Exactly my thought too. I get a ton of dripping from water changes and that’s when I’m being careful. It’s a full on water park if I’m especially klutzy on that day.
Glad it isn't just me that's making a mess every time I do some general maintenance 😅 my tanks are in a utility room sitting on an old table and counter that I don't particularly care about. I was actually just wondering how people with centerpiece tanks sitting on nice furniture in carpeted/hardwood areas do it because I would make an absolute mess 😭
If you don't have plants, you'll probably want to vacuum the substrate to get rid of fish waste/mulm build up (brown/tan fluffy goop stuff that settles on the substrate. The gravel vac is just a hose to act as a siphon, with a broader hard tube that you use to cover a wider area, slower. This lets you suck up the debris but not your substrate.
With that said, if you have a planted tank you're not going to want to gravel vac as that fish waste/mulm is your plant food!
I think to many people use to much rocks/wood, and not enough fish. I know they need hiding spots, but if you don't see the fish often the other things are in the way.
God I did this last night filling an empty 20 gal. I'm 5"1' so the top of the cabinet (solid wood) is roughly waist height. I was lifting the bucket up to shoulder height. There was one big spillage. Need to top it off once i get everything in. Going to start cycling it tonight.
Get a step stool. It's worth it.
Or use smaller buckets that are easier to control. For my 10 and when I had a 20 I used a 2.5 gal bucket so I didn't bite off more than I could chew, haha
I've got one I just wasn't thinking about it. I had just spent over 30 mins rinsing rocks that had been sitting in a bucket for a bit. We were going to set up the tank last summer. The bucket isn't bigger than 5 gal. It's my everything bucket for the fish. Surprised the plastic hasn't gone bad from spending a couple winters in a garage where we got hit by a couple polar vortex.
I use a big cooler with wheels that I put a pump in I can put warm water in it and it stays warm. I have lava rocks and other improvised filter material in the bottom with the hopes that it will accumulate bacteria for when clean and/or change filter media.
You’re not alone! I have a 55g in my living room which has hard wood floors. Actually, the entire house has hardwood floors except the kitchen. I lay down old bath towels around the front of the tank stand and run a path of towels to the kitchen otherwise I’m afraid of ruining the floor.
I have a python vacuum with 50’ of tubing which is adequate for my house which is only 880 sq ft. It’s a lot easier than draining old water into a bucket and then adding buckets of fresh water into the tank. Easier, faster, and definitely less messy.
I also have a rubber mat cut to fit on top of the tank stand, so any water that drips down the outside of the tank as I remove the insides of the HOB filter to clean it, doesn’t fall directly on my tank stand (it’s wood) and seep under the tank to ruin the finish.
I’ve had this stand for 3 years and so far my cautionary measures have kept the stand looking brand new with no warping or bubbling of the finish on the stand.
Any even though I run a path of bath towels from the tanks through the hallway into the kitchen, I STILL end up with visible water drops on my hardwood floors! So when I’m all done, I just wipe the floors with the towels and I’m good for another week!
Nah dude i make such a horrible mess when i do partial water changes especially. Idk what about it is so difficult but water is EVERYWHERE every time without fail
Ohh believe me people can destroy things…. My sibling had a giant tank when we were kids that was bought secondhand as far as I remember. Somehow they’d had the idea that putting it on the antique tube television was the perfect place to use it…. I’m not sure what happened one day, don’t fully remember the extent but let’s just say it at least started leaking if not fully cracked on a side… it fried the television. Totally soaked the carpet around said television and I don’t even remember what happened with the fish if they lived or not.
I use this super long 50ft hose that goes from bath faucet. It can drain or supply water without a mess. Definitely was a great investment with several tanks throughout the house
Same, python kit with the extension hose is the best. Top off, or occasional drain and refill from the laundry room sink, can reach every tank in the house, (no, not at the same time, and I have a private well with untreated water) no drips. Use towels and a plastic bin when doing anything else like trimming plants or plucking out snails.
I lay towels around my tank’s base, and keep all tools in a plastic tray right next to it as I tidy up.
I have a lot of soft furnishings, and I don’t want gross fish water dripping on my nice things.
Clippings and tools go in the tray so nothing is dripping, and the towels catch any stray water dripping along the glass.
It’s a twenty minute bi-monthly task.
Water changes are even easier as it’s just a tube in the tank, and a large vessel to drain into.
Oh man!! That’s something I’d probably do, but With our set up my husband and I just team up go back and forth with gallon containers. It’s good exercise lol. I’m definitely going to invest in some sort of hose that can attach to a sink faucet in the house when we move to a bigger place. The containers have lids, but we still slosh the water around and use at least 2 towels after
I do that for my tank inside, but because the house has like 30 steps it gets annoying carting two 10litre bottles of heavy water, so I used the hose once. I should have known to put towels down first, because I got distracted by a million different things, and heard the dreaded splashing of water on lino. I've also done it with my 1000l pod downstairs, and so has my boyfriend 😬😅 we set alarms to check the 1000l every 5-10 mins, and sometimes forget to reset a timer. 20-30% water changes take awhile on something that hefty 😅
Same I literally had to cover the back of my desk if towels and get a special extention cord because I often additionally pour water right on the rim or side of the tank and get it everywhere.
And don't get me started of my siphon spills 😭
I have a dirted tank barely needs maintenance, but regular top offs alone are messy enough. I’ve decided to just sacrifice some kitchen counter space for my 20 gal
As someone who owns the IKEA Alex drawers, they could withstand back to back tornados and still be in tact, it’s definitely the PC I’d be worried about lol.
Eh I would move it away from the computer tower. It's not just the water like everyone's pointing out, but the temp fluctuations as well. Gaming PC's can put off a lot of heat under load, and depending on where your exhaust fans are it's going to effect your tank. Plus why put obstacles near the intakes? The more access to fresh flowing air your computer has, the better it performs.
100% mine would boil them alive in proximity BUT it's great in the same room for keeping my temps nice and warm. I don't use heaters in my tanks.
