Can I Put A 5-5.5 Gallon Tank Here?

Hello! First, heads up this is an ‘can I possible’ since my college dorm has crudy outlets locations so sadly the top shelf of my dorm desk is the only possible place I got that I can reasonably reach the cords to outlet/power cord since I already got my 10 gallon tank on the kitchen table (assumably same material as my desk. Both aren’t wood) and everywhere else is out of reach of my outlets (I would need like 4-6 power cords to reach the only other possible location being on top of my room dresser but that’s where my winter jackets are and again, 4-6 power cords away from an pitlet) or has even less support then the top of my desk. I like betta so was original plan of my 10 gallon till I found how hard they can be to watch and needed certain filters, so started with neon tetras and guppies and my friend been trying to talk me into getting a small tank for a betta (since I keep eyeballing them) but nothing less then 5 gallon can create its own nitrite cycle so was thinking if I CAN find a location for a 5.5 gallon tank, maybe try 2 bettas in a divided tank? Also heads up this is just a theoretical post, wouldnt have the tank running or close to set up till late dec-Jan if I go threw with it.

Not very familiar with how much support a tank needs, especially since 5 gallons is on the ‘fit on a weak side table’ side though it will be a glass tank so not sure??? Anyone got a personal experience on if it could work or not?

Most concerned because it will be so high upon top right or left of the desk.


Extra details:
-it seems to be around 62 inches (a little more then 5 feet) tall
-I would assume it’s fake wood, it’s my college standard dorm desk and my friend say it’s fake for the table that looks similar, but my fake wood table able to hold my 10 gallon tank? But seems to have metal connectors (for the desk)?

 

If it can support roughly 60 pounds it may be ok. 1 gallon is roughly 8.34pounds. Plus you need to factor in the 5pounds of subsrate and also the weight of decorations.

In my opinion I wouldnt want to risk it though.

 

I wouldn't. it looks flimsy, is it solid wood or something like particleboard? and how high up is it? it'd also be hard to look at and do maintenance on. putting it on the actual desk part would be your best bet.

I like the pokemon plushie btw. I can't remember the name of it right now but I know I have it in one of my games lol

 

I have 10 gallons on flimsy plastic, you definitely can.

 

I'd take extra precaution, maybe another spot

 

This appears to be particleboard. 50 or 60 lbs can quickly warp the shelf causing an unlevel tank that could start leaking. This would happen with real wood also though probably not as quickly.

 

You'd be surprised at how much average furniture structures can hold. I have put a filled 10 gallon tank on a sterlite organizer before! Not my best choice, and definitely wouldn't reccomend it, but it held! Since you will have it so close to a support, it may be fine. I would try to put something close to the weight of the filled tank (60 pounds) on it first. Leave it there for a few days to see if it warps the wood. It is always fun to find places to squeeze nano tanks! Good luck!

 

I have a 6 gallon container full of water sitting on the cracked-in-the-middle plastic lid of a larger container. Which would lead me to believe, strictly in terms of structural integrity, yes it would probably work. And if you're worried, you could always jam something in that shelf below it to prop it up.

 

It may but I couldn't imagine it would be easy to look at or do anything to such as water changes or a little redecorating. The desk top would be much nicer in my opinion.

 

No clue on weight capacity, but it's going to be a pain to change the water.

 

Looks like that would be a place it could be easily be knocked off by accident

 

Heads up I added some pic of the mail/metal connect that are right next to the top shelves. Not sure if it makes it worse or better. Heads up this wouldn’t happen till dec/Jan so asking about theorically. Sadly not no other place or it so it’s basically this or no betta

If it can support roughly 60 pounds it may be ok. 1 gallon is roughly 8.34pounds. Plus you need to factor in the 5pounds of subsrate and also the weight of decorations.

In my opinion I wouldnt want to risk it though.

Yea, it kind of the iffy side and this is just to see just how safe or no it could be before going with this idea.
I got 5-1 gallon bottles I use for de-clornine water for water changes I can fill and 1 64/68 oz of aquarium salt and empty glass bowl I can put up there for something close to the weight (salt might be equal to substrate, and got 5 out of 5.5 gallons of water). It should be close to the weight of what the tank would be but it wouldn’t be as tall and more spread out probabaly, would that still be an accuarate way to check or does it need to put all that weight in the surface area the tank would take?
And yea. I’m kind of going back and forth on if it’s worth putting a tank up there to finally be able to get a betta fish or 2 (they would be in divided tanks with each a cycled sponge filter and 2.5 of pure room due to .5 being for the stuff in the tank. And with it being 5.5 gallons it would be large enough it wouldn’t flucate hopefully as much). On one hand I could finally have a betta fish I been eyeing since August or so but it would be more difficult for water changes. I have a step ladder so I can reach of there so it’s not impossible but still out of the way.

I wouldn't. it looks flimsy, is it solid wood or something like particleboard? and how high up is it? it'd also be hard to look at and do maintenance on. putting it on the actual desk part would be your best bet.

