Critique my rack layout. Does it look stable?

[saintabyssal]

I'm tentatively planning a rack of aquaria laid out as in the diagram using a 60 in. W x 72 in. H x 18 in. D Gladiator shelving unit from Home Depot. Obviously, I don't want this toppling over, so I'm worried about stability.

My biggest concern is that the layout is a bit top-heavy, since most of its total weight is in its upper half (above the dotted line).

My second biggest concern is that the weight distribution is asymmetrical: side to side on the top row, but also front to back as I planned for 2.5ers where there was room for them behind the 10s and 16 talls.

At reddit someone recommended that I anchor it to the wall. Is that absolutely necessary? I live with my dad and he's not very supportive of my interest in fishkeeping. He definitely wouldn't like me doing things to the wall. Is there any way I could safely get around that?

 

[cdr63corv]

Not familiar with that shelving unit. What do they say the weight limit of each shelf is? Can't remember where I came across it but saw they had weight of each tank with substrate etc. Guessing you'd be looking at 450 lbs on each self. Suppose your flooring might effect stability, carpet with padding could make it less stable over a solid floor, wood or tile etc. Sure you could google the weight of each tank, substrate to be sure

 

[saintabyssal]

What do they say the weight limit of each shelf is?

It's rated for 2000 lbs per shelf

Suppose your flooring might effect stability, carpet with padding could make it less stable over a solid floor, wood or tile etc.

The flooring is some kind of cheap linoleum-like snap together tile stuff. I have no idea what it's real name is. The room itself is a former garage.

 

[newish]

If this is rated at 2k lb per shelf it's likely similar to other shelving units that I have. If assembled correctly it's not going anywhere once you put some weight on it. If the space used to be a garage, it had to support the weight of a car and can certainly support a few fish (i know it's heavy, but cars are too).

 

[cdr63corv]

For sure, you should be plenty good

 

[SparkyJones]

Im skeptical on the weight per shelf with it being 22g steel construction being that it's 1/32", (range of 0.0312in. (0.79mm) to 0.0299in. (0.76mm) ) but lets say it is.actually as strong as they claim and can hold 8000 pounds over 4 shelves.... 4 tons.
it's 450g,x 450gx275g on the shelves and 1,175 pounds on the tiny feet that it has. I'd be concerned about the floor damage for sure.

Even if they are lying about 2000 pounds per shelf and it's 2000 pounds overall weight, being at under 1200 lbs (60%) isn't likely to be pushing it.,,, unless they are really lying but you'll know that if you get the 1st shelf set up and it bending with the 450 pounds on it. if it actually holds up to 2000 pounds, 450 won't be able to flex it.

I like the leg build of it, it's just like warehouse shelving with the exception it doesn't have the anchor mounts that will lock it down tight into the floor. That's the only real fault I see with it, that it doesn't have floor anchor mounts on it, if it did have them I'd believe it would safely hold 8000 pounds.

 

[86 ssinit]

I’m using that rack.my ceiling is just over 7’ so can’t get more tanks on top shelf and would just be too tough to use the bottom. But I was advised by others who were using the 6’ long ones for 3 125g tanks without a problem. Only thing is the shelf is wire. And it will bend with a tank. I did get rid of the the wire and used 1/2” wood slats to bring the shelf higher and use the full 18”. Than I used 3/4 plywood to cove4 the space.