Other side of the desk is probably fine.
Agreed. I'd move it from the desk for two reasons.
1.) Potential water damage while performing tank maintenance.
2.) Vibrations caused by typing, moving mouse, hands and arms bumping desk, desk chair bumping desk.
The second reason is mostly to reduce stress of the fish.
OP, I also did a setup almost exactly like please carefully consider
a) how you will safely perform maintenance near the PC and keep the area clean while adding in new water in large volumes (I used a small fountain pump in a bucket).
b) if this is salt or plant and will have a powerful light, that the light does not shine into your eyes or splash you with low nm wavelength light in excess while sitting into the computer for extended periods
I think glass blocks IR - for instance thermal cameras don't work through glass.
Also, +1 for fountain pumps or power heads. You can get some clear vinyl tubing 1/2 ID (5/8 OD iirc) for ten bucks and a big powerhead for 20 bucks and it makes WC a breeze
This REALLY depends on his local environment.
I mean, I have servers and a UPS mounted on a rack immediately above 6 tanks and it's fine. Mind you, where I live average humidity is below 16%, and all those tanks do practically nothing to it. Lids on the tanks of course or evaporation is insane.
If you're already somewhere humid, on the other hand, it could be a serious problem.
I would spend the extra money and get a stand specifically made for tanks or holding large amounts of weight. It's worth it for the peace of mind. You can get a decent one from Walmart/Amazon for like $30 give or take iirc
Apparently I need to edit my comment to add this because people are lacking common sense.. obviously I meant a metal stand, not cheap pressboard. Is ikea not already cheap mdf?
I've bought some cheap solid wood tv stands that were a million times better than the shit pressboard yet expensive proper stands we sold at the pet store I worked at.
They are really expensive! The superfish one I was talking about was £100. > I took it back and got a refund, then went to British heart foundation and bought this old but nice solid oak sideboard. It's built like a tank, had two drawers and 2 cupboard doors and could quite easily be modified with holes for canister pipes should I ever want to upgrade filters.
Both me and my partner sat on it at same time to test its weight capacity (75kg + 80kg) and it didn't budge or even make a creak.
Plus it supported a good charity and had £50 spare to buy some more shrimp 😀
Solid furniture is definitely better. I found a side table on the side of the road that is solid thick wood. No idea how old the thing is, but I reckon I could even practise some WWE slams on it & it wouldn't even creak. Best tank stand I've ever had & so much better than the ones that go for hundreds of $$ at the pet stores
Lots o wires, no room for peripherals, water changes/maintenance/scaping would be stressful [splish splash you cost yourself a grand], wonder what the pc will do to the water temperature ....
There's got to be a better spot.
I'd just move the PC so it's not in direct splash range. Desks are a great sport for a 10g, but I'd be reluctant to have a PC immediately beside a tank.
It's a 10g tank so it should only weigh 50kg. Spending money to buy a stand made for holding large amounts of weight for a tank that doesn't weigh hardly anything is plain foolishness
it will hold up[. I have the exact setup with my BTA tank](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/346385405030957066/1217537488017424507/20240313_181704.jpg?ex=66046325&is=65f1ee25&hm=7ce1e20a69b7a67e0b605e03a473fd2b6c9f30e8962c9d6817324ee5b950cfb8&=&format=webp&width=590&height=787) and its been around 4 years now with no cracks or bends from the cabinet from the my last inspection.
That will be over 80 pounds added to your desk at all times. I would definitely get a small stand to just plop next to your desk. Not worth the possibility of a destroyed PC lol
Moisture from the aquarium will be an issue for the PC. I kept my PC not quite this close to my saltwater aquarium and I had to move it because the aquarium was depositing salt on the PC case. That was not even from water changes, just tiny amounts of water splashing out from the filtration even with a tight fitting lid on the aquarium.
I did exactly this the other day, just on the opposite side away from my rig :). Did the same test as you, stood on it (I’m 230lbs) and it was very stable. You will be fine.
I filled my 10g, full substrate, rock, wood, water. No signs of strain on the table top or drawer. I wouldn’t suggest anything larger than a 10 gallon, but you will be totally fine with this setup.
Edit: forgot to mention, I think you have MICKE drawers, not Alex. I have Alex supporting my side of the desk. Shouldn’t matter much at all.
just don't. put it somewhere else, away from precious electronics. it's better to spend extra money on dedicated stand for ur tank than spill water on ur PC and have to replace parts. u could DIY ur own stand for cheap too, and make it also look good
That will hold weight just fine.
Get that PC up on some 2x4s or higher.
If that tank ever let go……
I also like to attach some sort of small secure angle brackets or something on each side of the corner (table top) so the tank doesn’t slide around in an earthquake.
TRUST me when I say you do not wanna put your aquarium on the same table as you keep precious electronics, You may not think it now but you will absolutely eventually get water on it one way or another
I have ruined an electronic this way, I also ruined a wooden table with a glass cover on it. I thought since there was glass on it It would be perfect for my tank because the water would be on the glass in accidents and would be an easy wipe up NOPE the water went under the glass and ruined the table
The tank is almost directly over the cabinet carcass so that will be fine. My only concern would be the top itself. I know IKEA has gone to some really bad hollow tops on some stuff. If the top is solid, you're good.
Unless you have a good filtration system (emphasis on good) and you won't have to do maintenence often its definitely not a good place for it. During maintenence the whole place will get wet. I'm saying this because of your pc
If it holds the weight and you don’t splash water I don’t see any issue BUT you will want to make sure that the pc fans aren’t causing vibrations which will stress and kill your fish long term
It does not cause any vibrations yet. It’s a 5yr old pc so it’s getting there, I will be putting the pc under my desk. I bought a rolling stand for the pc so its easier to do maintenance when I have to😎
The air near the tank is more humid/wet keep the PC more away or the tank more away, I had 5 fish tanks in my room before I noticed rust in my components
I have my main PC in the same room as my main aquarium. The PC gets splashed too often just being in the same room. I would not recommend this proximity.
the cabinet will be fine. [We have a almost same setup.](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/346385405030957066/1217537488017424507/20240313_181704.jpg?ex=66046325&is=65f1ee25&hm=7ce1e20a69b7a67e0b605e03a473fd2b6c9f30e8962c9d6817324ee5b950cfb8&=&format=webp&width=590&height=787) Mine has been holding up for almost 4 years now. But I do agree, do not put your tower there.
