View Full Version : Floor strength - 265 gal
Tooch
12-29-2007, 11:00 PM
Well, work has started on sanding down the base and re-staining the tank. Before water is added to the tank, is there a way to determine that the floor will actually be strong enough to handle the weight? The room has a 150gal tank without a problem, but the 268 will be almost 1000lbs heavier than that! The tank is in a corner, as i figured that would be the strongest point of the floor. I wasn't really too concerned about it, figuring the floor should be pleanty strong enough, but the closer we get to filling it, the more I'm thinkin about it. If any of you have a large tank, gimme some tips! Thanks!
Dave66
12-29-2007, 11:04 PM
Well, work has started on sanding down the base and re-staining the tank. Before water is added to the tank, is there a way to determine that the floor will actually be strong enough to handle the weight? The room has a 150gal tank without a problem, but the 268 will be almost 1000lbs heavier than that! The tank is in a corner, as i figured that would be the strongest point of the floor. I wasn't really too concerned about it, figuring the floor should be pleanty strong enough, but the closer we get to filling it, the more I'm thinkin about it. If any of you have a large tank, gimme some tips! Thanks!
You'll probably have to engage a structural engineer to check if your floor is sound. If your house is on a slab, you're probably OK, but I recommend you get a structural engineer to take a look first for your peace of mind.
I have three tanks in my bedroom; 75, 180, 220. My floor was built reinforced for that reason.
Dave
Well, work has started on sanding down the base and re-staining the tank. Before water is added to the tank, is there a way to determine that the floor will actually be strong enough to handle the weight? The room has a 150gal tank without a problem, but the 268 will be almost 1000lbs heavier than that! The tank is in a corner, as i figured that would be the strongest point of the floor. I wasn't really too concerned about it, figuring the floor should be pleanty strong enough, but the closer we get to filling it, the more I'm thinkin about it. If any of you have a large tank, gimme some tips! Thanks!
Remember that water weighs about 8.4 pounds per gallon, so a 265 gallon tank, water alone will weigh 2226 pounds! Add the weight of the tank, weight of the substrate, decorations, etc, and you are parking a car in the corner of your house. I agree with Dave that you really should have someone professional look at your home and determine if the weight is acceptable.
Ark6ie
12-29-2007, 11:22 PM
its a scary thought that one. i have all my bigger tanks on a cement slab so im lucky enough to not have to worry. id be very concerned otherwise, particularly with 2 of my 4ft tanks as they are two story on the same stand lol
Tooch
12-31-2007, 04:05 PM
lol these aren't the answers I wanted to hear! I wanted "No, you'll be perfectly fine!" Oh well... Anyone know where to get a structural engineer? They sound expensive!
Probably very expensive, yes. Yellow pages to start, a building contractor would be able to point you in the right direction.
squirt_12
12-31-2007, 04:21 PM
lol these aren't the answers I wanted to hear! I wanted "No, you'll be perfectly fine!" Oh well... Anyone know where to get a structural engineer? They sound expensive!
well iti s better to spend the money on that than to fill the tank and then it break. I agree that you should get one to look at it to see if you can put it there or not. Better safe than sorry.
NickFish
12-31-2007, 04:25 PM
Wow I never actually thought the floor could break from a tank!
good thing I read this before getting a huge one. Maybe keeping tanks in the basement isn't such a bad idea after all!
I have three tanks in my bedroom; 75, 180, 220. My floor was built reinforced for that reason.
Custom built just for fish, very nice! Sounds expensive though.
Going that extra mile for your fish once again Dave good work!
~Erik3.8.07~
12-31-2007, 04:29 PM
I have three tanks in my bedroom; 75, 180, 220.
hope those things dont leak or your gonna have to swim out of your bedroom:c3:
A 265 gallon tank is sort of like parking a car in your house as far as the weight is concerned.
Tooch
12-31-2007, 04:38 PM
Haha this sucks. Do you guys know how heavy that tank is!? And now I may need to move it :help:
Corners of the house are the strongest points. Placed along a load-bearing wall is necessary.
