So I just got my 180 together and am debating where I'm going to put it. I live in an older home with no finished basement. Our cellar is divided into 2 sections by a very big thick stone/concrete wall. I currently have a 150 (6x18) footprint on one side of the wall and a 90g (which is no concern to me what so ever). My idea is to replace the 90 w the 150 and the 150 w the 180. There will be about 6" of the 180 that will rely on the floor joists (which are 2x10's on 24" centers) Based soley on water weight (1g=8.35) The total weight of the 150 is 1252.5 or 139.1 lbs per sq ft, and the 180 is 1503 or 125.25lbs per sq ft. Is this an accurate assumption to conlcude that a 180 would be ok in place of the 150? I just got the 180 and it has a very nice stand and canopy and I would really like to have it set up in my living room so I can see it! Thanks for the help.
150/180 weight (floor support)
- Thread starter creepyoldguy
- Start date
It should be fine if only 6" of the tank will not be supported by a block wall. But a diagram of your setup would help us make a better informed decision.
I'm a carpenter not an engineer, but in my opinion I would buy a length of 2x10 and sister up the joists by 2-3', where the joists rest on the sill plate (the board under which the joists should be sitting on). Just nail/screw together the pieces for the length of the tank. I don't think it's necessary, but remember this is YOUR home. For the price of a length of 2x10 and a hour or less of work, you don't have to worry about what could be potentially a expensive fix down the road.
This is how it sits now, and I want to replace the 150 with the 180, so that the 180 is just sitting out a few more inches on the floor joists.
So only 6" of the tanks' weight is actually supported by the joists themselves? If that's the case, I wouldn't worry about even sistering up any joists. I'd just put the 180 in.
Weight will be distributed evenly due to gravity, so you should go by lbs/sq ft not total weight, if the lbs/sq ft are in-line with a smaller tank and that smaller tank doesn't scare you don't worry about the larger tank. Remember the average man is 200lbs and his feet are less than 1 sq foot, so if the thought of having 6 buddies over worries you that your house is going to collapse than the fish tanks should be the least of your worries.