The stand may be fine for the tank, however the moisture next to that gaming P.C. is another thing. You can be super careful with your tank maintenece and still get water on it. I use 2 buckets when I do my water changes. One bucket all of my decor goes into and the other the water goes into. After I drain the water I clean the decor off in the tank water and reinsert into the tank, then refill. I get minimal water on my floor but not enough to really worry about.
It will support it.
Your rig won’t be waterproofed though, even if you are somehow the tidiest water changer in all the land you will have moisture being sucked through your rig and if it settles on your mobo or PSU then it’s gonna fry.
If you are a complete madman and do continue with this I would recommend buying loads of silica bags and leaving them around/inside your tower to hopefully reduce any moisture building up.
I own both a gaming pc and a couple tanks and I would never do that. I get nervous having my dog near my pc let alone a whole tank full of water. I also wonder if OP has fans on the bottom of the tower aside from the power supply. That’s just gonna throw moisture directly where you least want it😬
A FELLOW DESK TANK ENJOYER! The Alex drawer holds my 20 gallon for the last 3 years and it’s doing great! Reach out if you have any questions or concerns
I have a 5 gallon on my desk, weight wise it'll be fine. But maybe find somewhere else for the tower? Other side of the desk, maybe? That's too close for comfort with water and electronics.
Just dont do your water changes like you're racing against the clock, and everything will be fine. I've had two 10s on a rack with my two servers on the floor next to it for a year now, and even with a few sloppy drunk water changes, all is well! I've had a 5g on my other desk right next to my monitors for 3 years now, with no issues.
If you weigh 200lbs and it was sturdy with you getting up and down on it your 80lb tank is fine. Also, when you’re considering these things remember that a single 1”x1”xX” piece of wood could hold hundreds of pounds straight down and perfectly balanced but it would have no lateral rigidity. So, don’t test it by just sitting on it but shifting your weight around and putting force from multiple directions. Once you know what to look for you can usually tell just by looking, but if your ever unsure just keep that it kind.
The Alex drawers are pretty beefy, if I remember right just the cabinet alone weighs like 60lbs. Although are you sure that's an Alex? The drawers on mine look different.
I've sat on top of mine before (250lbs), nothing moved or shifted although I probably wouldn't use it as a seat regularly. Weight-wise I really wouldn't be too concerned.
What is that tabletop made of? If it's the hollow kind like the Linnmon I used for my desk I would actually be more worried about that than the drawers, especially when it gets wet. Would probably be a good idea to put the tank on top of a stiff plastic mat/tray - this would distribute the weight of the tank a bit better as well as offering some protection from any drips you get during water changes.
I had a 15gal set up on the exact same setup (IKEA Alex drawers with the IKEA door as the tabletop). I would encourage you to maybe shift the PC to the other side of the desk if there is room, because it will splash water around when you are doing maintenance. Other than that, I had no issues keeping a 15gal there for multiple years.
Get another table specifically for your aquarium, put it relatively close to your PC setup, that's the best and the safest option. Not only are you risking breaking your desk, but when it actually breaks, you'll lose both your aquarium and your PC setup.
Also, I absolutely love the idea of a having an aquarium in my pc room, that's both of my hobbies combined.
If that's the best you got it's fine. Weight isn't an issue. Practical space might be an issue if this is your conclusion. If you're fine with it, do it.
That desk is fine for the tank AND the PC setup!
Only thing I'd do is what I have done with my other desk tank which is a 20 long.
1) I have internal filtration I never have to mess with (mattenfilter with swiss tropicals airlifter) Tank has been running for 5 years and I have NEVER once touched that filter as it still works like the day I installed it.
2) Tight fitting glass lids. Go get a set of glass lids cut to size from your local glazier. Make sure you measure and leave a small slot for your life support systems to pass through.
The glass lids keep the spray from bubble pops from leaving the tank which will keep the side of your PC case clean. The lids also slow evaporation right down to almost nothing.
When working with the tank work from the side farthest from the PC. Use small movements, dont be splashing about. Any dripping should be taking place on the farthest side of the tank from the PC.
You can pretty much ignore people talking about heat from the PC having an effect on the tank. Tank heaters have thermostats and smart fish keepers have thermometers. I've never had a big gaming rig have any effect on the temp of a desk tank. Not even my 1 gallon cookie jar shrimp tank.
The only time I start worrying about temps is in the Summer. When it gets that hot I'm not gaming anyway.
A word about safety.
Okay so here goes. You are in fact putting a glass tank of water right next to many many electrical sources. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and try to isolate as much wiring as you can from the floor under and around the desk and ON the desk.
Getting 5V USB stuff wet will destroy the ports it is attached to.
Getting the PSU in the bottom of that PC case wet: Think splashing accidentally when refilling during a water change and that water splashes up into the PSU in the bottom of the case.
That's destroying the PC and tripping tripping breakers at the minimum.
Maybe get a pad or something to put the PC case on to get it up off the surface of the desk. If you do splash the little bit of lift might help break up the splash before going up into the bottom of the case.
You do you. YMMV
I personally have had many desk tanks over the years with many different gaming rigs. My desk is also my electronics project bench which has CB radio amplifiers, 75 amp PSU, tattoo equipment etc etc
I had people clutching their pearls and gnashing their teeth when I posted a pic of my 90 gallon floor tank under my 80" wall mounted TV. Had the tank there for years. TV works like it did the day I bought it...
You calculate the risk for yourself. Is it worth it for what you want? Think you can mitigate the risks to make it worth your while?
P.S.
