Strength of garbage cans

GoLowDrew · 09/02/2008, 08:28 AM

I'm helping a friend work on moving his tank.

We got a garbage can to hold water.

Example:

45G and got wheels.

Question: I know it's hard to tell, but this is our first time. Will the garbage can strong enough to hold that much water?

45G of water will be 450lbs. Even if we fill it up to 30G and make two trips, that's still 300lbs.

The plastic on a 5G bucket feels strong. The garbage can plastic just don't feel very strong as it does flex. Do I need to worry? All garbage can plastic seem to flex, unless I get the household garbage collection can from the city.

I'm just worry that the can will collapse when we roll it across the living room.

Anyone got experience, please share.

ttuuk · 09/02/2008, 08:37 AM

If it was me, I would not use the type of trash can. The wheels would not hold all the weight w/o falling off. The Brute trash cans are a bit thicker and you can buy wheels that the can sits on to roll around the house if needed. Then you can use the can for your water changes. JMO

g8gxp · 09/02/2008, 08:46 AM

Brute's are better. Stronger, plus they are round not square, so the load is distributed better. water is only around 8.5 lbs per gallons so at 45 g you are looking at around 380 lbs. You're probably better off just getting some 5g gas cans and doing it that way.

GoLowDrew · 09/02/2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks guys for your opinion.

The thing is, we already bought one. I know your suggestion may be better.

Would you say our choice is a bad choice? Would you recommend us NOT to use it at all because the garbage can will not be able to hold the weight?

rhiggsbear · 09/02/2008, 10:31 AM

I would return it and buy a couple 32 gal. brutes. Split the volumn between them. I believe the lids are much better at keeping water in than the one you have pictured. also, you can used the brutes later to hold saltwater and cure rock. I don't think you may be able to do that with the cart.

will16 · 09/02/2008, 11:05 AM

My friend was using a square can like that. Sprung a leak around the handle. Square = corners = stress concentrations. Round is better. Everyone uses the brutes.

crvz · 09/02/2008, 11:21 AM

return it if you can, buy brutes and even the wheels for the brutes. If you decide to use that can, don't rely on the wheels. I'd get a dolly to move it around (either a hand truck or piano dolly). I could easily see that can be tipped backwards, you start rolling it, the wheels blow off, and then the water gets dumped everywhere. Now if you video tape it, it'd be good for a laugh, but probably not worth it all the same.

g8gxp · 09/02/2008, 11:24 AM

Just me personally, but I would recommend that you NOT use them, hopefully you can return to recoup the cost. It doesn't look like the lid locks down like the other kind, which is asking for all sorts of trouble, especially when you start moving it around.

cdness · 09/02/2008, 12:25 PM

A friend of mine just moved his 125 with a can like that. He filled it half to 3/4 full and the wheels wouldn't help it along. Also then you have a major stress point and can easily crack the can.

Your main worry is breaking it when moving through the living room.... if this is true then get rid of the can. If you like to gamble go ahead and let us know the results...

.

mindytoy · 09/02/2008, 01:24 PM

dude just fill it up with tap water, and try moving it. if it bends and spills your water then dont use it. i used a rubermaid 50 galon container, that thing flexed like putty, only 35 gallons made it back home, the rest RIP in my moms van's carpet.

09/02/2008, 08:28 AM	#1
GoLowDrew No Title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 390	Strength of garbage cans I'm helping a friend work on moving his tank. We got a garbage can to hold water. Example: 45G and got wheels. Question: I know it's hard to tell, but this is our first time. Will the garbage can strong enough to hold that much water? 45G of water will be 450lbs. Even if we fill it up to 30G and make two trips, that's still 300lbs. The plastic on a 5G bucket feels strong. The garbage can plastic just don't feel very strong as it does flex. Do I need to worry? All garbage can plastic seem to flex, unless I get the household garbage collection can from the city. I'm just worry that the can will collapse when we roll it across the living room. Anyone got experience, please share. __________________ Thanks for answering my questions. Current Tank Info: 29G with 30lbs Live Rock, powerhead, one Clown fish.

09/02/2008, 08:46 AM	#3
g8gxp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 685	Brute's are better. Stronger, plus they are round not square, so the load is distributed better. water is only around 8.5 lbs per gallons so at 45 g you are looking at around 380 lbs. You're probably better off just getting some 5g gas cans and doing it that way. __________________ 120G mixed reef, 6105's, Kent Nautilus. DIY LED array, Profilux 3.

09/02/2008, 10:24 AM	#4
GoLowDrew No Title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 390	Thanks guys for your opinion. The thing is, we already bought one. I know your suggestion may be better. Would you say our choice is a bad choice? Would you recommend us NOT to use it at all because the garbage can will not be able to hold the weight? __________________ Thanks for answering my questions. Current Tank Info: 29G with 30lbs Live Rock, powerhead, one Clown fish.

09/02/2008, 10:31 AM	#5
rhiggsbear Another Brick in the Wall Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 571	I would return it and buy a couple 32 gal. brutes. Split the volumn between them. I believe the lids are much better at keeping water in than the one you have pictured. also, you can used the brutes later to hold saltwater and cure rock. I don't think you may be able to do that with the cart. __________________ Keep Reefin! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ¸. •´¯`•.¸.´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•...¸><((((º> ><((((º>`•.¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> •.¸.´¯`•.. ><((((º>

09/02/2008, 11:21 AM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	return it if you can, buy brutes and even the wheels for the brutes. If you decide to use that can, don't rely on the wheels. I'd get a dolly to move it around (either a hand truck or piano dolly). I could easily see that can be tipped backwards, you start rolling it, the wheels blow off, and then the water gets dumped everywhere. Now if you video tape it, it'd be good for a laugh, but probably not worth it all the same. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

09/02/2008, 08:37 AM	#2
ttuuk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 53	If it was me, I would not use the type of trash can. The wheels would not hold all the weight w/o falling off. The Brute trash cans are a bit thicker and you can buy wheels that the can sits on to roll around the house if needed. Then you can use the can for your water changes. JMO

09/02/2008, 11:05 AM	#6
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	My friend was using a square can like that. Sprung a leak around the handle. Square = corners = stress concentrations. Round is better. Everyone uses the brutes.

09/02/2008, 11:24 AM	#8
g8gxp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 685	Just me personally, but I would recommend that you NOT use them, hopefully you can return to recoup the cost. It doesn't look like the lid locks down like the other kind, which is asking for all sorts of trouble, especially when you start moving it around. __________________ 120G mixed reef, 6105's, Kent Nautilus. DIY LED array, Profilux 3.

09/02/2008, 12:25 PM	#9
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	A friend of mine just moved his 125 with a can like that. He filled it half to 3/4 full and the wheels wouldn't help it along. Also then you have a major stress point and can easily crack the can. Your main worry is breaking it when moving through the living room.... if this is true then get rid of the can. If you like to gamble go ahead and let us know the results.... __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

09/02/2008, 01:24 PM	#10
mindytoy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: el paso texas Posts: 1,696	dude just fill it up with tap water, and try moving it. if it bends and spills your water then dont use it. i used a rubermaid 50 galon container, that thing flexed like putty, only 35 gallons made it back home, the rest RIP in my moms van's carpet. __________________ beautiful ocean right at home Current Tank Info: 90 gal surfline, remora skimmer 120gal, 2 powerheads, 4 cooling fans, cbr HOB fuge, nova extreme 4x54t5, ac-300, 125lbs of live rock corals, etc!