20 long on a fireplace mantle?

[browniebuck]

I am not sure if this is the correct/best place to post this question, but...
We currently have a 10 gallon tank on our fireplace (decorative...not functional) mantle and were looking to get something bigger...perhaps a 20 long (it would be an African cichlid tank...I know...not saltwater, but I didn't know where else to turn).
Do you think that this would be too much weight on the mantle if it were centered?
My mantle is about 14 inches deep...the tank measures 30" long, 12 1/2" deep, and 13" tall. For filtration, I know that I wouldn't be able to get a HOB due to clearance in the back, we currently have a Tetra Whisper Internal filter in the 10 gallon and they make these in a larger size for up to 40 gallon aquariums (so filtration shouldn't be a problem).
I would love to do the whole tank, stand combo, but our living room is only so large and we already have a 29 gallon tank/stand saltwater setup in the living room.
Do you think that this would work?

 

[bill109]

a 20 long, you cannot do to much with towards an african cichlid tank.
it is to small. if will work for awhile but after that there will be aggression.

 

[browniebuck]

well...if not African's...we could try some type of community tank (though in talking with a "Cichlid" store owner in Cleveland, I was told that I could house 10 or so small African's in a 20 long)
but my real question was...will that tank safely fit on the mantle?

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by browniebuck
http:///forum/post/2998909
well...if not African's...we could try some type of community tank (though in talking with a "Cichlid" store owner in Cleveland, I was told that I could house 10 or so small African's in a 20 long)
but my real question was...will that tank safely fit on the mantle?
not trying to turn you away from your idea here, but what happens when they get full size? yes you can keep them in there when they are small. i have a 20 long on top of a dresser. hold it fine. when you do an african cichlid tank they like the rock work like sw fish so add in the lb's of rock you add

 

[browniebuck]

I have a 55 gallon cichlid tank in my classroom...my wife really likes that tank due to the color and activity in the tank and doesn't get to see it very often...so my project is to find a way to make a cichlid tank at home...preferably in the living room...

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by browniebuck
http:///forum/post/2998938
I have a 55 gallon cichlid tank in my classroom...my wife really likes that tank due to the color and activity in the tank and doesn't get to see it very often...so my project is to find a way to make a cichlid tank at home...preferably in the living room...
in the wall! but make is a bigger tank? the in the wall gives it a clean put together look imo

 

[browniebuck]

I would love an in the wall tank, but the living room would never work...border walls of living room are front porch, neighbor's driveway, dining room, and our bedroom...not to mention that our house was built in 1929...I can't imagine cutting a hole in the wall, hanging a picture here is tough enough!!!

 

[veni vidi vici]

Thats to much weight on a mantle,unless Its built into the brick/stone and is really thick .If the mantle is just fastened to,it is going to eventually full the fasteners through the wood.

 

[jimvette1]

IMO
I think the discussion is not about the fish, but about the mantle.
I agree with Veni Vidi Vici.
Mantles are for decoration only, they can't hold the weight.
Just water alone you are talking about 160 pounds!
Do you think you could stand on your mantle without it crashing to the ground?
I wouldn't take the chance.

IMO

 

[salt life]

Originally Posted by JimVette1
http:///forum/post/2999177
IMO
I think the discussion is not about the fish, but about the mantle.
I agree with Veni Vidi Vici.
Mantles are for decoration only, they can't hold the weight.
Just water alone you are talking about 160 pounds!
Do you think you could stand on your mantle without it crashing to the ground?
I wouldn't take the chance.

IMO
+1

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2999202
+1
+2.
It would have to be specially constructed. Most mantles are buit on site and are just a stack of various pieces of moulding stacked one on top of the other and assembled with finish nails. I'd never in a million years trust it.

 

[browniebuck]

darn...that would have looked so neat at night...saltwater to the right, freshwater in the middle, and the Cavaliers killing the competition on the left...oh well, I guess that this just means that I get to have another tank in my "man lair" downstairs with my 55 FOWLR...things could DEFINITELY be worse!