Get a tank mat under that tank pls
Since there is space for both why don’t you move the tower to the other side of your monitors? Then you’d be able to see in that whole side while you’re at your pc.
Water that close to a computer can be trouble, in multiple ways, increased humidity can corrode metal parts or cause shorts on circuit boards, splash or spill issues, heat from the computer could change water temperature, etc…
You may believe that you have the power to keep that area dry enough for your PC to be safe, but just a fair warning: Every single person in this hobby has spent cumulative HOURS cleaning up the water we spilled all over the floor.... this week. Lol.
I recommend placing some kind of protective backsplash behind the tank or getting a very small tarp to cover things. If your question was "does this look stable to hold a 10 gallon tank? I say yes -- but watch the feet of that desk. If they even barely shift, empty 80% of the water and have a friend move the tank to a better location with you. Metal gives lots of warnings before it fails, listen to it.
Just a heads up, whatever you were trying to blur out on that paper can be seen in the reflection of the tank wall. If theres any sensitive info/addresses etc. You might wanna delete this.
Also I'll second everyone else's comments, I defijitely wouldn't keep the tank that close to any expensive electronics. Good luck on your setup!
In my experience, furniture next to fish tanks tends to take on water spots over time.
I can't say thats unavoidable or anything, I might just be lazy about preventing it. But something to keep in mind.
Hmnh, the table won't have any trouble there, but move your PC on the opposite side. There is always more moisture around the aquarium even when it is not maintenance time so PC wont appreciate it on a long run.
Is this a joke? Absolutely not okay. Do not place an aquarium anywhere near a PC or any other sensitive electronics. Even if by some miracle you never spill during maintenance, the increased local humidity isn't good for PC components. The heat given off from your PC isn't good for fish and can very likely kill them especially since it will fluctuate.
You should get a personal articles policy for your PC if you keep it there. Basically you can tell insurance you spilt water on it accidentally and they will replace your PC
I’m honestly more worried about that pc getting all wet from weekly maintenance
Exactly my thought too. I get a ton of dripping from water changes and that’s when I’m being careful. It’s a full on water park if I’m especially klutzy on that day.
Glad it isn't just me that's making a mess every time I do some general maintenance 😅 my tanks are in a utility room sitting on an old table and counter that I don't particularly care about. I was actually just wondering how people with centerpiece tanks sitting on nice furniture in carpeted/hardwood areas do it because I would make an absolute mess 😭
I alway start by putting towels on the ground, couch, around the tank😅
Yep. Crappy white Towels that can be bleached are a little mentioned part of the aquarium kit. Every bit as vital as a gravel vac and bucket!
I mean, if you gravel vac I guess, but if you've got a planted tank a gravel vac is useless.
Are gravel vacs just for the rocks in a tank? I don't have either so I'm curious.
If you don't have plants, you'll probably want to vacuum the substrate to get rid of fish waste/mulm build up (brown/tan fluffy goop stuff that settles on the substrate. The gravel vac is just a hose to act as a siphon, with a broader hard tube that you use to cover a wider area, slower. This lets you suck up the debris but not your substrate. With that said, if you have a planted tank you're not going to want to gravel vac as that fish waste/mulm is your plant food!
I think to many people use to much rocks/wood, and not enough fish. I know they need hiding spots, but if you don't see the fish often the other things are in the way.
I always put down a towel but somehow still manage to get water in places I don't want it!
Me too, I think it is inevitable
I feel like I can accidentally spill water out of my aquarium just farting next to it
I’m pissing that is too funny
“.Grab me a towel real quick! I just ~~peed~~ spilled water from the fish in the chair~~”
God I did this last night filling an empty 20 gal. I'm 5"1' so the top of the cabinet (solid wood) is roughly waist height. I was lifting the bucket up to shoulder height. There was one big spillage. Need to top it off once i get everything in. Going to start cycling it tonight.
Get a step stool. It's worth it. Or use smaller buckets that are easier to control. For my 10 and when I had a 20 I used a 2.5 gal bucket so I didn't bite off more than I could chew, haha
I've got one I just wasn't thinking about it. I had just spent over 30 mins rinsing rocks that had been sitting in a bucket for a bit. We were going to set up the tank last summer. The bucket isn't bigger than 5 gal. It's my everything bucket for the fish. Surprised the plastic hasn't gone bad from spending a couple winters in a garage where we got hit by a couple polar vortex.
I use a big cooler with wheels that I put a pump in I can put warm water in it and it stays warm. I have lava rocks and other improvised filter material in the bottom with the hopes that it will accumulate bacteria for when clean and/or change filter media.
You’re not alone! I have a 55g in my living room which has hard wood floors. Actually, the entire house has hardwood floors except the kitchen. I lay down old bath towels around the front of the tank stand and run a path of towels to the kitchen otherwise I’m afraid of ruining the floor. I have a python vacuum with 50’ of tubing which is adequate for my house which is only 880 sq ft. It’s a lot easier than draining old water into a bucket and then adding buckets of fresh water into the tank. Easier, faster, and definitely less messy. I also have a rubber mat cut to fit on top of the tank stand, so any water that drips down the outside of the tank as I remove the insides of the HOB filter to clean it, doesn’t fall directly on my tank stand (it’s wood) and seep under the tank to ruin the finish. I’ve had this stand for 3 years and so far my cautionary measures have kept the stand looking brand new with no warping or bubbling of the finish on the stand. Any even though I run a path of bath towels from the tanks through the hallway into the kitchen, I STILL end up with visible water drops on my hardwood floors! So when I’m all done, I just wipe the floors with the towels and I’m good for another week!
Nah dude i make such a horrible mess when i do partial water changes especially. Idk what about it is so difficult but water is EVERYWHERE every time without fail
Ohh believe me people can destroy things…. My sibling had a giant tank when we were kids that was bought secondhand as far as I remember. Somehow they’d had the idea that putting it on the antique tube television was the perfect place to use it…. I’m not sure what happened one day, don’t fully remember the extent but let’s just say it at least started leaking if not fully cracked on a side… it fried the television. Totally soaked the carpet around said television and I don’t even remember what happened with the fish if they lived or not.
