Thoughts on reinforcing a chest of drawers?

[Minniechild]

So I've been going on about it for weeks, and now I'm requesting some help (As dad and I have come to a slight standstill with our brainstorming)...
My axie tank rests on two very solid pine chests of drawers , tis a 4 ft, 200L tank (Which is filled pretty darn close to the top). Additionally, there's 40kg of rocks, and 40kg of sand, 1/2 kg of plants and (approx) 1kg of axies-specifically, five at the moment. So approx 300kg of weight without collapsing in despair.

The COD themselves have four large and two small drawers at the top, dimensions L90xW45xH110, with the sides and back having most of the structural integrity, and the front basic drawer support and bracing at the bottom. I'd guess the pine was about 1-2cm thick (at a guesstimate)(the joys of late night brainwaves of the omgimustasksomeone variety ).

My goal is to reinforce the chest of drawers to the point where it can take as a minimum, a 6ftx45cmx50cm 400L tank, and get 10 axies living happily (following the amazing MereB's tank design ideas, additionally adding a similar setup to an UGF for the canister outlet).
However, if it's at all possible, I'd much rather go a 6x2x2ft If I can reinforce it enough, then Trouble can (possibly) leave the kitchen table (Although I don't think that he'd be happy about this. At all.*spoiltrottenlittlebeggargrumblegrumblegrumble).
SO
Pretty much, I need to add 20cm (Width) to the top and reinforce it to carry at least 600kg, closer to 800kg. (more than the car I drive weighs...). Any thoughts on what might work?

Oh, and yes, I am on a concrete slab, so no falling through the floorboards here

-Minnie/Caitie/"Yougethataxolotloffmytablenow!"

 

[jane1187]

This is such an interesting idea I thought I must add my ideas.

I would not rely on the chests of drawers themselves to hold all the weight. I propose placing a very strong 6ft piece of wooden board (such as solid oak, pine, or even very thick MDF or chipboard... is suppose a whole door wold do it ha ha) to sit on top of the drawers to support the tank. Then in betewwn and either side of the tank you can place a stack of bricks, breezeblocks or similar objects to support the main weight of the tank, leaving your drawers in a support role but still bearing some weight. You can hide the unsightly bricks by building a simple wooden box around the bricks using plyboard, mdf or similar. This can be painted too.

AND (yes there's more...) because I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment, and did want to build something similar myself, I have drawn you a diagram! You'll have to excuse the weird looking plants and rocks but as I am on a Mac I was severely let down by clip art...

(I have of course estimated the layout of your tank, colours (and size!) of your axies and the design of your drawers )

Enjoy

 

[Minniechild]

First thing, LOVE the drawing- The axies are extra cute! And I like the idea- Just got to run it by my dad/ partner in crime and tank-expanding-ness when he gets home tonight

 

[Minniechild]

Right, just come back from The Radio Room (Or, my Dad's man-cave-that-gets-invaded-at-regular-intervals) and a brain storming session. Bessar blocks are sadly out due to A) not supporting the weight evenly enough, and B) being pretty darn ugly *eyeroll*.

I also should've added that the floor area around the chest of drawers is 208cm exactly (210 wall to wall, the joys of skirting boards ), so that's another thing that needs to taken into account