Can a Filing cabinet support a tank?

[New&no clue]

I want an office tank and was hoping to put it on top of a filing cabinet I have. The tank will be 20-30gallons, AIO system. I didn’t know if it would support the weight or if anyone has done this in the past

 

[Indytraveler83]

I can't attest to the weight limits of that furniture, but I'd have two concerns aside from that:

1) Saltwater could quickly corrode that metal furniture.

2) file cabinets tend to have a lot of weight shifting when interacted with, If you open a file, how will that weight shift affect the balance of the tank and the whole piece of furniture?

 

[Zach W]

Like mentioned above there is a lot of shifting weight in those cabinets and I would be concerned about a catastrophic toppling scenario. Just static weight I think it would be fine

 

[New&no clue]

1) Saltwater could quickly corrode that metal furniture.

I hope water wont get onto it.. but I see your point, I've never done a water change at home without some water getting on the floor. That's why I always put a towel down.

2) file cabinets tend to have a lot of weight shifting when interacted with, If you open a file, how will that weight shift affect the balance of the tank and the whole piece of furniture?

My thought was to bolt the filing cabinet to the wall to make it more sturdy and hopefully want tip over.

 

[New&no clue]

Just static weight I think it would be fine

One of my concerns was will the top concave in with the weight and create stress on the seams. I'm thinking of the RSR 750 fails where the middle of the cabinet wasn't supporting any weight and it created stress on other parts of the tank creating a leak.

 

[DCR]

I am pretty sure it could carry the weight. Those cabinets are designed to carry a heavy load. The weight of the tank would actually help to stabilize any toppling. I second the concern about the metal corroding, and also the concern about getting your files wet.

 

[Mical]

I think I would move the file cabinet to a different spot and put a nice tank & stand there. I wouldn't want to be the one who hands an associate or "the boss" and water soaked file.

 

[WVNed]

I think I would cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood and paint it black with some exterior paint and it would be fine. File cabinets carry the load in the sides where the drawers are hung from.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I have a 100lb printer on a filing cabinet, its a wider one but they can support weight. Like above use plywood and i would also use a sheet of abs so it contacts the corners of the cabinet where the support is

 

[BZOFIQ]

File cabinets are very wobbly and twist easily. I wouldn't do it except maybe for a smaller tank like 10-15 Gallons.

 

[New&no clue]

I think I would move the file cabinet to a different spot and put a nice tank & stand there.

If I just put the tank and stand where the filing cabinet is then I wont be able to really see the tank. This is my view of the filing cabinet from where I sit

The tank and stand height is a little taller than the filing cabinet so most of my view would be blocked by the monitors. My goal here is to have a tank I can watch all day long.

The other thought i has was to put in on my desk

 

[New&no clue]

I think I would cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood and paint it black with some exterior paint and it would be fine. File cabinets carry the load in the sides where the drawers are hung from.

I had wondered if that would work to create some more support all the way across.

 

[New&no clue]

use a sheet of abs

What is ABS?

 

[S2G]

That looks like a 29g would fit on top. That's around 250lbs with just water. Do you feel comfortable with that much weight on a file cabinet with drawers opening?

 

[TheOne]

I would put it on the desk. As high as that filing cabinet is I wouldn't risk it.

Have you seen brs office tour? Start around 6 minute mark and you can get some good ideas of office desk tanks. Ryan posted a video on all of the office tanks also but I can't seem to find it.


Here is Ryan's. Office desk tanks are around 34 min mark.

 

[New&no clue]

Do you feel comfortable with that much weight on a file cabinet with drawers opening?

Nope, I have zero comfort-ability with a tank up there. However, this would be my ideal place as I can stare at it all day instead of my boring work... I mean glace occasionally up at it while still preforming my job in a satisfactory manner. However, I am comfortable with very little which is why I thought I would ask, if people seems to think it was fine then that might bring my levels up

 

[sharpimage]

I would do it. It will be fine.

 

[New&no clue]

Have you seen brs office tour?

OMG this looks like my office except replace all the tanks with dogs. We have between 3-6 dogs here every day.. although they aren't gated in, they just run free around the building and outside.

I wanted to try to avoid a stand as my office is already small, maybe Ill just put in on my desk next to me.

 

[Lytehouse]

I didn't see this said,
The view would be great above the monitors.
However, at that height, maintenance could be a pain.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I think I would cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood and paint it black with some exterior paint and it would be fine. File cabinets carry the load in the sides where the drawers are hung from.

If going with the filing cabinet, this is how I would do it. I definitely wouldn't risk having the tank up there without something between it and the metal (and I'd make sure whatever that foundation is gets cut to the full measurements of the top of the filing cabinet. ANY saltwater on that metal will ruin it.

Or go with the desk option.

Either should work out IMO