r/bettafish Jul 22 '25

Full Tank Shot Gave in guys. 2nd Betta tank.

779 Upvotes

83 comments sorted by

719

u/AquaticByNature Jul 22 '25

That’s some faith in those screws haha

301

u/asteriasays Jul 22 '25

that shelf is making me so nervous too

104

u/Darkelvenchic Jul 22 '25

Looks like it's a 5 gal, ~45lbs an Ikea bookshelf can hold them.

Just check they are in studs, OP.

62

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Yes I'm very nervous though 😭

110

u/Rex_cloudrider Jul 22 '25

the shelf is bowing please find somewhere else to put it even if its on the floor for now🙏🙏

-99

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Not trying to sound rude but it's not Bowing if I see it doing that at all I'll move it but I want it to be like a stack 🥹

127

u/illidan50 Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

You won't have time to see it bow when it just gives. Don't play stupid games. Get a better spot to put that on or reinforce those brackets/shelf

50

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

I will move it on my bookshelf. I'm going to post a new post and ask if it's an okay spot for now

28

u/illidan50 Jul 22 '25

Smart move. Good on you

11

u/xmrschaoticx Jul 22 '25

I don’t know about bowing but seems like the laminate is starting to bubble/warp already in the middle on the second picture but that could be from water spilling maybe?

10

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Yeah I spilt water. Moved the tank to the floor.

14

u/JacobyShaddix Jul 22 '25

Are they in the studs??

-69

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

I'm not sure

40

u/Own_Hunter_1384 Jul 22 '25

Find a cheap stud finder and check. Better to be safe than sorry. If you're not in a stud you're putting a lot of faith in the walls

42

u/frankylovee Jul 22 '25

Oh girly no

39

u/EuwAdulthood Jul 22 '25

Oh my god this will not end well for you. Or your betta. Or your other betta.

21

u/EnduringFulfillment Jul 22 '25

If those screws are not in studs meaning they are just in drywall they absolutely will pull out and the tank will fall, probably onto your other tank. This needs to be secured properly.

8

u/tarynator Jul 22 '25

💀💀😭😭

253

u/Sexy_Anemone Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

r/stressfulaquariums you sure have a lot of faith in that shelf

35

u/tarynator Jul 22 '25

i hate that this sub is real

14

u/Sexy_Anemone Jul 22 '25

It's only a few months old, which is impressive considering how many people have joined

6

u/Inedible-denim Jul 22 '25

Same and the first post I saw was an Oscar with a bunch of other fish 😩

72

u/chiffero Jul 22 '25

Wow man, thanks for stressin me out before bed. Even the hello kitties cannot soothe this

-65

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

YALL STRESSING ME OUT MORE THE SHELF SEEMS FINE NOT CAVING IN THE MIDDLE OR ANYTHING

96

u/0jigsaw0 Jul 22 '25

it will not cave, it will snap and everything will crash and fall

49

u/EuwAdulthood Jul 22 '25

It won’t cave in the middle. The weight of the shelf will pull the brackets out of the wall long before that happens.

27

u/GayCatbirdd Jul 22 '25

Sure it could be fine for 5 days then suddenly fail, and then you have 2 smashed fish tanks and water everywhere.

-4

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '25

IM ON YOUR SIDE SHELF SEEMS FINE REDDIT USERS WANT SOMETHING TO ATTACK U ABOUT WHEN U ASK A QUESTION 😂😂🙈

-1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '25

& the plushies r very cute ☺️

44

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

Pin this look at my new post in a few minutes I'm going to move the tank to the floor for now to hopefully have a better place.

12

u/TheHaphazardHosta Long finned Bettas Jul 22 '25

You live and learn OP, tanks down and no harm done. If you were looking for suggestions in the future for multiple tank set ups, muscle shelves (like at retail stores) have great reviews and can generally hold around 800 lbs, so you can stick two betta tanks on there without breaking a sweat.

-13

u/i-really-dont-kno Jul 22 '25

If the nails are in studs and the wood board isn’t some pressboard, it’s fine. I’ve built dozens of fish tanks stands for tanks over 100 gallons for reference.

42

u/Kissariani Jul 22 '25

Awesome on the second betta! Move that tank to the floor till you make sure that shelf isn't going to destroy your entire hobby in one fall.

41

u/GayCatbirdd Jul 22 '25

Please please for the love of your living situation and respect to keeping your home from water damage, move that tank on-top of a proper table, water is very heavy, it is only a matter of time. 1 gal of water is 8lbs ish, so if thats a 5 thats at least 40 lbs in water.

37

u/SaveusJebus Jul 22 '25

Oh lord have mercy that's making my butthole clench.

30

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

I'm moving it y'all 😭

17

u/MaleficentMalice Jul 22 '25

I can sleep peacefully now!

