Building a shelf to hold a tank

[Wrench]

I need to build a shelf in my fish room to hold a 29g tank with 20g of water. Space is tight so it has to go on the wall. It can't have legs that go to the floor because it will be over my washer/dryer. It will be built into one corner of the room tied into both walls. I can also tie into the ceiling if necessary. Has anyone got some ideas on how to build this thing to support this weight? Going to be around 200lbs.

[Donw]

Floating torsion box shelves will hold the weight with no problem You will need the wall down to the studs to build them.

Don

[Wrench]

Ripping the sheetrock down isn't an option, otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to do that. Here's what I had in mind, please tell me if you think it will hold the weight.

Attatching 2x4 cleats to the walls and building a simple box frame from them onto which I will screw down a piece of 1/2". Then come down from the front of the shelf with 45* supports and tie into the wall studs. Then I could go from the 'floating' corner and tie into the ceiling with another section of 2x4 and some sort of anchor into the ceiling.

[Donw]

Originally posted by Wrench
Ripping the sheetrock down isn't an option, otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to do that. Here's what I had in mind, please tell me if you think it will hold the weight.

Attatching 2x4 cleats to the walls and building a simple box frame from them onto which I will screw down a piece of 1/2". Then come down from the front of the shelf with 45* supports and tie into the wall studs. Then I could go from the 'floating' corner and tie into the ceiling with another section of 2x4 and some sort of anchor into the ceiling.

Use a cable for the floating corner. Will be easier, stronger and take less space.

Don

[Wrench]

possibly a box shelf like this one with the entire length of each 2x4 anchored to the wall studs,

[Wrench]

Thanks Don, didn't see that last reply.

[Donw]

Not really needed if your going to use a corner. Just 2x's screwed to boths wall into the studs. A cable in the free corner will be fine for such a small tank.

Don

[Wrench]

Would the cable also eliminate the need for the diagonal supports? I'm guessing I would use a carriage bolt with an eye for the attatchment point at the shelf, but what about the ceiling? Also, how would I create the loop at each end of the cable? Sorry for the silly questions and thanks for the help

[Donw]

Originally posted by Wrench
Would the cable also eliminate the need for the diagonal supports? I'm guessing I would use a carriage bolt with an eye for the attatchment point at the shelf, but what about the ceiling? Also, how would I create the loop at each end of the cable? Sorry for the silly questions and thanks for the help

If you go to lowes in the cable section you'll see everything you need. I dont know what the real name is for the parts. Just a 2x4 box with 3/4 plywood top should be fine.

Don

[Wrench]

Thanks.