weight of tank/floor damage

[Electrokate]

Hi,
Is it reasonable to worry about the weight of a 150 gallon tank estimated to weigh almost 1100 lbs? Anyone had floor damage due to a tank? I have only seen it one time, friend lowered her floor several inches with a 120 gallon tank used as a room divider-end projecting into the center of the room sank the floor and continues to drop it down... Her living room is now bowl shaped and I worry the tank will crack.
I asked a builder friend and he doesn't think I should have a tank this big. House was built in 1940 something, don't know what their standards were but my builder friend says current standards are 40-50#/ s.f. (in Oregon) and this tank would be about twice that load. I have the landlord coming over to peek under the house but he is no engineer.
You guys think I am pushing my luck? The space currently has an 80 gallon tank and when my boyfriend walks by it rocks a little, doors bounce open and shut. Every place I have rented is like that, floors rock tanks when you step on certain boards. Varies with the weight of the person... My 80 is feeling small after trying to cram a reef in it and a sump under it. Never thought I would think of an 80 as a small tank, maybe I should go back to freshwater
Thanks,
Kate

 

[Oscapus]

Weight was a concern with my old 100 in my apartment. It was up against the living room wall, but after 3 years the front was lowering a little bit and leaning out. So, when I tore it down and replaced it with a 120, I added a 1/2" wooden strip under the front stand, which pretty much evened it out. But, after a few months, I wished I had propped it up by 3/4". So, I conclude my tanks were sinking the living room floor 1/2 to 3/4", and probably more over time. And that is up against supporting walls.

What I am more amazed about is the seemingly ricketty aquarium stands we all use. Most just have one small center support between the doors etc... with all that weight. Not only am I nervous about sending lots of saltwater to the apartment below, but also the danger of me working under there on the sump etc...It could kill you. Obviously, I am no engineer, but it does make me avoid particle board.

 

[reedman]

Particle board is structurally sound if it stays dry. It's a gamble in the aquarium environment. It will readily swell and lose integrity over time if exposed to water. I wouldn't put a sump in a partical board stand.

On the floor damage. It depends on the orientation of the tank relative to the floor joists. If the tank is parallel to the joists (especially if it lies primarily on one joist) then I'd be a bit worried. If it runs perpendicular to the joists and several joists are carrying the load then I wouldn't worry as much. At my last house I got some pier blocks and 4x4's and reinforced the floor. That was for a 75 gallon tank that as I walked by the floor flexed. I wasn't comfortable with that.

 

[snobanker]

Thats a good plan Reed. I would think it would be a lot easier to just add the support first just in case....that is what I'm going to do for my 180...I didn't worry about it with my 55.......Ofcourse If you have it on an upper floor it could be a problem. Keeping it near a "bearing" wall would help.

 

[mojoreef]

Pier blocks and then just scab in some stifners between the joists and you wont need to worry anymore

Mike

 

[Illusion]

Take a look at what I did for my 224g tank... I am in an apt that Is by no means up to code.. My old 55g tank wobbled... So far its been about 8m with this tank and I have yet to have any issues and My floor doesnt bouce any longer... Its also very removable When I decide to move... My apt manager has been Extremely cool about the entire thing..

http://illusion.aquariaphile.com/gallery/album02

The 6 braces are setup to just support the entire weight of the tank itself..

HTH<
James

 

[Electrokate]

That's pretty cool... guess if I was the landlord I would just leave the braces, maybe will come in handy in case the next tenant has a gigantic entertainment center fetish or something.
I might be able to pull something similar if I can get in under there. Room in question has a wood floor raised about a foot over concrete pad. Really don't understand why they didn't lay the timbers on the concrete but it probably wasn't level enough... It was the garage but was converted to a usable room by filling the garage door with glass bricks and putting the wood floor in. Kind of an odd room... lots of light.
Kate

 

[Clownguy]

Kate,
I talked to a guy about a year ago and he told me that house built before the early 1960's there was a chance that the tanks could cause a problem, but in this area after that time period codes brought up the standards so that tanks upto about 180 gal were usually fine. But my thought is if you can brace it brace it.

Chris

 

[bc_slc]

what reed said about the orientation of the support braces is absolutely correct. Also, if the tank is near the center of a room, the braces will bow more. If you can place it against an exterior wall, that is likely best as it will be much much more supported. Regardless, placing the tank such that it runs perpendicular to the supports will distribute the weight better than if it runs parallel. The difference could be 4-5 braces vs 2.

My tank is a 170gal + 50 gal sump and I spoke with our builder about it. I overestimated the weight at about 2500 lbs and was told that for the footprint (5x2') the tank could be in the center of the room and weigh twice as much. Now that is for a new place. Code in seattle is about 200-300 lbs/sq ft in the center of the room.

 

[Electrokate]

Hi,
Landlord never showed, does that mean he doesn't care?
Support beams are 14" apart running perpendicular to the width of the tank which would be against an outside wall. Tank is 6 feet wide... width of room is only 9 feet at best so not much room for beams to bend. Beams themselves are about 4 inches off the concrete pad below it. Guess I will do more research.
Sounds like Seattle has better building codes than Portland!
Kate

 

[les]

Take a look at what I did for my 224g tank... I am in an apt that Is by no means up to code.. My old 55g tank wobbled... So far its been about 8m with this tank and I have yet to have any issues and My floor doesnt bouce any longer... Its also very removable When I decide to move... My apt manager has been Extremely cool about the entire thing..

http://illusion.aquariaphile.com/gallery/album02

The 6 braces are setup to just support the entire weight of the tank itself..

HTH<
James

This is by far one of the best support and bracing setups I have ever seen. I chose instead of using block and 4x4's to use "jack stands" that were available from a local mobile home supply store. The steel pyramid stand is rated at 6000# each and I used seven of them under my 400. I spent less than $10 each with the saddle and adjustable screw.
I strongly urge anyone out there with larger tanks to consider some additional support if at all possible. Of course there is no reason to set a 150 or even 300 gallon tank on a concrete footing, this is an aquarium not a loading dock. But there still needs to be some additional bracing most often.

 

[Illusion]

Thanks.. I chose the 4x4s since cost was an Issue... It was roughly about 6.00 for the 8' piece that was needed instead of the 10.00 or so per jack stand... The concrete pier blocks were I believe about 4.00ea and only 5 was needed as there was already a concrete slab for one of the Supports...

I cant take credit for the Design... I consulted with Steve Weast prior to setting up the tank and he suggested the Design... After tanking with the Apt manager She was like Sure deal Go for it... Only makes the Apartment better...

I think she still likes the Idea as She loves the tank..

James