Considering a fish room or racking?

[KnaveTO]

I have been looking around for shelving and the like and finally decided to purchase some. Looked at Canuck Tire and found their system on sale for $59.99 ($20 off). Looks like a good system and each shelf holds 600lbs of weight. I will let you all know how it works.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444220 4567&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673114&bmUID=1210089633138&deptid=1408474396672676&ctgrid=1408474396672680&subctgrid=1408474396673114

[amaruq]

Some one had talked about at Cosco a shelving unit....not positive but by Gorilla? That's what they used. Hopefuly they can give you more info..cause i forget who it was???

Helpful Ain't I???? lol!

I vote for the fish room!!!! With racks :)

My hubby made me one out of 2 x 4's For my 20 and 10 gallon.

[CACAdmin]

The discussion of racks and weight rating per shelf is in this thread (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3754) if it helps any.

Nice to have hubby build you a rack amaruq... looks great!

[thegrandpoohbah]

Hey Ross, if you end up getting that shelf can you please let me know the exact dimensions of the particle board shelf? It says 36" x 18" but usually that means the exterior dimensions including the supports. For example my 48" x 18" Gorilla Rack will actually only fit a 47" x 17" tank on each shelf. I have a number of 36" x 16" tanks that still need stands. Thanks.

[PPulcher]

I have a 36" long utility shelf system (don't know about the actual dims.), and I have the 48" gorilla rack. I much prefer the 48" gorilla racks. I can use 48" T8 shoplight fixtures on the gorilla rack with no trouble. You can certainly get 36" fixtures, but they tend to be more expensive. I use the inexpensive daylight T8 tubes you can get at the hardware store.

On the 36" rack I can get 3x10 gallon tanks per shelf set end-to. On the 48" rack I can get 4, or I can get 5x5.5 gallon tanks set end to. On one shelf I have 2x10 set end to and a 15 long ways.

[PPulcher]

Just a thought, but the uprights on my 36" unit are a right angle "l". Even if the particle board were 36" long, you would not be able to put a tank on anything but the top shelf. Most of the units can be stacked or put side by side, so you could probably do 2 36" long tanks side by side.

[hp10BII]

What timing! I just bought the same rack this week, just wanted to consolidate a bunch of my small tanks through the home and maybe pickup a couple of 15 gallons to fill in the gaps and shelves. :rolleyes:

I'd be curious to know how you've configured your tanks into your rack.

[KnaveTO]

The wood for the rack that I bought is 35 1/4" x 17 1/4" and looks to be 3/8" thick.

And for future reference the Mastercraft shelving that is bought is a gorilla rack as they include the sticker in the bax. Must be made by them for Canuck Tire.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Bummer, 3/4" too short for my tanks.

[KnaveTO]

I know... I have a tank that is 36"x12"x12"... would be worried about that in in there.

[KnaveTO]

Okay... so all put together. I decided as the shelves were particle board to line each one. Each shelf has a platic runner and a layer of cushioned shelf liners that you can get at Canadian Tire. Hopefully that will help deal with some spillage and the like. All were cut down to size to fit the shelf. This should also add some padding to the base of each tank and make the surface it is stiing on non-slip.

Step two will be finding some lights for the tanks as the 5.5 gal that I currently have use the black plastic traditional lighting and hoods.

Step three will be the really fun part... indulging in my MTS and grabbing some more tanks for the shelves. I did notice a rather shallow tank at big Als on the weekend that is more for use as a paludarium or reptile tank. It is completely open topped and I may, if the dimentions are right buy a pair of them for one of the shelves as they would make a perfect set of two grow-out tanks as they look to be 16" square and about 6 to 8" deep. I am going to have to plan this out as the shelves will only fit 4 5.5gal per shelf and I want more than just them there.

thoughts/suggestions?

[hp10BII]

I was going to build a rack but decided to go this route too. After the cost of materials and time, this is easier for me. I was eyeing a 48" Gorilla Rack @ Costco here, but just don't have the width to fit it into my corner, so glad to hear that this rack is manuf by Gorilla anyways. I haven't even cracked opened the box yet, so hopefully there would be time this Victoria weekend.

