|
03/29/2011, 06:21 PM | #26 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Boston, Ma
Posts: 508
|
Yes, mine is too.
|
03/29/2011, 07:11 PM | #27 |
Why do I do this?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bristol, RI
Posts: 1,015
|
I had a 120 for 5 years on the second floor apartment I lived in. It wasn't against a wall either and never had any problems. If it is fairly new construction you should be fine!
|
03/29/2011, 10:34 PM | #28 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Teton, Idaho
Posts: 229
|
I have worried about this. Our plans for the location of our tank put it against a bearing wall but would run with our floor joists. It will only be sitting on one joist that is 17" from the bearing wall so this would be basically holding all of the weight. I am going to call the joist manufacturer in the morning to see if I can talk to an engineer to get his take.
|
03/30/2011, 05:04 AM | #29 |
Why do I do this?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bristol, RI
Posts: 1,015
|
That is a lot of weight for one floor joist! I would definitely try to find a spot where you can put it across several joists.
|
03/30/2011, 05:39 AM | #30 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 42
|
Yeah I wouldn't put that much weight on one joist. It might be ok for a little while, but in my experience with keeping fish, it's always better to err on the side of caution, especially when dealing with this situation.
|
03/30/2011, 05:43 PM | #31 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Teton, Idaho
Posts: 229
|
I talked with an Engineer this morning. He was very helpful and very thorough. He went over everything I had, tank size, sump size, stand, lr, ls etc. We came up with 2000lbs which is what I had calculated for a 120 with a 40 sump. He took my stand dimensions and came up with 144lbs per foot I believe.
Final judgement is no way in hell can that tank be supported upstairs. For the record, my home is only 2 years old so new has nothing to do with it. If you don't know which way your joists run, there is no way I would risk it. If the tank could span 2 joists it would be fine but not just one. My tank would be directly over the top of all of my ductwork so there is no way to shore it up either. My options are to move the tank downstairs and wait to set it up when we get our basement finished next year or to downgrade to a smaller tank. I may set up a 55 upstairs for now and then set up the 120 next year down in the mancave. Gotta run it by the house manager first though. |
03/30/2011, 05:46 PM | #32 |
Why do I do this?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bristol, RI
Posts: 1,015
|
So your floor can't take a person standing on it?
|
03/30/2011, 06:45 PM | #33 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 8,158
|
It would be a mass of people standing in the same area for a prolonged period of time. Just because a floor does not immediatley buckle does not mean that some serious long term structiral problems could develop from having a heavy mass in such a concentrated area that was not intended for it.
__________________
Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater |
03/30/2011, 06:57 PM | #34 |
Why do I do this?
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bristol, RI
Posts: 1,015
|
144 lbs/sq.ft. is not a lot of weight....long term or short term!
|
03/30/2011, 07:12 PM | #35 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 727
|
I've seen a few threads about this and my interest is pretty much morbid curiosity, as my tank is on the first floor of my house. I read this but I am still throughly confused - http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm
|
03/30/2011, 08:20 PM | #36 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Teton, Idaho
Posts: 229
|
Quote:
I'm just reporting what an engineer for the joist company figured out for me. He also said that it was not even close to fudging the numbers and making it work. Sure it can be and is done all of the time without even giving it any thought. Doesn't mean it's right or safe. |
|
03/30/2011, 08:31 PM | #37 | ||
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 217
|
Quote:
Quote:
If your 120 has a footprint of 4'x2' (common size) and the wieght is 2,000 lbs, that would be 250 psf. And 250 psf, or even 144 psf, can be a significant load on a residential floor depending on where it is applied and over how large of an area it is applied to. In your case, not placing your 120 on the second floor parallel to the joists, and only over one joist is a good call.
__________________
120 gallon, 55 gallon basement sump. |
||
03/30/2011, 08:56 PM | #38 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 8,158
|
Quote:
__________________
Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater |
|
03/30/2011, 09:49 PM | #39 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Teton, Idaho
Posts: 229
|
Quote:
I don't think I told the engineer the footprint of the tank, only the footprint of my stand which is 6'x26" (I was thinking ahead in case I ever upgrade). I'm sure that's why it wasn't the 250fps that dakineacct calculated. I'm sure your right with your calculations. After reading that info that was posted I am even more comfortable with my choice to not put it in the family room (although it would look killer in there)!! |
|
04/02/2011, 01:58 PM | #40 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MI
Posts: 92
|
Just wanted to say thanks for all the input. I think im going to skip the 120g and just go with a 75g for now.
|
04/02/2011, 02:23 PM | #41 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ct
Posts: 1,092
|
im sure you already gotten an answer but i speak from experiance.you can i had two 120 gal fish tanks in the same room one on one side and one on the other and i lived on the third floor.
__________________
rules? rules were ment to be broken Current Tank Info: PAST EXPERIANCE::180 gal fish only,120 gal reef,65 gal MAN TANK lionfish and eel,54 gal corner dwarf angel tank. CURRENT. WORKING ON 90 gal MIXED REEF, 29 gal sump & refuge.20 gal long qt tank.120 gal uv steralizer.29 gal fowlr and annemonies |
04/02/2011, 09:55 PM | #42 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Teton, Idaho
Posts: 229
|
Quote:
|
|
02/07/2012, 04:11 PM | #43 |
Moved on
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Coastal Texas
Posts: 16,000
|
I think the floor are support by 2X6 at least. Our house we use 2X10 but who know what apartment building use. You need to spread the ank out over several suppoet beam if possible. Don't use those metal stands where the whole tank weight bear by the four leg on the floor. I would like to think that the floor should bear the weight of a 120 g tank without problem
__________________
Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip |
07/22/2018, 02:06 PM | #44 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Los Angeles (Burbank)
Posts: 68
|
Digging through this old thread since I'm looking into the same thing for my 3rd floor condo. Did you go with the 120G?
|
07/22/2018, 05:13 PM | #45 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 20,050
|
Quote:
Enjoy..
__________________
Who me? |
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Tank Weight- 2nd floor a bad idea? | UtahGetMe2 | Reef Discussion | 13 | 03/21/2011 06:14 PM |
Question about tank weight on 2nd floor. | K9 | Do It Yourself | 4 | 07/18/2010 04:16 PM |
New 180 gallon...worried about weight | aargh | Large Reef Tanks | 4 | 06/01/2010 11:19 AM |
Floor & tank weight with pictures. Help? | ScooterGuitar | Do It Yourself | 3 | 11/27/2009 11:15 AM |
Weight load on my 2nd floor | jschottenfeld | Do It Yourself | 25 | 03/09/2007 08:11 AM |