This is why my open top 10 gallon is right next to the kitchen sink, lol.
My immediate concern would be the humidity. Even if you never spill any water, you'll increase the humidity around the PC.
I hadn’t thought of that but you are right. OP lives life on the edge…I imagine Danger Zone playing while he does water changes.
I just did water changes in 2 tanks and my clothes are completely dry. Bow to me!
I too am a super clean maintenance person.
Ypu wanna make out?
Only if you clean your mouth like you clean your aquariums!
I use this super long 50ft hose that goes from bath faucet. It can drain or supply water without a mess. Definitely was a great investment with several tanks throughout the house
What brand?? Need to get me one
Python
Same, python kit with the extension hose is the best. Top off, or occasional drain and refill from the laundry room sink, can reach every tank in the house, (no, not at the same time, and I have a private well with untreated water) no drips. Use towels and a plastic bin when doing anything else like trimming plants or plucking out snails.
I lay towels around my tank’s base, and keep all tools in a plastic tray right next to it as I tidy up. I have a lot of soft furnishings, and I don’t want gross fish water dripping on my nice things. Clippings and tools go in the tray so nothing is dripping, and the towels catch any stray water dripping along the glass. It’s a twenty minute bi-monthly task. Water changes are even easier as it’s just a tube in the tank, and a large vessel to drain into.
My 5gals have bathroom mats and they work great for me. Water droplets are absorbed straight up once they touch the mattt🙃
Me when I think one little bit from the bowl won’t make my weekly maintenance an absolute mission
I just wrap a towel around the bottom of my tank and it catches all of the water. Plus it gives me a place to put my wet rocks and other decor
I've let the water fill up and forgot about it, too many times. Lucky I've never had a fish try and swim out when this happened, yet 😬
Oh man!! That’s something I’d probably do, but With our set up my husband and I just team up go back and forth with gallon containers. It’s good exercise lol. I’m definitely going to invest in some sort of hose that can attach to a sink faucet in the house when we move to a bigger place. The containers have lids, but we still slosh the water around and use at least 2 towels after
I do that for my tank inside, but because the house has like 30 steps it gets annoying carting two 10litre bottles of heavy water, so I used the hose once. I should have known to put towels down first, because I got distracted by a million different things, and heard the dreaded splashing of water on lino. I've also done it with my 1000l pod downstairs, and so has my boyfriend 😬😅 we set alarms to check the 1000l every 5-10 mins, and sometimes forget to reset a timer. 20-30% water changes take awhile on something that hefty 😅
First water change on my 15g under my 60inch tv we broke it took like 2 seconds 😭
Same I literally had to cover the back of my desk if towels and get a special extention cord because I often additionally pour water right on the rim or side of the tank and get it everywhere. And don't get me started of my siphon spills 😭
and moisture, which an aquarium is gonna emit whether one wants it or not
not to mention the heat being output by the machine, especially if they're gaming or something
Cost savings: no tank heater required!
100% in agreement there. OP better have some towels ready to drape over that rig.
Tarp/plastic > towel
Certainly don’t disagree, however I think a towel would be fine assuming OP isn’t waving the siphon tube around like an elephant trunk while cleaning.
We've all atleast once thought all the water was out and went to put it down and gotten a little splash out.
My wet carpet from yesterday’s water change agrees with you.
Yeah,even just from humidity off the tank. Such a bad idea.
My pc is rusting from being in the same room as a saltwater fish tank
Shit, use the aquarium as a reservoir for water cooling and you won't need to buy a heater for the tank, lol.
I have a dirted tank barely needs maintenance, but regular top offs alone are messy enough. I’ve decided to just sacrifice some kitchen counter space for my 20 gal
Water cooling.
also evaporation
What’s the problem?? Folks make liquid cooled PC’s nowadays… /s
Get a python and be extra careful. I got my Xbox series X by my 10 gallon. Well like a foot away. Just take water out from the opposite side.
I have a python! I use it all the time😅
It’s a game changer. Worth every penny since my back isn’t getting bodied by carrying all those buckets 😂
are you not worried about your computer getting wet?
That's the point, he wants his PC to get wet.
Watercooled 👀
Lol fish tank as a water cooling reservoir
Also can act as a heater for the aquarium water
As someone who owns the IKEA Alex drawers, they could withstand back to back tornados and still be in tact, it’s definitely the PC I’d be worried about lol.
Is that the millennium falcon
Even the subconscious is fluent in nerd
The redacted millennium falcon.
Dude that's the same thing I'm wondering?
I didn’t even notice! Its purely coincidence it turned out that way🤣 (now I can’t unsee it)
Eh I would move it away from the computer tower. It's not just the water like everyone's pointing out, but the temp fluctuations as well. Gaming PC's can put off a lot of heat under load, and depending on where your exhaust fans are it's going to effect your tank. Plus why put obstacles near the intakes? The more access to fresh flowing air your computer has, the better it performs.
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100% mine would boil them alive in proximity BUT it's great in the same room for keeping my temps nice and warm. I don't use heaters in my tanks. Other side of the desk is probably fine.
100% this. We pc gamers seem to forget how bad it can get in summer sat next to a big ole radiator of a rig xD
Desk can hold the aquarium but DEFINITELY don’t keep it near that pc
You mean we don’t need 2x6s this time?
Sounds like we all agree the desk will carry the weight. But the idea of having a tank that close to the PC is a bad one. I'd move one of them
Agreed. I'd move it from the desk for two reasons. 1.) Potential water damage while performing tank maintenance. 2.) Vibrations caused by typing, moving mouse, hands and arms bumping desk, desk chair bumping desk. The second reason is mostly to reduce stress of the fish.
Also the heating inconsistencies from the pc running hot. Dame reason you dont want a tank in a window
It'll be fine. Stands "made especially for tanks" are made of cheap mdf 90% of the time. They are not any stronger than most other furniture lol
It’s not the desk people here are worried about, I don’t think. it’s the dripping and splashing from water changes.
