180 gallon VS floor

[dmbfreek]

Hello, just wondering if anyone has any experience with heavy tank VS floor. I live in a house with a basement. The floor joists are true 2X12's with about 2'' of subfloor and 1'' of hardwood. The tank would be placed against an exterior wall with the floor joists not running parralel with the long part of the tank, if that makes any sense. Thanks for the help.

 

[Krish]

I've never heard about anyone's tank crashing through the floor before! I could imagine the weight though if you consider water is 8.33 lbs per gal which is about 1,500 lbs and then rock and a stand and equipment! I wonder if we have any builders here??? I think Sherman doesn construction...Hopefully someone will chime in with some info for ya! Remember, don't blame me if you start to lose interest. Just send the tank

 

[dmbfreek]

Well, I'm seriously considering setting this thing up as a saltwater tank, fish only for now (much cheaper). If I do get burned out I'll remember that you are first in line for a free 180. Imagine shipping charges on this thing.

 

[IAP Brian]

Sort of depends on the gap between joists as well. Are they 12", 16", 24" ect.. on centers? At any rate, I imagine you have at least 4-6 joists in the span of the tank and if the joists are perpendicular to the tank you should be fine. If the joists are on top of the basement wall or a header board, that's even better. I have a friend who just broke down her 140gal, 110 gal and a couple smaller ones and moved everything into her new 250 in her 3rd floor apartment! (I think she's nuts :lol: ), hasn't opened up a view port to the neighbors below yet!

 

[Krish]

Imagine shipping charges on this thing.

LOL...I can imagine! There was a cool video clip a member posted here of his FO setup that would give you all the inspiration you'll need. I need to look for that one for you...You'll love it!

 

[dmbfreek]

I'm pretty sure they're 16'' on centers. No on the besement header wall. I just want to enjoy this thing in the living room not the basement.

 

[kinghokus420]

if its in an unfinished basement run a length of 2x4 .012 steel the same length as the tank or a bit longer on the inside(of the house) edge. and put a couple 4x4 PT posts under it to give it some support. you should be able to park a freight train on it that way. thats how i was going to do my own floor until i actually saw the beef they did when they built this house. if its finished... hide it as a wall unit cabinet. if the outside edges have joist hangers instead of sitting on the foundation do the same if the joists are on top ofthe wall youre good to go.

 

[Slickdonkey]

You should be fine if the joists are 16" apart. I have a 240 in my living room and I don't have much more support than you (after some reinforcement recommended by an engineer).

If you're worried you could get a structural engineer to look at it. I think you're ok but this is the only way to be sure.

Also my tank is acrylic; much lighter than glass. My worst-case estimate is about 3000 lbs for the stand, tank, canopy, water, rocks, and fish!

 

[Sherman]

I think Sherman doesn construction...

Yeah, but communications. I don't know a thing about framing. However, if you wanted to run a wire up your wall and mount your AquaController remotely, I'm your man!

You're going to deal with probably a good 3000lbs before you're done. Would you put a car on that floor? Luckily, the tank will be perpendicular to the joists, so you should be able to pick up 4 of them if you place the tank correctly. The thick flooring will also help spread the weight. Sitting at an outside wall, right up against the supporting wall below will also work to your benefit.

So.. you have a lot of things working for you, certainly. I'm all about overkill. I've been looking at building a metal stand, and I'm talking to people about being able to support at least 10,000 lbs, though the stand is intended for a 150g. Also, being in California, I need the stand to be able to have torsional strength, not just vertical (compression), because of the potential for earthquakes. That said, if it's possible to build in further support underneath, I'd take the time to do it.

 

[Krish]

Yeah, but communications. I don't know a thing about framing. However, if you wanted to run a wire up your wall and mount your AquaController remotely, I'm your man!

My bad...I was close