I like the pokemon plushie btw. I can't remember the name of it right now but I know I have it in one of my games lol

I doubt it’s real wood. It’s about 62 inches tall (a little more then 5 feet). But my kitchen table made of the same material and it’s able to hold my 10 gallon so not sure how safe it could be. Planning to test this weekend with 5-1 gallon filled bottles and some other heavy stuff but it won’t be as contested (weight per surface area) so not sure if that will be accurate or not).
Sadly don’t got anywhere else I could put it due to lack of space in a college dorm and my room crudy places outlets. And that no where else with good support other then my dresser but my winter jackets are all hanged above it so it’s either see if it’s safe and if it’s worth it putting the tank up there for some betta fish of wait out college to get some later on.
And thanks <3 that’s mimikyu from the games, one of my fav and a gift from my sibling after talking about it so much lol

I have 10 gallons on flimsy plastic, you definitely can.

Thanks! Trying to see if it’s realistly possible or not before deciding if it’s work it for maintence hassle. It’s my one shot at bettas (unless I donate all my fish in my 10 gallon but I like them lol)

I'd take extra precaution, maybe another spot

Yea. I’m not sure how much of it would be doable versus safe so trying to get an idea. Sadly I don’t have any other locations due to college dorm (other places have less support or stuff on it will being far away from outlets) so it’s either put tank there or no betta/s

This appears to be particleboard. 50 or 60 lbs can quickly warp the shelf causing an unlevel tank that could start leaking. This would happen with real wood also though probably not as quickly.

That is good to know, thanks! And yea, definitely not wood. Would it also have issues if it was an acrylic since that doesn’t have edges to leak like glass tanks?

You'd be surprised at how much average furniture structures can hold. I have put a filled 10 gallon tank on a sterlite organizer before! Not my best choice, and definitely wouldn't reccomend it, but it held! Since you will have it so close to a support, it may be fine. I would try to put something close to the weight of the filled tank (60 pounds) on it first. Leave it there for a few days to see if it warps the wood. It is always fun to find places to squeeze nano tanks! Good luck!

Daaaaaaaang, I would never guess that was possible lol. Would it would if the weight was more spread out then the tank? I got 5-1 gallon tanks and some heavy just I could place up there but it would be more spread out then the tank?

I have a 6 gallon container full of water sitting on the cracked-in-the-middle plastic lid of a larger container. Which would lead me to believe, strictly in terms of structural integrity, yes it would probably work. And if you're worried, you could always jam something in that shelf below it to prop it up.

Actually, I wasn’t thinking of jamming things below, that could actually help! Do you think stacking books would work? Lol It seems the desk is nailed down or help my metal connector so not sure if that’s better or worse for support.

It may but I couldn't imagine it would be easy to look at or do anything to such as water changes or a little redecorating. The desk top would be much nicer in my opinion.

Yea but it’s the only location I could put the fish tank sadly. The middle shelf to short and I use the desk top for all my college work such as computer and all my notes and such and there no way I can have a tank constantly next to a computer (within range of hitting it instead of it being out my arms and thus impossible to bunk the tank since the desk pretty heavy and stable) or my life saving class notes without having a heart attack.
Currently trying to figure out if it’s physicaly possible/safe and then after that going to consider if it’s really worth it for a betta or 2 (2 would only happen if divide the tanks and after a long trial period of just raising one betta and seeing if it’s worth it) since that’s the whole reason I’m considering it (friend talked me into this idea after eyeballing betta fish since like August).

No clue on weight capacity, but it's going to be a pain in the to change the water.

Yep. I have a step ladder so it wouldn’t be unsafe but it would be a pain. I’m still debating if it’s worth the effort so asking about is this physically doable/safe while I’m debating if I want a betta fish or 2 THAT badly or not.

Looks like that would be a place it could be easily be knocked off by accident

Actually, it’s probabaly the safest in not getting knocked over due to its 5 feet high up and out of reach. More like to get smacked and knocked if I tried placing it on my desk since it would be in arm reach and I’m airhead and accidently prone so having it that close when doing class work on my computer might just give me a head attack.

 

Get some quarter round flooring trim from hardware store, and cut it to fit the footprint around the tank. Either glue it on or use an air nailer with finishing nails to put it in place.

That way, reduces chance of tank shifting or sliding of desk if something bumps into it.

 

I won't offer an opinion on the structural integrity of the desk. There are others here who seem to have more expertise. I just wanted to say I successfully cycled a 3 gallon tank for my betta and I'm a rank beginner. People on this forum were incredibly helpful. It seems the 5-gallon rule for cycling is a myth.

 

Not really helpful but I agree with those who are concerned about the location. Bettas are awesome, but you will hardly be able to see him, or do any maintenance. Getting it up and down, getting him or his decorations out, doing water changes, etc, looks like a nightmare. IMO not worth the trouble unless you can figure out somewhere else to put him. Could you possibly get a small, sturdy nightstand from the thrift store and put it next to your desk/between your desk and table? Thrift stores often have really inexpensive furniture.

 

I literally guarantee that will hold 5 gallons.

 

I won't offer an opinion on the structural integrity of the desk. There are others here who seem to have more expertise. I just wanted to say I successfully cycled a 3 gallon tank for my betta and I'm a rank beginner. People on this forum were incredibly helpful. It seems the 5-gallon rule for cycling is a myth.

It’s actually not that you can’t cycle a tank under 5 gallons, but that the cycle will just be less stable. With larger tanks there’s more wiggle room when little things go wrong, whereas in smaller tanks those little things can crash the cycle or cause other major problems since you don’t have the extra water as a buffer.