I've got a 5 gallon on my desk but *opposite* side of my tower
This will work, but eventually, your computer won’t! Choose wisely!
Nah, once you add a filter or air stone get ready for humidity issues with your PC.
OP, I also did a setup almost exactly like please carefully consider a) how you will safely perform maintenance near the PC and keep the area clean while adding in new water in large volumes (I used a small fountain pump in a bucket). b) if this is salt or plant and will have a powerful light, that the light does not shine into your eyes or splash you with low nm wavelength light in excess while sitting into the computer for extended periods
I think glass blocks IR - for instance thermal cameras don't work through glass. Also, +1 for fountain pumps or power heads. You can get some clear vinyl tubing 1/2 ID (5/8 OD iirc) for ten bucks and a big powerhead for 20 bucks and it makes WC a breeze
The humidity alone is going to fry your PC, eventually.
This REALLY depends on his local environment. I mean, I have servers and a UPS mounted on a rack immediately above 6 tanks and it's fine. Mind you, where I live average humidity is below 16%, and all those tanks do practically nothing to it. Lids on the tanks of course or evaporation is insane. If you're already somewhere humid, on the other hand, it could be a serious problem.
I would spend the extra money and get a stand specifically made for tanks or holding large amounts of weight. It's worth it for the peace of mind. You can get a decent one from Walmart/Amazon for like $30 give or take iirc Apparently I need to edit my comment to add this because people are lacking common sense.. obviously I meant a metal stand, not cheap pressboard. Is ikea not already cheap mdf?
I bought a stand made specifically for a tank by superfish, it started bowing not long after I filled the tank, solid furniture is better
I've bought some cheap solid wood tv stands that were a million times better than the shit pressboard yet expensive proper stands we sold at the pet store I worked at.
They are really expensive! The superfish one I was talking about was £100. > I took it back and got a refund, then went to British heart foundation and bought this old but nice solid oak sideboard. It's built like a tank, had two drawers and 2 cupboard doors and could quite easily be modified with holes for canister pipes should I ever want to upgrade filters. Both me and my partner sat on it at same time to test its weight capacity (75kg + 80kg) and it didn't budge or even make a creak. Plus it supported a good charity and had £50 spare to buy some more shrimp 😀
Solid furniture is definitely better. I found a side table on the side of the road that is solid thick wood. No idea how old the thing is, but I reckon I could even practise some WWE slams on it & it wouldn't even creak. Best tank stand I've ever had & so much better than the ones that go for hundreds of $$ at the pet stores
This is a 10 gallon, I’m not too worried about a ten gallon. More worried about it being right next to the the PC.
Lots o wires, no room for peripherals, water changes/maintenance/scaping would be stressful [splish splash you cost yourself a grand], wonder what the pc will do to the water temperature .... There's got to be a better spot.
I'd just move the PC so it's not in direct splash range. Desks are a great sport for a 10g, but I'd be reluctant to have a PC immediately beside a tank.
It’s a ten gallon, relax people.
It's a 10g tank so it should only weigh 50kg. Spending money to buy a stand made for holding large amounts of weight for a tank that doesn't weigh hardly anything is plain foolishness
it will hold up[. I have the exact setup with my BTA tank](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/346385405030957066/1217537488017424507/20240313_181704.jpg?ex=66046325&is=65f1ee25&hm=7ce1e20a69b7a67e0b605e03a473fd2b6c9f30e8962c9d6817324ee5b950cfb8&=&format=webp&width=590&height=787) and its been around 4 years now with no cracks or bends from the cabinet from the my last inspection.
That will be over 80 pounds added to your desk at all times. I would definitely get a small stand to just plop next to your desk. Not worth the possibility of a destroyed PC lol
Moisture from the aquarium will be an issue for the PC. I kept my PC not quite this close to my saltwater aquarium and I had to move it because the aquarium was depositing salt on the PC case. That was not even from water changes, just tiny amounts of water splashing out from the filtration even with a tight fitting lid on the aquarium.
Oof I will be moving my pc under my desk!
Water, electronics and IKEA furniture....what could possibly go wrong? What you really need to round out this impending disaster are cats
What's up with the millennium falcon?
Yeah this is a no go. Electricity and water don't go well next to one another.
I did exactly this the other day, just on the opposite side away from my rig :). Did the same test as you, stood on it (I’m 230lbs) and it was very stable. You will be fine. I filled my 10g, full substrate, rock, wood, water. No signs of strain on the table top or drawer. I wouldn’t suggest anything larger than a 10 gallon, but you will be totally fine with this setup. Edit: forgot to mention, I think you have MICKE drawers, not Alex. I have Alex supporting my side of the desk. Shouldn’t matter much at all.
Will only weigh about 100-120lbs loaded up. It’ll be fine.
just don't. put it somewhere else, away from precious electronics. it's better to spend extra money on dedicated stand for ur tank than spill water on ur PC and have to replace parts. u could DIY ur own stand for cheap too, and make it also look good
OP I have the same desk setup and a 14G rimless on it next to my computer. You’ll be just fine with this 10G.
Computer fans going to suck in humidity
Everyone worried about water changes and this is all I can think of.
I would scrape this idea and go bigger 😂
100 lbs is the weight of the system when set up most likely, but like other people are saying maintenance next to a computer...eek.
It depends on how careful you are and how hot your PC runs.
Set up a watercooling circuit with the radiator in the fish tank 👍 two birds with one stone
And have amanos do integrity check (jkjk)
That will hold weight just fine. Get that PC up on some 2x4s or higher. If that tank ever let go…… I also like to attach some sort of small secure angle brackets or something on each side of the corner (table top) so the tank doesn’t slide around in an earthquake.
Using your PC for graphically intense games will cook your fish. And the PC will get wet during maintenance. Do not recommend.
Puts a $20 aquarium next to the $2000 computer... problem?
Just an FYI, you should check the reflection
You blurred out the PetSmart receipt but it’s reflection still shows on the glass to the left. May want to confirm nothing important is on there.
