Will my tank end up in the basement?
- Thread starter efrank
- Start date
almarktool
Member
well is the tank going against a wall? if so what is underneith that wall on the first floor? if there is another wall just like it on the first floor then it is prob a load bearing wall and you might be ok if there is open space under the wall on the first floor then that would mean there prob is not any 2 x10 or 2 x 12's under it and i would def not try it, if the builder is around your best bet would be to have him stop by and ask him he will know what is under the area you wish to put the tank and should be able to tell u if it is safe or not to put 250lr 150ls 800h20 glass tank 125 total approx 1500 lbs
slick
Active Member
I though about the weight of my 90g tank being a problem too. So this is what I did. I went and bought 2 8ft long 2x10's and cut them in half. Then I nailed the 2 halfs together to make a 4ft long piece. Then you can use a couple 2x4's or whatever to prop them up undernieth the beams the tank will sit on. Make sure if you use 2x4's to double them up to make them stong enough. IMO it's better to be safe than sorry. 1200 to 1500 lbs is a lot of weight to add onto ANY floor.
demosthenes
Active Member
Very nice thinking JeffandNance. LOL
efrank
Member
Ok here is what I found out. I talked to a builder and he said that any floor is made to handle 200lbs per sqf. He said that my tank will be no problem at all. It is 4 feet by 2 feet for a total of 8 square feet. 8 sqf at 200lbs is 1600 lbs with no problem.
Here's an interesting point he made, he said your foot doesn't take up a whole sqf, so stand on it and see what happens. That means that if I stand on one foot (I weigh 200lbs) I am fine.
He seemed pretty sure of himself. What do you all think?
Here's an interesting point he made, he said your foot doesn't take up a whole sqf, so stand on it and see what happens. That means that if I stand on one foot (I weigh 200lbs) I am fine.
He seemed pretty sure of himself. What do you all think?
smalltimer
Member
I had 150 with stand, canopy, lighing, sump, 200 lbs live rock, and floor started to feel a little weak when you walked up on it after about 6 months, I would beaf it up a little if you can, better safe than sorry water weighs 8.xxx, can't remember say 9 lbs per gallon, so your at 1080 with the water alone, tank, say 150, stand, 120, canopy 80, sump with water say 40 gallon, thats 360, live rock 1 lbs per gallon, not much rock, 120 lbs, say 20 for misc. lets seee that's 1930 lbs......... up to you !!!!!!!!!!!!!11
smalltimer
Member
check this link
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/Fi...conversion.htm
1 gallon of water = 8.34 pounds
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/Fi...conversion.htm
1 gallon of water = 8.34 pounds
frankl15207
Member
Originally posted by Efrank
I thought water was 6lbs per g? Anyone?
With rock, sand, etc and weight of the tank and stand, you are looking at 10 - 12 pounds per gallon.
slick
Active Member
Ok you said your tank is going on the second floor right?
So your bedroom is on the thrid floor.
Do you have a basement? If so I don't understand why you cant add support to the floor. I'm sure you have a way to get under the floor because you said it will be sitting on 2 beams that run side to side. How would you know if you didn't look under the floor?
So your bedroom is on the thrid floor.
Do you have a basement? If so I don't understand why you cant add support to the floor. I'm sure you have a way to get under the floor because you said it will be sitting on 2 beams that run side to side. How would you know if you didn't look under the floor?
mr.flameangel
Member
just put it on the first floor if it is going to be that big of a problem.
marc42fe
Member
O ne way to spread the weight out is to put a piece of 1-1/4" subfloor under your stand. Then for every inch you extend front or back you add 48 square inches to the equasion plus you can insure that there are 2 or 3 floor joists bridging your tank. This also flattens the carpet out more uniformly and makes repair and clean up easier if you move.
slick
Active Member
Efrank ok you really need to listen to me.
Go down into the basement and add support to the floor that is above your head. From what you have told us there is NO reason you can't add support to the floor. It's totally up to you but I wouldn't take the chance of f***ing up my floor.
Go down into the basement and add support to the floor that is above your head. From what you have told us there is NO reason you can't add support to the floor. It's totally up to you but I wouldn't take the chance of f***ing up my floor.