I was thinking of setting up 2 shelves with this config for each shelf: 1 x 15g and 2 x 10g tanks set end to end, so I think that would take up 32" of shelf space. I would add a plywood shelf cut to fit on top of the stock shelf to extend the shelf width to 24", to support the 15 gallon length. That would leave a 3" overhang on each side of the stock shelf. I don't have 15 gallon tanks, but I like the 12" tank height. The 15 gallon has the same footprint of a 20 gallon high, but most of my stock are bottom or near bottom dwellers so tank height would be a waste of space.

[KnaveTO]

believe me if I had the space I would grab 2 of these racks and do a 'L' with them running a long piece of plywood along the long part of the L connecting 2 half shelves (yes you can set this up so that you have 2 short shelves rather than 1 tall one) to one configured in a tall set-up... I would be able to set up the configuration to house all my tank that are not on a tank stand properly. Ah well, maybe next year when I move out of my current unit and move into a slightly larger one... as I really will not have need of the dining room in the new place ;)

[KnaveTO]

Well did some re-arranging of the room where the racking is going into and was able to set it up so that I have two short racks rather than one tall rack. This has the added benefit of adding one more useful shelf. That being the case... I am loading up one shelf with 4 5.5 gallon tanks, for Isolation, QT as well as grow out... so what to do with the other 3 shelves?

[hp10BII]

I love the look and footprint of 20 gallon long tanks. 30 x 12 x 12. Shrimp only, shelldwellers, small corys and/or loaches. :smile:

[KnaveTO]

I was thinking about 20 longs...

I have the 4 5.5 gallons now... and they are now the QT, Isolation and 1st stage grow out tanks... my 10 gallon will be for further grow out as the fry get bigger. I also saw a 30 gallon breeder (30x18x13) today that I almost bought.

Decisions decisions

[thegrandpoohbah]

I love breeder style tanks! The extra footprint makes it much easier to aquascape. I say go for the 30G.

[thegrandpoohbah]

BTW, pics when you're done please!

[KnaveTO]

Yeah... I have to agree with the footprint of the breeder tanks. So looks like another trip off to the LFS next week for one of the 30 breeders.

That leaves 2 shelves to fill. I will probably grab another 10 gallon for one of them... basically that leaves room for one more 5 gallon on that shelf. After that.... I want another Largish tank or two... This is going to take a tad more time that I anticipated... :twitcy:

[hp10BII]

30 gallon breeders! Tried looking for that locally a few year's back, couldn't find them or they weren't listed on their stock list. Didn't want to go the custom made route. Pics of the setup would be great if you can get them.

[James]

I saw the 30x12x14 breeder tanks at Rogers this last weekend. Wish we had stores like that in Abbotsford. I was looking for a marinland tank that is 30x18x12 which they don't carry so going to make it myself. Since I am building a small rack going to make the tank 30x18x14.

At least they had 30 inch long tanks. I just wanted one for a planted tank that had more room to aquascape.

[KnaveTO]

Inquire at you local Big Als if you have one as they are selling them now, dimensions are 30" length x 18" deep and 12 or 14" high.

[hp10BII]

Inquire at you local Big Als if you have one as they are selling them now, dimensions are 30" length x 18" deep and 12 or 14" high.

Do you know the name of tank manufacturer? It may be a unique set of dimesions that they sell.

I'm referring to All Glass (now Aqueon) tank dimensions, but they don't have a 30L x 18D x 12/14H listed.

They have a 36L x 18D x 12H listed as a 30G breeder. A 29 gallon standard is 30L x 12D x 18H. I much prefer the deeper depth of your dimensions in a 30" length.

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/standard-aquariums.htm

[KnaveTO]

I believe it would be a Perfecto Aquarium as that is primarily what Big Als sells.

As for my 40 gallon breeder (36x18x15) I got that from Miracles.

[hp10BII]

Thanks for the info, it sounds like my plans are changing before my very eyes.

Just in case anyone wants to check out Perfecto specs:

http://www.marineland.com/sites/Marineland/Documents/Standard%20Aquarium%20Specs.pdf