72L tank on a 2x2 IKEA Kallax

[DennyDifferent]

I've just bought my son an AquaEL Leddy 60XL tank as he wants an aquarium for his birthday. The hopeful idea is to put it on top of a 2x2 Kallax but according to the official IKEA data it has a max weight of 25kg and I think this tank will be pushing 80kg with water. If I were to reinforce it with some brackets is this something I could get away with? Does anyone else have any experience with this? I've attached a photo of what it looked like about half an hour ago before I freaked out and emptied it to post on here...

 

[Courtneybst]

I've used this same unit before but once for a 25L and the second time for a 34L and that was my personal comfort limit.

You also have to be super diligent with drying up drips and spills because if any of the board underneath the exterior finish is exposed, it will swell.

 

[Maf 2500]

The official max weight given by Ikea will be a large underestimate of the true capacity due to covering their asses for legal reasons. However, I wouldn't risk 80kg on something rated for 25.

The edges of the boards (where you screw into during construction) are quite solid and strong but the main open areas are just hollow with cardboard kind of baffles. A sheet of 12mm plywood on the back to stiffen and strengthen the structure, and another covering the entire top surface to spread the load to the edges would likely make it strong enough and would also protect the top surface from splash damage (if the plywood is suitably sealed). There are internet communities devoted to hacking these units for many different purposes so a search might pull up a realistic estimate of the weight these units can support if they are strengthened.

 

[DennyDifferent]

Yeah, I'm thinking it's not worth the risk when I can get something like this for £30: vidaXL Aquarium Stand Brown Oak 60x30x60 cm Engineered Wood | vidaxl-uk. Although it doesn't mention a weight limit. There's a larger 80cm one, maybe that would be better...

 

[Ratvan]

I had a Ciano 60 on a Kallax unit for a number of years. Although I had much the same worries at the start so I re enforced the back with a section of marine plywood

 

[DennyDifferent]

I had a Ciano 60 on a Kallax unit for a number of years. Although I had much the same worries at the start so I re enforced the back with a section of marine plywood

That's 58 litres, right? This one's slightly larger at 72... They had a 58L one in the same model but we opted for the taller model, rightly or wrongly.

 

[Ratvan]

That's 58 litres, right? This one's slightly larger at 72... They had a 58L one in the same model but we opted for the taller model, rightly or wrongly.

Yes somewhere around that size.

I would have done the same thing with the AquaEl to be honest, bit of extra room and height for no change in the footprint

 

[DennyDifferent]

Does anyone know what the likely weight of my tank would be with water? I have to admit, I've taken a stab in the dark at 80kg. The reason I ask is because I've been looking at stands for "60" tanks like this: Ciano Aqua 60 Stand and it says 73kg for the weight limit.

Edit: Maybe playing it safe with an "80" like Ciano Aqua 80 Stand would be better as that supports 131kg.