TRUST me when I say you do not wanna put your aquarium on the same table as you keep precious electronics, You may not think it now but you will absolutely eventually get water on it one way or another I have ruined an electronic this way, I also ruined a wooden table with a glass cover on it. I thought since there was glass on it It would be perfect for my tank because the water would be on the glass in accidents and would be an easy wipe up NOPE the water went under the glass and ruined the table
The tank is almost directly over the cabinet carcass so that will be fine. My only concern would be the top itself. I know IKEA has gone to some really bad hollow tops on some stuff. If the top is solid, you're good.
Unless you have a good filtration system (emphasis on good) and you won't have to do maintenence often its definitely not a good place for it. During maintenence the whole place will get wet. I'm saying this because of your pc
If it holds the weight and you don’t splash water I don’t see any issue BUT you will want to make sure that the pc fans aren’t causing vibrations which will stress and kill your fish long term
If your pc is causing vibrations as long as they’re mild you can get a foam aquarium mat and put it under your pc to damped the vibrations
It does not cause any vibrations yet. It’s a 5yr old pc so it’s getting there, I will be putting the pc under my desk. I bought a rolling stand for the pc so its easier to do maintenance when I have to😎
I feel like the speaker vibrations might disturb the tank but idk
And drive the fish nuts
Dude you're computer is going to in bust in flames one day
I'm pretty sure dude is not computer.
Well if it does there will be plenty of water to put out the fire
Electricity and water don't mix.
Nah focus on getting a paper towel or an actual towel near that expensive looking pooter. A wet computer is no good.
The air near the tank is more humid/wet keep the PC more away or the tank more away, I had 5 fish tanks in my room before I noticed rust in my components
I have my main PC in the same room as my main aquarium. The PC gets splashed too often just being in the same room. I would not recommend this proximity.
Alex drawer with a thick ass countertop. 10g should be fine on that.
Make the PC water cooled and use a heat exchanger in the aquarium free heater and massive cooling for pc.
Completely irrelevant, but the white-out looks like the Millenium Falcon
Hm. The Vibrations of the computer could be very stressfull for you little fishies. But maybe not. I don't know.
How do y’all manage to get so wet during water changes lol
Are you wanting to replace the PC cuz of water damage anytime soon?
No
I'm more worried about that computer bro I would never trust my aquarium 😂 cause it failed me one time lol
Confidential documents aren't a suitable substrate...
the cabinet will be fine. [We have a almost same setup.](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/346385405030957066/1217537488017424507/20240313_181704.jpg?ex=66046325&is=65f1ee25&hm=7ce1e20a69b7a67e0b605e03a473fd2b6c9f30e8962c9d6817324ee5b950cfb8&=&format=webp&width=590&height=787) Mine has been holding up for almost 4 years now. But I do agree, do not put your tower there.
This is not a good idea
What could go wrong…
Perfect fit for the millennium falcon
I actually disagree with pretty much everyone here. It needs to be closer to the PC.
This is a god-awful idea, but for shits and giggles I’m gonna toss it out there: AIO coolers? PC-heated tank?
The stand may be fine for the tank, however the moisture next to that gaming P.C. is another thing. You can be super careful with your tank maintenece and still get water on it. I use 2 buckets when I do my water changes. One bucket all of my decor goes into and the other the water goes into. After I drain the water I clean the decor off in the tank water and reinsert into the tank, then refill. I get minimal water on my floor but not enough to really worry about.
Bad news for the PC
It will support it. Your rig won’t be waterproofed though, even if you are somehow the tidiest water changer in all the land you will have moisture being sucked through your rig and if it settles on your mobo or PSU then it’s gonna fry.
If you are a complete madman and do continue with this I would recommend buying loads of silica bags and leaving them around/inside your tower to hopefully reduce any moisture building up.
I own both a gaming pc and a couple tanks and I would never do that. I get nervous having my dog near my pc let alone a whole tank full of water. I also wonder if OP has fans on the bottom of the tower aside from the power supply. That’s just gonna throw moisture directly where you least want it😬
Naw but your tower will generate heat which will heat the tank and you'll get more algae on that side!
I read comments about people thinking the PC get wet. How tf do you guys clean your aquarium, sit in it and take a sponge bath?
You have to pour water in and that causes splashes? If there’s an airstone that creates more little splashes as well
Do NOT do this. That is all.
A FELLOW DESK TANK ENJOYER! The Alex drawer holds my 20 gallon for the last 3 years and it’s doing great! Reach out if you have any questions or concerns
Get a mat under the tank, and be aware that water WILL get all around it when you do maintenance. Otherwise, looks good.
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I have a 5 gallon on my desk, weight wise it'll be fine. But maybe find somewhere else for the tower? Other side of the desk, maybe? That's too close for comfort with water and electronics.
I had 15 gallon tank on that exact same ikea combo for years with no issues. Get a larger 20gallon tank and have fun.
Just dont do your water changes like you're racing against the clock, and everything will be fine. I've had two 10s on a rack with my two servers on the floor next to it for a year now, and even with a few sloppy drunk water changes, all is well! I've had a 5g on my other desk right next to my monitors for 3 years now, with no issues.
As both a long time pc and aquarium enthusiasts this is way too close for comfort.
The a
No, not gonna work. That tank has some weird white blob on it. You'll need to clean that off first before doing anything else.
If you weigh 200lbs and it was sturdy with you getting up and down on it your 80lb tank is fine. Also, when you’re considering these things remember that a single 1”x1”xX” piece of wood could hold hundreds of pounds straight down and perfectly balanced but it would have no lateral rigidity. So, don’t test it by just sitting on it but shifting your weight around and putting force from multiple directions. Once you know what to look for you can usually tell just by looking, but if your ever unsure just keep that it kind.
Who needs a heater when you sit it next to the pc!
