[Wet Thumb Forum]-Will the floor handle the weight of my tank? - DIY Aquarium Projects

daisydog · 03-05-2003, 04:57 PM

I asked a similar questions a while ago but I now have a plan and want to see if everyone thinks it's ok. Here's the situation. I'm building a new house and want to make sure the floor can handle my tank. It's a 135g Oceanic with thick glass. I'm guessing the whole thing weighs a couple thousand pounds when full. The stand is a wooden stand that touches the floor all along the perimeter of the stand. I'm having the builders double up the floor joists. The joists will be 2x10's 16" on center. I plan on orienting the tank perpendicular to the joists and against the wall. Does this sound like a good plan? Is there anything else I should consider while I have the chance (they haven't started building yet). Thanks.

daisydog · 03-05-2003, 04:57 PM

I asked a similar questions a while ago but I now have a plan and want to see if everyone thinks it's ok. Here's the situation. I'm building a new house and want to make sure the floor can handle my tank. It's a 135g Oceanic with thick glass. I'm guessing the whole thing weighs a couple thousand pounds when full. The stand is a wooden stand that touches the floor all along the perimeter of the stand. I'm having the builders double up the floor joists. The joists will be 2x10's 16" on center. I plan on orienting the tank perpendicular to the joists and against the wall. Does this sound like a good plan? Is there anything else I should consider while I have the chance (they haven't started building yet). Thanks.

EDGE · 03-05-2003, 07:50 PM

I am having a really hard time picturing the setup.

Like they say,

a picture is worth a thousand word. hint hint.

it would be great if u can draw a diagram, scan it and post it on here.

75 Gal, 4.6 WPG MH 10 hour, pressurize co2 /w controller, Fluval 404, ph 6.8
Mike's Canadian Aquatic Plant Page
A Canadian's Plant Traders website

imported_Mark · 03-06-2003, 01:03 AM

If it's a load-bearing wall, you should be fine. Water weighs about 8 pounds a gallon. Let's assume you'll have about 120 gallons of water in there. That would be 960 pounds of water. Add rock, gravel, the weight of the tank, the stand, and any equipment and you'll probably just top 1500. With the joists you're putting under the floor, you shouldn't have an issue.

gsmollin · 03-06-2003, 06:40 AM

Rule of thumb is 10 lbs. per rated capacity of tank for finished aquarium plus stand and equipment, barring large sumps and refugiums. That gives you, say, 1400 lbs. The tank is about 6 feet long, and spans 4.5 floor joists. The usual distributed rating for a floor is 40 lbs/square foot. You have about a 3000 lb. capability there, and if the load is concentrated next to a load bearing wall, the rating would be more. Doubling joists wouldn't be needed, but it won't hurt anything.

JamesHoftiezer · 03-06-2003, 10:36 AM

I have my tank (~1400lb) oriented in a similar fashion. The notable exception is that the tank sits on the joists which sit on a concrete/cinder block pillar. The weight is transferred straight down to the foundation.

The results are very satisfactory with no noticable effects.

James Hoftiezer

Tank Journal - Aquascape ( Latest / Archive )
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daisydog · 03-06-2003, 03:12 PM

Thanks guys. That makes me feel a lot better. It is a load bearing wall that the tank will be up against. It sounds like I might be doing more than is really necessary. On the other hand, you never know when you're going to want to add another tank, and another tank . . . besides, doubling up the floor joists is really inexpensive when you're building from scratch.

Spartacus Warrior Aquarist · 03-07-2003, 02:30 PM

The best article I've found covering this topic is by Kevin Bauman and can be found at:

Residential Wood Framed Floors and Aquarium Weight

If I was in your situation I would also put some extra strength into the floor because, as you said, it would be much cheaper and easier now and also it would not limit your future tank upgrades or additions.

Good luck with the new house.

SWA

Heady · 03-07-2003, 03:15 PM

This is a timely subject... I am buying a 100 gallon (~1000 pounds) and know I probably need to add additional support to my 40-year-old floor. Our joists are at 5-foot spacing (that's right, 5 feet) covered with cardecking. The tank will be located next to the wall between the house and garage, which I assume is a load-bearing wall. There is no foundation, the (uprights?) supports are in concrete blocks and the crawlspace floor is dirt covered with plastic. I read that article but am a little lost as to how to continue.

How do I go about reinforcing my floors? Do I need additional joists under the cardecking? Sister braces? ...?

JamesHoftiezer · 03-07-2003, 04:03 PM

Not to overwhelm you Heady but you need everything.
You'll need to add support under the tank as if you had no floor. The bracing will have to assume all of the weight and be tied into a column(s) which go to some foundation.

P.S> That's an awesome article

James Hoftiezer

Tank Journal - Aquascape ( Latest / Archive )
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[This message was edited by JamesHoftiezer on Fri March 07 2003 at 08:12 PM.]