Placing my new and first reef tank

[tihutoha]

So we have a kitchen cabinet that’s kind of like an island or and then Sarah and I’m wondering if the cabinets themselves would be able to support a 40 gallon breeder. I already have a 20 long that is 3/4 filled with water for some frogs and fish and things seem fine. There is a 6 1/2 foot long countertop that is not solid wood but that MDF and it’s not even solid it is a long board with the smaller boards attached to the underside with glue or sides like is typical in countertop applications from back in the day. If I replaced that countertop with a solid piece, it would make it even stronger but Kenny countertops support that weight do you think only about 4 inches is in the structural wall/pass-through. I will include a picture please excuse a little bit of a mess.

The last picture is showing the gap that is in between the countertop and the cabinet due to the standard old-style construction technique. So there’s a slight sag that’s what I’m thinking of reinforcing or replacing the entire countertop. We are with renters and I don’t really want to do much beyond that so I’m wondering if the actual cabinets them selves would be able to support the weight of Some rocks some sand and however much water would go into the 40 gallon tank. Based on a Google search, the thing should weigh about 550 pounds or so but I don’t know if that kind of rock and sand which would probably be heavier than water I think. We are actually going to do a 20 long to mirror the freshwater tank I think it would look awesome but I decided to go with the 40 now my wife is thinking 840 probably half full of water to replace the 20 long and in that case I would use the 20 long possibly as a sump or refugium or whatever it’s called placed down in the cabinets.

 

[Webslinger]

i would reinforce with 2x4's studs to carry weight . 334lbs

 

[tihutoha]

i would reinforce with 2x4's studs to carry weight . 334lbs

Are you saying to slip boards in between The top of the cabinet and the bottom of the countertop to prevent the sagging or are you saying to actually shore up the cabinets by attaching two by fours physically see the actual cabinet presumably inside someway?

 

[Webslinger]

From the counter top to floor, Maybe between doors

 

[tihutoha]

I’m not normally so dimwitted, however I just wanted to make sure I am understanding. On the exterior of the cabinet from floor to countertop such as what I just marked?

 

[Webslinger]

yep, interior so it looks good and maybe on the end if the tank is there

 

[BrandoNy]

If there is a wife / significant other living with you, I would advise you to remove all aquarium stuff from the kitchen. Find a piece of furniture to replace the bookcase and hold both tanks.

 

[tihutoha]

If there is a wife / significant other living with you, I would advise you to remove all aquarium stuff from the kitchen. Find a piece of furniture to replace the bookcase and hold both tanks.

Lol, I moved us into this house pretty much by myself because right when we needed to move had to travel for work for a week or two. I placed a 20L On the kitchen island kind of as a placeholder because I didn’t have anything arranged in the house yet and it was ago convenient spot to plug-in in that way but I kind a goo on the kitchen island kind of as a placeholder because I didn’t have anything arranged in the house yet and it was a good convenient spot to plug-in and that weight but I kinda grew to like it there. Funny when her sister came and help a little bit she had said that location probably wasn’t going to last once my wife got home. Initially my wife didn’t like it but now she sees two tanks being there as kind of neat.