CAGE-RATTLER
12-30-2005, 01:39 AM
I stopped over costco and they only had one model of the gorilla racks but it was just what i was looking for.
I love the finish on it (not that its real important)........... its called silver vein and looks like a black & silver metal flake.
Now instead of having 5/8ths particle board for shelves ........... this one has 5/8th grey Melamine laminated shelves that are supposedly resistant to moisture, alkaline, oils & some acids. The laminate is on top & bottom and all sides and looks to be sealed very well.
Looking at the gorilla rack website i dont see anything with these type of shelves so im assuming its a new product or version of one of the others.
The model # is GRZ8460-WDI or GRZ8460 - 5
Its 48 x 18 x 72 with 5 shelves and shelf weight limit is 1500 pounds each and it has the Z bar braces.
This model can be setup as a storage rack or a workbench or you could have 2 - 36 inch racks. The uprights are split in the middle and theres an insert that goes into the top and bottom upright to tie them together. Unfortunately that insert is plastic which i wasnt crazy about. BUT ......... the way its designed the middle shelf locks into both the top and bottom to also lock them together so i dont think its really weak in that area. The downside to that is the middle shelf has to be at the middle point giving you less flexabilty to position shelves!! With it like that .... the middle shelf sits 36.5 inches off the ground.
Im trying now to figure out the shelf positioning for them to fit my tanks.
At the moment im just using that middle shelf right where it is and going from there. Now i have to figure out if i should put the 55 on the bottom shelf or on the middle shelf.
If i put it on the bottom shelf it will only be 6.5 inches off the ground and leave a gap at the top of 6.75 inches to the bottom of the middle brace.
The shelves can be adjusted up or down in increments of 1.5 inches.(but i cat move the middle one)
If i put the 55 on the middle shelf & the 29 on the bottom the 29 would be higher off the ground by 3 inches since its only 18 inches high compared to the 55 at 21 inches high.
I was hoping to have 3 racks of tanks and put some 20's & 10's on the top shelf but im starting to wonder if that will be possible. I was also hoping to store some other things on the very top ............. but that wont be possible if i do use 3 rows for tanks.
Im really starting to wish i had shorter and wider tanks now .... grrrrr. Both the 55 & 29 is only 12.5 wide and the shelves are 18.5 wide so im not utilizing the space efficiently............ and with shorter tanks ........ a 3rd row wouldnt be a problem.
Heres a pic of the 8460 model on the gorilla rack site.
Everything is the same except the one i have has the laminated shelves.
http://www.gorillarack.com/products/storage/250X250/GRZ-8460-5.jpg
By the way it only costs $64.99
Im looking for suggestions as to where to position the shelves and how to lay the tanks out. Not sure if the breeder tanks will be ok on the bottom or the grow out tank on the bottom and if 6.5 inches off the ground is to low for either?
I guess i could sit the whole thing on some 4 x 4's and raise the whole thing up but that would probably look a bit tacky. This is in the back room of my house which is also my office. (not that many customers come here)
I love the finish on it (not that its real important)........... its called silver vein and looks like a black & silver metal flake.
Now instead of having 5/8ths particle board for shelves ........... this one has 5/8th grey Melamine laminated shelves that are supposedly resistant to moisture, alkaline, oils & some acids. The laminate is on top & bottom and all sides and looks to be sealed very well.
Looking at the gorilla rack website i dont see anything with these type of shelves so im assuming its a new product or version of one of the others.
The model # is GRZ8460-WDI or GRZ8460 - 5
Its 48 x 18 x 72 with 5 shelves and shelf weight limit is 1500 pounds each and it has the Z bar braces.
This model can be setup as a storage rack or a workbench or you could have 2 - 36 inch racks. The uprights are split in the middle and theres an insert that goes into the top and bottom upright to tie them together. Unfortunately that insert is plastic which i wasnt crazy about. BUT ......... the way its designed the middle shelf locks into both the top and bottom to also lock them together so i dont think its really weak in that area. The downside to that is the middle shelf has to be at the middle point giving you less flexabilty to position shelves!! With it like that .... the middle shelf sits 36.5 inches off the ground.
Im trying now to figure out the shelf positioning for them to fit my tanks.
At the moment im just using that middle shelf right where it is and going from there. Now i have to figure out if i should put the 55 on the bottom shelf or on the middle shelf.
If i put it on the bottom shelf it will only be 6.5 inches off the ground and leave a gap at the top of 6.75 inches to the bottom of the middle brace.
The shelves can be adjusted up or down in increments of 1.5 inches.(but i cat move the middle one)
If i put the 55 on the middle shelf & the 29 on the bottom the 29 would be higher off the ground by 3 inches since its only 18 inches high compared to the 55 at 21 inches high.
I was hoping to have 3 racks of tanks and put some 20's & 10's on the top shelf but im starting to wonder if that will be possible. I was also hoping to store some other things on the very top ............. but that wont be possible if i do use 3 rows for tanks.
Im really starting to wish i had shorter and wider tanks now .... grrrrr. Both the 55 & 29 is only 12.5 wide and the shelves are 18.5 wide so im not utilizing the space efficiently............ and with shorter tanks ........ a 3rd row wouldnt be a problem.
Heres a pic of the 8460 model on the gorilla rack site.
Everything is the same except the one i have has the laminated shelves.
http://www.gorillarack.com/products/storage/250X250/GRZ-8460-5.jpg
By the way it only costs $64.99
Im looking for suggestions as to where to position the shelves and how to lay the tanks out. Not sure if the breeder tanks will be ok on the bottom or the grow out tank on the bottom and if 6.5 inches off the ground is to low for either?
I guess i could sit the whole thing on some 4 x 4's and raise the whole thing up but that would probably look a bit tacky. This is in the back room of my house which is also my office. (not that many customers come here)