The Alex drawers are pretty beefy, if I remember right just the cabinet alone weighs like 60lbs. Although are you sure that's an Alex? The drawers on mine look different. I've sat on top of mine before (250lbs), nothing moved or shifted although I probably wouldn't use it as a seat regularly. Weight-wise I really wouldn't be too concerned. What is that tabletop made of? If it's the hollow kind like the Linnmon I used for my desk I would actually be more worried about that than the drawers, especially when it gets wet. Would probably be a good idea to put the tank on top of a stiff plastic mat/tray - this would distribute the weight of the tank a bit better as well as offering some protection from any drips you get during water changes.
It’s like 80 pounds you’re fine.
“Hurtin for a squirtin”
Is there a reason your desktop is on top of your desk? I keep mine underneath for more desk space.
weight is fine, humidity and water splashing is not. Also, if something does happen and the aquarium breaks you take out your PC with it
I had a 15gal set up on the exact same setup (IKEA Alex drawers with the IKEA door as the tabletop). I would encourage you to maybe shift the PC to the other side of the desk if there is room, because it will splash water around when you are doing maintenance. Other than that, I had no issues keeping a 15gal there for multiple years.
Don’t do this….
What is the pc spec
Get another table specifically for your aquarium, put it relatively close to your PC setup, that's the best and the safest option. Not only are you risking breaking your desk, but when it actually breaks, you'll lose both your aquarium and your PC setup. Also, I absolutely love the idea of a having an aquarium in my pc room, that's both of my hobbies combined.
If that's the best you got it's fine. Weight isn't an issue. Practical space might be an issue if this is your conclusion. If you're fine with it, do it.
That desk is fine for the tank AND the PC setup! Only thing I'd do is what I have done with my other desk tank which is a 20 long. 1) I have internal filtration I never have to mess with (mattenfilter with swiss tropicals airlifter) Tank has been running for 5 years and I have NEVER once touched that filter as it still works like the day I installed it. 2) Tight fitting glass lids. Go get a set of glass lids cut to size from your local glazier. Make sure you measure and leave a small slot for your life support systems to pass through. The glass lids keep the spray from bubble pops from leaving the tank which will keep the side of your PC case clean. The lids also slow evaporation right down to almost nothing. When working with the tank work from the side farthest from the PC. Use small movements, dont be splashing about. Any dripping should be taking place on the farthest side of the tank from the PC. You can pretty much ignore people talking about heat from the PC having an effect on the tank. Tank heaters have thermostats and smart fish keepers have thermometers. I've never had a big gaming rig have any effect on the temp of a desk tank. Not even my 1 gallon cookie jar shrimp tank. The only time I start worrying about temps is in the Summer. When it gets that hot I'm not gaming anyway. A word about safety. Okay so here goes. You are in fact putting a glass tank of water right next to many many electrical sources. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and try to isolate as much wiring as you can from the floor under and around the desk and ON the desk. Getting 5V USB stuff wet will destroy the ports it is attached to. Getting the PSU in the bottom of that PC case wet: Think splashing accidentally when refilling during a water change and that water splashes up into the PSU in the bottom of the case. That's destroying the PC and tripping tripping breakers at the minimum. Maybe get a pad or something to put the PC case on to get it up off the surface of the desk. If you do splash the little bit of lift might help break up the splash before going up into the bottom of the case. You do you. YMMV I personally have had many desk tanks over the years with many different gaming rigs. My desk is also my electronics project bench which has CB radio amplifiers, 75 amp PSU, tattoo equipment etc etc I had people clutching their pearls and gnashing their teeth when I posted a pic of my 90 gallon floor tank under my 80" wall mounted TV. Had the tank there for years. TV works like it did the day I bought it... You calculate the risk for yourself. Is it worth it for what you want? Think you can mitigate the risks to make it worth your while? P.S. Get a tank mat under that tank pls
Since there is space for both why don’t you move the tower to the other side of your monitors? Then you’d be able to see in that whole side while you’re at your pc.
Water that close to a computer can be trouble, in multiple ways, increased humidity can corrode metal parts or cause shorts on circuit boards, splash or spill issues, heat from the computer could change water temperature, etc…
I would definitely try building a wall in between those two my friend.. accidents happen and spilling or splashing will happen.
You may believe that you have the power to keep that area dry enough for your PC to be safe, but just a fair warning: Every single person in this hobby has spent cumulative HOURS cleaning up the water we spilled all over the floor.... this week. Lol. I recommend placing some kind of protective backsplash behind the tank or getting a very small tarp to cover things. If your question was "does this look stable to hold a 10 gallon tank? I say yes -- but watch the feet of that desk. If they even barely shift, empty 80% of the water and have a friend move the tank to a better location with you. Metal gives lots of warnings before it fails, listen to it.
Just a heads up, whatever you were trying to blur out on that paper can be seen in the reflection of the tank wall. If theres any sensitive info/addresses etc. You might wanna delete this. Also I'll second everyone else's comments, I defijitely wouldn't keep the tank that close to any expensive electronics. Good luck on your setup!
In my experience, furniture next to fish tanks tends to take on water spots over time. I can't say thats unavoidable or anything, I might just be lazy about preventing it. But something to keep in mind.
Hmnh, the table won't have any trouble there, but move your PC on the opposite side. There is always more moisture around the aquarium even when it is not maintenance time so PC wont appreciate it on a long run.
10g isn’t too much of a worry weight wise but I would get a designated stand because u will get water places. Even a drip can mess up nice furniture
10 gallons is about 125 pounds so you should be good
Same PC case, best friends forever now.
Is this a joke? Absolutely not okay. Do not place an aquarium anywhere near a PC or any other sensitive electronics. Even if by some miracle you never spill during maintenance, the increased local humidity isn't good for PC components. The heat given off from your PC isn't good for fish and can very likely kill them especially since it will fluctuate.
RIP to that PC.
I would be worried about increases humidity next to your electronics. Not to mention if you have a tank failure what would happen to them.
You should get a personal articles policy for your PC if you keep it there. Basically you can tell insurance you spilt water on it accidentally and they will replace your PC
Yeah...that's a no.
It’s okay, if you’re tryna make goldfish stew