36" Melamine... Sag Problem?

[knox]

Anyone have any problems with sagging using a 3 ft. shelf of melamine?

I have some 110 qt tubs that I want to turn into display/rack enclosures. I will need a shelf 36in x 19in.

I could use some plastic shelving, but the shelves are 36in x 24in, and that extra 5 inches sticking out from the wall takes up precious space in my small apartment.

Thanks for the insight (and any other you have).

[ShiffyAME]

Most of the racks I have are around the 3' mark and I've never had a problem with them sagging. I built a 4' rack before and found there was a slight sag to that. It still worked but it wasn't perfect so i eventually tore it down and cut the pieces to make 2 smaller racks.

[OhhWatALoser]

I just built a rack for a 74q (44in x 20in tub) and there is some sag when weight it put on it, obviously this posed a problem with bedding, water, and a growing BRB on it. so I had to build each box separately to house the tubs and then put 1/4 inch spacers between the tub housings along the edge where the support is. it just keeps the weight off the box below it. worked like a charm. If it sounds too confusing I can take pictures for ya.

[knox]

Pics would be great.

I'll snap a few of my tubs. Be back in a few...

[knox]

Here it is - I have 3. The Cap'n is there for size reference. It is roughly 27 gallons.

[OhhWatALoser]

well the rack was covered to try to pretty it up a little bit, so you can't see what I did from the front really well so ill try this...

ok here the rack


and here the drawn on one


The black shows the top of the bottom housing and the bottom of the top housing, as you can see there is a space between them

Red shows where the spacer would run, pretend im drawing a 3d image lol. but yea it runs along the sides and back, where the support is, not along the front where there is none and thus keeping weight off the top of the housing below.

[knox]

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for taking the time to do that. I do appreciate it.

Oh, and nice engineering for the HVAC vent problem. Well done!

[OhhWatALoser]

Oh, and nice engineering for the HVAC vent problem. Well done!

lol yea, had to make it fit in my room somehow, so that's what I came up with lol. kinda sucks that BRB need a lower temp requirement, would be nice if i could just keep em with the rest of the reptiles. but functions as my night stand also.