Big Tank Weight

[ca1ore]

Looking for a little advice on what folks have done to reinforce floors for big tanks. I'm thinking about going back to a 180, or perhaps a 300DD. I tend to overengineer things, so of course am worried about weight if I go to a 300.

Spot on the first floor spans a cinder block retaining wall, so imagine a 300 would be fine (my old 180 was). I would think if I built a stand with a vertical leg right above the retaining wall that the distributed weight left and right would be ok, thoughts?

Thanks!

[worm5406]

SO.. you are doing a 180 instead of the 300 huh??

Sorry been busy at work and home and did not get a chance to help you out on this one before you posted your other thread.

You need to go OVER the supports in the floor, not parallel with them. That is why when I upgraded my 120 I put my 180 downstairs. Plus it gave me 100% light control, compared to where it was.

[saltwatershark]

I was told most residential floor joists are designed to support approximately 100-120 lbs per square foot (although they can typically carry significantly higher load especially if supported directly underneath by the foundation wall or I-beam). If you have time and acrss from underneath, why not reinforce the floor joist with additional 2x12's and bring the wight down through a header and floor jack (directly to the foundation)? If rather over engineer than to wake up to a big crash!

[ca1ore]

SO.. you are doing a 180 instead of the 300 huh??

Thinking out loud :)

I had a 180 in this spot once before, so of course, thinking even bigger - tho 36" depth probably wouldn't work, so maybe a custom jobbie.

[SNAKEMANVET]

I would put a little more support under it just to be safe.I have a 240 in a double wide,used a couple of floor jacks.

[ca1ore]

SO.. you are doing a 180 instead of the 300 huh??.

This week it's a 7 ft long 265. Got a few custom quotes and a bit more than I'm willing to drop for a fish tank. 265 marineland seems like a good option.

[worm5406]

HAHA... Good. What are you going to decide on?

It keeps getting closer to 300..

[Boboli]

Hire a professional it's not worth the headache of listening to forum members!

[ca1ore]

HAHA... Good. What are you going to decide on?

It keeps getting closer to 300..

It's a problem .... But I'm getting treatment ..... And taking pills ....

Recently read an article espousing the point that one should actually not make decisions until the last possible moment .... Deciding earlier than that deprives you of subsequent information that could change the decision ..... Make sense to me.

I'm figuring that this big tank is not happening until late summer or even early fall so I've got lots of time to waffle.

Would love a 300DD, but 36" of depth is not going to meet WAF (a home theater term meaning wife, or spouse, acceptance factor) since that tank is not in the man-cave, unlike the 7 foot speakers :). Got to be 30" deep or less - and I don't think a custom tank is going to be worth the $$$ premium. So the 7x2x2 marineland is the way to go ..... This week, at least.

[prop-frags]

Check out our thread starting around page 12. We had a 300DD blow out a bottom seal, and then decided we needed to reinforce the floor. Here's the post that talks about the specifics:

Floor Reinforcement (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17735258&postcount=341)

[ca1ore]

Check out our thread starting around page 12. We had a 300DD blow out a bottom seal, and then decided we needed to reinforce the floor. Here's the post that talks about the specifics:

Floor Reinforcement (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17735258&postcount=341)

Indeed, I recall your thread well. Part of the reason I am so paranoid about the weight. Had actually considered the 300DD, but think I will actually go a bit smaller. I am planning to build my own stand essentially using triple-sistered 8" strips of 3/4 plywood (essentially a micro lam) as the horizontal support beams. Think I will also put in a couple of support posts. Even tho my old 180 was rock solid in the same spot, if I go with something like a 265, that's another 750 or so pounds.