240 acrylic. Worried.

[Enemyarms]

So looking at my prime location, I'm slightly worried. The wall may not be a load barring wall. I'm going to try to find the blue prints. I know acrylic is lighter than glass but bow much lighter? Would I be a fool to try this? Or should I spend the extra money and get the shorter glass tank. Also, the rafters run parallel with the tank, and that worries me a bit more. Across the room on a load barring wall I have a 120 with 40lbs of sand with the beens doing the same thing.

Thoughts?

 

[Milpool]

Try using adjustable floor support jacks.

 

[Enemyarms]

Mmmm that's pretty costly... I may spend the extra 100 or 200 and get the glass one.


Is half an inch Acrylic correct for an 8 96 inch tank?

 

[nomad]

regardless of height or material, at that size, the tank should be placed perpendicular to the floor joists direction.

 

[Milpool]

Mmmm that's pretty costly... I may spend the extra 100 or 200 and get the glass one.


Is half an inch Acrylic correct for an 8 96 inch tank?

What's pretty costly? Floor jacks are like $50. Pretty cheap for piece of mind.

 

[Pharaoh]

I wouldn't risk it. Glass or acrylic....water is heavy. You can figure about 10lbs per gallon regardless of what the tank is made of.

BTW, My 300 is 96 x 30 and it has 1/2" acrylic. Not the safest int he world, but it will hold.

 

[BushFishRox]

Ya, I think you are looking at this the wrong way. I doesnt matter what the tank is made of, the weight of the tank is miniscule compared to the weight of the water. If the joists run parallel to the wall then you will have 2 maybe 3 joists supporting the weight, which is just not enough unless you jack the floor from below. IMO you should find a new location for the tank or look for something smaller.

 

[Chaz88]

Agree that tank material is not the issue when considering the floor joist load from the system. If it posibale to look onder the floor in a basement or crawl space you might be surprised what kind of extra support is in place or that you can put in place. My house was built over a hundred years ago and when additions where added and settling was an issue someone, long before me, was nice enough to add some 4"x6" and 6"x6" beams and jacks at right angels to the floor joist. The placement of the beams and reduction in free span load made it possible for me to use a tape measure in the basement and find locations for tanks, that I never would have used otherwise.