The tanks are VERY heavy even empty. Completely filled and stocked you are talking about 3,000 pounds!
YaYgoldFish
12-31-2007, 05:29 PM
Actually if one gallon of water weights 8.4 pounds a 265g tank is 2,226 pounds, plus the substrate, plants and everything Id estimate more around 2,300
Dave66
12-31-2007, 08:20 PM
hope those things dont leak or your gonna have to swim out of your bedroom:c3:
Unlikely. The two larger ones are cell cast acrylic, the smaller one is seamless glass (no silicone). And over the years I've become an All Pro aquarium plumber lol. Last leak I had was in '86, when a five gallon I was preparing for a group of minnows exploded.
Dave
Tooch
12-31-2007, 08:24 PM
The tank is set up in a corner of the living room. Even though it's quite a bit heavier, I didn't have any problems with the 150gal placed against the wall in the middle. Should that count as consolation to me? I don't want to have to carry the tank around the house to the gameroom downstairs, but I also don't want the tank to move itself to the game room, if you know what I mean!
Dave66
12-31-2007, 08:26 PM
Haha this sucks. Do you guys know how heavy that tank is!? And now I may need to move it :help:
If you figure each gallon being about 10 or 12 pounds (water, gravel, etc) its easy to estimate its weight. Suffice to say its well over a ton. Its spread out a bit, but still, big tanks are dead heavy.
Structural Engineers cost a good deal, but its based on how long it takes them to finish the work. I'd be very, very surprised if it cost over a thousand to check your floor. Worth it to have the peace of mind that tank isn't going to shoot through that floor.
Dave
Actually if one gallon of water weights 8.4 pounds a 265g tank is 2,226 pounds, plus the substrate, plants and everything Id estimate more around 2,300
The water alone is 2,226 pounds, yes. Then add the actual weight of the tank itself, what, at least 300 pounds with the stand included? Now we're at 2,526 pounds. Add gravel/substrate at the rate of about 1 pound per gallon, so add another 265. Now we're at 2,791. Now add fish/plants/decor. Far closer to 3,000 pounds as I said.
Sniffles
01-01-2008, 07:35 PM
My largest tank is only a 125 gal but before we filled it up poor hubby crawled under the house and blocked and wedged the beams under there.
I would really have it checked especially if it is a older home like ours is.
RichBowyer
01-01-2008, 07:55 PM
lol these aren't the answers I wanted to hear! I wanted "No, you'll be perfectly fine!" Oh well... Anyone know where to get a structural engineer? They sound expensive!
I would start with the local building inspector.
Incredulous_Ed
01-02-2008, 12:36 AM
Yes, contact a struvtural engineer to see if tis safe. If it's not, you can always get the floors reinforced. Or, if you have a basement, you can just keep it down there, provided the florr is concrete.
Also, the tank would weigh around 3000 pounds. The tank is super heavy, the water is havevy, I'm sure the stand is heavy, and also all he decor and equipment.
cocoa_pleco
01-02-2008, 01:04 AM
yep, if doubts get a inspector. i eventually want to build a 600g in my basement, and since its concrete i got someone to check it and its good
The tank is set up in a corner of the living room. Even though it's quite a bit heavier, I didn't have any problems with the 150gal placed against the wall in the middle. Should that count as consolation to me? I don't want to have to carry the tank around the house to the gameroom downstairs, but I also don't want the tank to move itself to the game room, if you know what I mean!
150 vs. 265. The tank is 115 gallons larger. 115 x 8.4 pounds per gallon=966 pounds. Plus about a pound per gallon of substrate=1,081 pounds heavier. No consolation there, I'm afraid.
Let's face it. The floor might hold. MIGHT hold. Imagine what a disaster if it didn't? Remember also that we are talking about a load that will remain static. So we can't judge the acceptability based on a day or month but must look at the ability of the floor to hold for years.
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