tank weight

[DAVE G.]

Bought a 120g then started guessing how much it would weigh?1200lbs?I know you guys have big tanks!Should I be concerned about the weight on the floor(wood not concrete).
Thanks,
DMG

[ScottC]

Welcome aboard, Dave

Water = @8.4 lbs. per gallon, so just round it up to 10.

You'll have to account for the stand, the hood, the lights (ballasts can get heavy) and the filtration systems.

Then...are you going with a reef? Then you need to add in the weight of the sand bed, and of course all the rock you'll need to fill it. You have a 120g, so thats about 200-260 lbs of live rock.

I have a 150, so I figure the floor is holding up about 1 ton of weight. I'm on the 2nd floor, concrete construction.

Scott

[sff1334]

if you are spanning several floor joist you should be O.K., if you plan on putting your tank in a location where it runs the same direction as floor joist your looking for trouble.I've got a 140 gal. made with 1/2" glass on my main floor with nop problems.
sff1334 journyman carpenter

[DAVE G.]

thanks
kindda what I thought,where I really want to put it sounds like a bad choice.I have to put it against the outside wall it will just partially be in front of sliding door(the side that don't open),it won't get that much light anyway and will cover about 1' of door!just so I can keep it.
I bought it at an auction and didn't really think about all that weight.
it's a RR Oceanic got great deal
Just had to hear from you guys it had me worried!
still a little worried.thanks again
thanks
DMG

[sff1334]

Dave
Just one more thought,keeping in mind the joist thing,the safest place for a tank is against an outside wall or an inside wall that is sitting on a beam. The closer you get to the center of the joist span the more deflection (bow) you will get from added wieght.
sff1334

[DAVE G.]

so I guess it won't create a problem on the outside wall?
thanks again,DMG

[johnf]

I think a smaller tank, say a 72 bow placed next to the patio door and a 65g placed where the sofa table used to be is your best bet. Let's swap.

[DAVE G.]

You're pulling my leg>right

[Ace]

I am a little concerned myself. I have a 90 in a corner of a room. Both walls are outside walls. The floor joists run parallel to the tank. I have had a 75g there for two years with no problem. Should I worry? By the way I am on the first floor with a cellar underneath and the house is old.

Thanks!

[sff1334]

Ace
I can only speak with confidence on newer construction where codes were followed. BTW kitchens and baths require a higher live load rating in Canada. With an old home your best bet would be to measure joist size and distance of span (outside wall to beam) and call an engineer or trade school and speek to a carpenter instructor.Having said that if the 75 Gal. was fine the 90 gal. will likely be OK too
sff1334

[Ace]

Thanks for the info.
I'll check out the joist size in the morning.

Ace

[Iron Crab]

My tank will come in to about 2100 lbs. My floor joists are a full 8"X 2" on 16" centers sitting on that I have 1" boards, 1/2" of an old oak floor, then another 3/4" of a new oak floor. Under that I have a 8" X 8" beam sittin' on two post jacks. Where the 180 is sitting I had a 90 for three years- before I added the beam and post jacks. I have noticed that the floor did sag a bit. I will admit that my house is very old. Don't know if the tank caused the sag cause when I put in the new oak floors all the floors were out of whack. You have figure that your tank will be sitting there for a long time. I don't take chances so if you can support your floor from underneath without causing problems I would do it. Bill

[DAVE G.]

My condo is on the second floor,however I did think about sinking it into the wall so the unit below would support it with her wall and have the back side in the bed room for more veiwing would that be ok and better in the long run or would it be ??
Thanks DMG

[Iron Crab]

Hi Dave, Sort of hard to say without knowing about your condo's construction but I'ld say with the way building codes are you should be OK to place it close to an area that is supported with a wall from below. sff1334 covered this and I second him on it. In Ace's case- I would put a support in. Another thing you might want to check is to see if your insured in case something goes wrong. Not only for yourself but for the condo below you. I learned first hand that even new tanks are not a sure thing. FYI, I would put your tank between 1400 to 1500 lbs if you go with 120 lbs LR. Bill

[Ace]

Hi,

For some reason I thought I would be able to get at the joists in the cellar. The room underneath the tank is a semi finished room in the cellar and there is a plaster ceiling. I can see the other joists in other parts of the cellar so maybe I can make a calculation. I'll get back and post what I come up with and maybe you guys can give me an estimation of what I should do.

Thanks!

Ace

[sff1334]

Ace
When checking out load rating you will have to mention the plaster ceiling below. Plaster is heavy and will reduce the load bearing capacity of the floor. If it dosn't look good let me know, if you are handy the fix should cost about $150 and a day of work, it will require the removale of plaster ceiling in cellar.
sff1334

[Ace]

sff1334,

Thanks for the help. What might be involved in shoring up up the floor joists? I do a lot of handy work and nothing really scares me.

Thanks!

Ace

[sff1334]

Ace
1. remove plaster ceiling
2. double up floor joists under tank
cut to length from wall to far side of beam
do not cut too long
3.slide between beam and underside of floor
will require helper or loop of string to hold up wall side
4.tap to upright position with LARGE hammer
distance corner to corner longer than hight so it will need a good
hit or two
5.knock new joist till it is touching wall
6.repeat till all joists under tank are doubled
7. anchor 1 1/2" suport to outside wall
it must be jammed tight under new joists
you can use concrete anchors (many kinds available) to secure
a 2x4 or 1 1/2" angle iron as wall support for new joists
8.screw new joists to old
use 3" deck screws
screw ever 12" top and bottom one inch from top and bottom
screws along center do not add any strength
9.you're done have a beer

[Ace]

sff1334,

Thanks for all that info. I am surprised at one thing in your list though.

If I'm doing all that, I'm gonna need more than one beer when I'm done.

Thanks again!

Ace