across the road.

 

Holy crap! It was one seriously pissed off turtle. Did you know turtles made hissing type noises? And anytime I put my hand near it, as if I was going to pick it up, it would snap at me so loud it was making these loud popping noises and would move surprisingly fast as it lunged at me. What made it even more intimidating were long claws that were scraping on the concrete.

So... I looked at my fingers, looked at the turtle and looked at my fingers again. Nope. It wasn't worth it. I hopped back in my car and drove around him.

I guess the moral is - some turtles are mean. 

[fixedpigs]

i was in the same situation as you one time lew...

i didn't even think about moving him/her with my bare hands...so i found a good sized stick on the side of the road to encourage it across the road with...same hissing...same popping/snapping sounds...heh...

[ScottS]

Haven't looked for internal bracing but I will tonight.  I suppose I could add some, too, if it feels like a problem as I fill a new tank.

Just be careful. The first indication that you have a problem will probably be glass cracking and water cascading all over your floor

[ChadTower]

The cabinet is on wheels, so when I fill the tank, it's always in the kitchen.  It helps a little, anyway.  The wheels are ridiculously useful for moving the tank to the sink instead of running hoses.  I added the wheels myself when I first got the setup and they're fairly heavy duty, I think rated for about 125lb each.

[shorthair]

I guess the moral is - some turtles are mean. 

Well, they're reptiles.

[ChadTower]

Holy crap! It was one seriously pissed off turtle. Did you know turtles made hissing type noises? And anytime I put my hand near it, as if I was going to pick it up, it would snap at me so loud it was making these loud popping noises and would move surprisingly fast as it lunged at me. What made it even more intimidating were long claws that were scraping on the concrete.

Well, he was probably scared as ---fudgesicle--- and lost.  There was no way you were getting near enough to pick up a wild turtle that big and that scared.  If it didn't bite a chunk off your hand it was going to slice gouges in your arm trying to get away.

Turtles don't intentionally hiss, what they do is push the air out of their lungs to create more space for themself to hide in their shell.  When they push that air out, it makes a hissing sound.  They pee when scared for the same reason, purging to make space inside the shell.

[SithMaster]

They pee when scared for the same reason, purging to make space inside the shell.

I thought it was because they were pissed off.

[DrewKaree]

GO to a pet store.  That tank stand is basically a simple frame (thicker materials or solid wood for the frame, then wrapped with the oak ply). 

I had a 125 gal tank and bought a stand only to regret doing so every day I owned it - it's easy as pie to make one.  If you have a camera phone, you can snap some pics in the store, or sketch a quick diagram.  Easy project.

[DrewKaree]

I was reminded by someone else that I have a link for something like this (either tanks, or tank stands). 

http://www.garf.org/

Go check out the DIY section

[ChadTower]

This particular stand matches the other furniture in the room perfectly, right down to the shade of stain... that's why I'd like to keep using it in the short term.  Long term I do something much more elaborate once the basement is finished.  Until then they can't go downstairs, it gets too cold down there half the year.