How Heavy is too Heavy?

With all the variables, wood condition, age, termites. resting on what type
of block, if any, which way the floor joist lay compared to the tank stand,
etc, etc, It's actually a silly question to ask. The only way to know before
hand is pay to get a guess from a structural engineer.


"Sunshyn" wrote in message
. net...
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on the house
but..... at what point do you all think that a tank is heavy enough to
require added support to the floor (ie: bracing the floor from the
basement?)

We're looking at houses right now, sure makes me look at the floor joists
more closely. I calculated my tank at 1100lbs min loaded (water, glass, and
gravel). Lucky where I am right now, condo with concrete level floors. I've
always wondered what a mess 90g's of water makes....


"Sunshyn" wrote in message
. net...
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on the house
but..... at what point do you all think that a tank is heavy enough to
require added support to the floor (ie: bracing the floor from the
basement?)

"Sunshyn" wrote in message
. net...
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on the house
but..... at what point do you all think that a tank is heavy enough to
require added support to the floor (ie: bracing the floor from the
basement?)

Opinions will vary, and the best comments you could get, would come from
those who wisely decline to comment ;~)

I use 60g as my threshold. Under 60g, my concern is still floor bounce
(I hate to see my tank jiggle forwards). At 60g, I'm at 100 lbs per
sq.ft (which seems reasonable). Over 60g (66-90g), it's often the same 6
sq.ft base, but a taller and heavier tank, so I exercise more caution.
Over 90g and I'm on concrete, over structural walls, perpendicular to
joists, and I'm adding a post (also because of floor bounce). JMO, use
your discretion or professional advice, hth.

NetMax

you can use a little common sense calculations w/o the need of a
structual engineer
a gallon of water equals about 8 pounds
i have a 75 gallon aquarium w/ a 5'x1' footprint
75gals = ~600 lbs
i figure 3 200 pound men in stand next to one another in a 5'x1' area
w/o the floor caving in
so i'm safe

In article , ~Vicki ~ wrote:

currently looking at homes. This will help me decide on either a slab
built home or one with a crawl space.

You can support a 400 gal tank on the first floor of a house with a
basement and standard floor joists. You will need to support that tank
from the basement. But that is hardly difficult.

In most houses you can place a 50gal tank anywhere you want. Larger
then that and you need to start thinking about how the tank is placed
in relation to the structure of the house: perpendicular to the floor
joists, against an outside or supported wall. Additional support from
below may be required. This is all very general. Some houses cannot
support a 50gal properly. IE Netmax's 50 gal and floor bounce.

Again it all depends on the age of your house, construction method,
size of the tank, and desired placement of the tank. The proper
question to ask is: I want this size tank where can I put it?

go get a yellow pages, look under engineer, find one that does structural
integrity evaluations, and give 'em a call... he'd be the only one that has
an education to help him answer...

our answers, while good intentions, could lead you down the wrong road...


"Sunshyn" wrote in message
. net...
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on the house
but..... at what point do you all think that a tank is heavy enough to
require added support to the floor (ie: bracing the floor from the
basement?)

There is no such thing as a "silly question" only the lack in asking.
Or so I tell my students.

We currently live in a 1940 rancher on a 12 in slab so I don't worry
about the weight of my 55 g. But that can change once we decide on a
new house. As any one who has ever bought a house knows, you hire an
inspector to look at the house before you sign the papers. If you are
buying a 100 year old house than it is reasonable to think that you
would need some extra support for the tank, just by virtue of the (our
last house was built in 1919 and I didn't feel safe with a 20g in there)
age. But if you buy a new home the wood is new and stronger.

Having said that it was still a good question and the answers were
great.

Vicki

As you've said, there is no simple answer. My rule of thumb is that any tank
over 75 gal. gets a floor jack put under it. They only cost about $20, and
thats pretty cheap insurance. After the tank has been set up for a year or
so, I check the jacks to see if tehy're supporting any weight. If they're
not, I take them out. BTW - I set the floor jack up with just enough
pressure to keep it from falling over if it gets a light bump. That keeps me
from lifting the house off its foundation, and makes it easier to check the
jacks to see if the floor is settling....

good luck
--JD


"Sunshyn" wrote in message
. net...
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on the house
but..... at what point do you all think that a tank is heavy enough to
require added support to the floor (ie: bracing the floor from the
basement?)

There is no such thing as a "silly question" only the lack in asking.
Or so I tell my students.

This is true, but what should have been said, it's silly to be asking us...
we're common people, some have more edumicashun than uthers... haha...

But truly, that's a very serious question, with serious ramifications...
which warrants asking the right person... a structural engineer... I've done
it, it's no big deal... Cost $25....

Honestly, you can ask anyone, and get any answer.... If you ask the right
person, you get the right answer...

If you are building new, it might cost very little to to create a big margin
of safety. I planned for a 150 gal tank in a new addition, and chose a steel
beam over a wooden one and added a couple of extra floor joists. I think the
additional costs were less than $100 and the tank is very stable.

"~Vicki ~" wrote in message
...
There is no such thing as a "silly question" only the lack in asking.
Or so I tell my students.

We currently live in a 1940 rancher on a 12 in slab so I don't worry
about the weight of my 55 g. But that can change once we decide on a
new house. As any one who has ever bought a house knows, you hire an
inspector to look at the house before you sign the papers. If you are
buying a 100 year old house than it is reasonable to think that you
would need some extra support for the tank, just by virtue of the (our
last house was built in 1919 and I didn't feel safe with a 20g in there)
age. But if you buy a new home the wood is new and stronger.

Having said that it was still a good question and the answers were
great.

Vicki