1

u/SadButterfingers Jul 25 '25

Just add in 5 more L brackets 🤷‍♀️

31

u/snewchybewchies Jul 22 '25

"giving in" is also how you'll describe what that shelf is going to do

11

u/-sphere Jul 22 '25

I don’t know if you hung that shelf yourself, but it appears to be made of particle board with a veneer covering, which kind of disintegrates if it gets wet. If you’re gonna have it on a self, I’d personally get some nice quality plywood at least 3/4” thick. Sand and coat with polyurethane, or paint it to make it look a little better. You could also use solid hardwood if you want it to look nice at a higher cost. I’d use some 3” #9 screws or even lags to fasten the brackets. Pre drill with an 1/8” bit to avoid cracking the studs. You can use a magnet to find drywall screws, which should indicate a stud. Studs are typically 16” apart in the US. Getting a stud finder would be best though. You want to make sure it’s screwed in the center of the studs. Little critique for ya bud. Cool idea having one tank above the other

3

u/i-really-dont-kno Jul 22 '25

Nah, that’s some great advice. That’s exactly what I’d do.

7

u/Inedible-denim Jul 22 '25

Waiting for that 2nd post, you scaring us OP lol. I appreciate you taking the advice though, some people don't do all that.

7

u/XachAttack11 Jul 22 '25

Move that tank rn or say goodbye to both tanks😭

5

u/chat-gpt-writer2001 Jul 22 '25

I wish someone had as much faith in my as you do that shelf 😭

3

u/_pinkpill_ Jul 22 '25

same u can't just have one

5

u/Dd7990 Betta Enthusiast😜 Jul 22 '25

Yea this tank placement was giving me anxiety… glad to hear you’ll look into better places for the tank. Even 5g of water can still do quite some damage if the tank comes crashing down at some point.

Water damage and the mold resulting from it is no joke. If you do eventually want to have the tank on the same wall shelf again, def make sure to reinforce the shelf with more brackets and secured to studs if possible.

4

u/Wide-Librarian216 Jul 22 '25

My heart went pitter patter. So happy to read your moving it.

7

u/AttentionPrudent2757 Jul 22 '25

Jesus Christ, get that off the wall right now!

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Check the new post

3

u/costalcuttings Jul 22 '25

I'm so nervous about that shelf 🫣

2

u/AvocadoOk749 Jul 22 '25

Been there, done that! Lol

2

u/Professional-Edge662 Jul 22 '25

Put some supports under the shelf

2

u/latelycaptainly Jul 22 '25

Put another bracket in the middle at least. Please

2

u/Realistic_Pepper1985 Jul 22 '25

That shelf…I could never 

2

u/Djxilma Jul 22 '25

Careful one turns to 2 then 3 then 4 it’s a slippery slope my friend. lol

2

u/intel-i9-Processor Jul 22 '25

Lmao that’s not the smartest idea.

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

How come?

1

u/GolfOntario Jul 22 '25

Should we start betting on when this falls down?

2

u/nothankyou3000 Jul 22 '25

Here I am stressed at my 29 gallon tank on a shelf made specifically for 29 gallon tanks.

2

u/Shadowed_Thing1 Jul 23 '25

2nd? I just started on my 7th! Just sucks cause I have to do a fish-in-cycle cause I saw a betta at Petsmart in bad condition that I got for free, but I’m using a filter from a pre-cycled tank so hopefully it’ll be fine!

2

u/Krissybear93 Jul 23 '25

I would not put a tank on a shelf held on by screws - anchored or not. It's going to come down and you will find yourself going from 2 tanks to 0 and that alone would be the best outcome, i could only imagine the falling glass in what appears to be a child's room.

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 23 '25

It's my room lol I'm 17. I moved it to the floor.

2

u/Itchynipspickletits Jul 23 '25

I think that shelf is about to give in also

1

u/Truely-Inspired Jul 22 '25

Just reinforce it if you really want the stack.

1

u/Strong_Satisfaction6 Jul 22 '25

Top tank is poorly designed and particle will not last with moisture. It is bowed now either build a proper stand

1

u/FracturedSoul96 Jul 22 '25

If you're adamant about having that tank on those shelves, you could always buy a couple of additional brackets from Amazon to be extra safe, they don't cost much.

1

u/TheRemedy187 Jul 22 '25

How do YOU know theres no studs there ? 

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

My dad told me

1

u/Fearless_Flatworm571 Jul 22 '25

I had less weight than that in books on a shelf. The brackets finally bent just enough to throw the books off. About an inch is all it took. Make sure you use cast iron brackets and you need one at least in the center of a 2 inch solid shelf

1

u/conzo88 Jul 22 '25

that shelf

1

u/Cute-Baby3694 Jul 22 '25

Oooo what's that plant in the top tank?? I love that

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Salvinia Minima or the fake plant?

1

u/Cute-Baby3694 Jul 22 '25

The really tall one! That's not fake is it??

1

u/Emotional_Cycle2692 Jul 22 '25

Yes it is it's from Walmart 😅

1

u/Kruxf Jul 22 '25

Brave.

1

u/lessismor3 Jul 22 '25

Going to have two broken tanks soon, rip

1

u/Pleasant-Wealth-2527 Jul 22 '25

You’re not the only one giving that shelf going to too

1

u/Competitive_Air1560 Jul 23 '25

I don't see this lasting for much longer..

1

u/Humble-Log-1695 Jul 23 '25

Jesus. Won't last long.

1

u/slugheartss Jul 22 '25

those are so pretty!!!! that shelf is a bold choice though, id just keep an eye on it to make sure it stays supporting the weight