At what point?

Bajamike

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
So I am looking at big tanks 300+. I went and looked at a 450 today and as soon as I seen the tank my first thought was will my floor in my home support this tank? Where I would put the tank/room runs with the floor joists. I am thinking that I would need at least 2 floor jacks/supports one on each joist.

What are your thoughts? at what point (gallons) would you support your floor?
 

that0neguy1126

Registered Users
M.A.S.C Club Member
#3
It really depends on how your house was built, and where you are putting the tank.

My tank runs parrallel to the ibeam in my basement, and all the 2x12's run perpindicular to it. So my tank sits over my ibeam, and on about 6 2x12's. I had no worries about putting in 240 gallons (although you should of seen me watching it fill up for the first time, and jumping at every creak).
 

Bajamike

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
that0neguy1126;135587 said:
It really depends on how your house was built, and where you are putting the tank.

My tank runs parrallel to the ibeam in my basement, and all the 2x12's run perpindicular to it. So my tank sits over my ibeam, and on about 6 2x12's. I had no worries about putting in 240 gallons (although you should of seen me watching it fill up for the first time, and jumping at every creak).
The 450 is 96" x 36" foot print and would sit 2' off the foundation wall that supports the floor. Im not to worried about right there but 10' out in the middle is where I would anticapate a problem, thats where I think I would want 2 posts. If salt water is 8.5 lbs per gallon thats 3800 sum lbs in just water plus the weight of the tank and stand 400-500 lbs of sand and rock. thats well over 2 tons in my living room.
 
D

DJ303

Guest
#5
With big tanks like that mold is a concern as well as you will evaporate quite a bit of water.
My 125 with a 40 gal sump was close to 5 gal a day.
Just sayin...
 

Bajamike

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#6
DJ303;135596 said:
With big tanks like that mold is a concern as well as you will evaporate quite a bit of water.
My 125 with a 40 gal sump was close to 5 gal a day.
Just sayin...
ya mine loses about that as well I already had a plan for that. I have fans and windows in the 2 rooms I will build
 

MattL

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
Calculate the pounds per square footage. My dad has a 125 over a 24 square foot foot print. The total weight comes to less than my old water bed or a fat guy standing. Someone who knows what they are talking about is a spa guy. My buddy who has a spa store knows everything about what floors/trusses can hold, plus they know ventilation. My advise (take it or leave it) if you have load questions ask a hot tub store.
 

amonchak

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#8
24 square feet? The is like a 6' X 4' stand? Aren't most 125 gallon tanks 6 feet long by 18 inches (1.5 feet) deep? That is a foot print of closer to 9 square feet.
 

MattL

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
It is a custom build furniture cabinet that is 7x3 to match the rest of the furniture in his room. Sorry shooting from the hip, 21sqft. So if you do the math 125g x 8.5 lbs per gal = 1,317.5 lbs, + 100 lbs live rock, + 75 lbs sand (to be liberal) + 250 lbs sump = 1742.5 lbs/21 sqft= 82.98 lbs/sqft. Way less than my fat butt standing on the floor. And I know total load comes into play. I'm sure there is an engineer on here, maybe post a thread looking for ones input.
 

MattL

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
Good article, has lots of good points. I guess my dads tank is safe due to their calculations and advise. However we have an in family contractor who consulted my spa buddyto place his tank. My advise still stands, find an engineer and trade a frag for a look at your space.
 

ShelbyJK500

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#12
I'm no engineer, but I've heard from some credible sources that the common floor joists (I think 2x12's) in newer homes are capable of holding 12,000 pounds per joist. I have my 225 running parallel to several but put a single joist brace in the middle of the tank's footprint, just to sleep better at night. I didn't hear any creaking when I filled it. ;)
 

JNG

Butterfly Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#13
I have a 175 g that was sitting on my main level floor for about eight years our so with no problems. I tore my tank down last years to install tile. I installed a 4x4 with two jacks in the basement undererneath my tank and I can see the difference with the kids running by and with hardly any movement. you kinda always wonder about it crashing through right in front of you, but now I am at ease with the way it is set up..... :)
 

newtoreef

Bat Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#16
bro for my 125 i went safe then sorry my tank sits over 4 2x12s i added some 50$ metal support beams under the 1st and last 2x12 exactly where the tank ends and i mean where it ends by the front of the tank each support can hold 15000 pounds so i know im super safe lol
 
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#17
I have a 120 4x2x2 and i put two supports under my tank just to sleep better at night. Your floor will support it but i guarantee when you walk by it the floor will bounce a bit.
 
#18
I'm definitely not the expert, but If I were gonna make a big beautiful purchase, I think you're about to make; I'd call a contractor or inspector of sort to evaluate your house and the need for possible additional support.

M
 

Dbarnes

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#19
My fathers tank is A 225 and runs parrelell to the floor joist, His bother is an engineer and highly suggested floor joist supports being installed. If your installing a 450 gallon i would say any engineer will suggest you support it. Lowes and Home depot both sell supports that are adjustable and made to support pre-exsisting joists, they run about 75.00 a piece and if your looking at 5k+ to set up that size tank 300.00 bucks is a pretty cheap security policy. By the way idk if anyone mentioned this but there is an article of RC that i read a while back a guys tank went through the floor and his home owner insurance would not cover it, because he never consulted an engineer they considered it grose negligence. just my $0.02 worth
 

that0neguy1126

Registered Users
M.A.S.C Club Member
#20
If you do the math the tank actually weighs as much as a person when you look at it per square inch.

My 240 gallon weighs about 2500 lbs. On a base that is about 2300 sq inches. That's a little more than 1 lbs per sq inch.

That weight is distributed over 6 different 2 x 12's. Go look at the specs of what a 2 x 12 can support with only stands on each end.

Also if you look at my stand. It is built with 2 x 6 support beams with 4 2 x 4's supporting them. That is far less support than the floor support. Yet it has no problem. I took a measurement of the floor joissts before I filled the tank and I had less than and 1/8th inch deflection.

You would really be surprised what a house is built on. And really now little the tanks actually weigh.

Sent from my HTC Incredible
 
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