I have a 5ft 70g tank that I'd like to put on my fireplace until I get a stand built and figure out where it's going. Can a brick fireplace support the weight? I have no idea how these are built, is it solid brick inside? 70g of water will be about 570lbs+. Fireplace is about 18" off the ground. Fireplace doesn't get used so that's a non-issue.
No it's not solid brick inside, and I'm 99% sure it will hold a 70g for an infinite amount of time. I will say this though...The brick and mortar won't be a very even surface and can cause some stress at the seems if it isn't sitting flat.
No it's not solid brick inside, and I'm 99% sure it will hold a 70g for an infinite amount of time. I will say this though...The brick and mortar won't be a very even surface and can cause some stress at the seems if it isn't sitting flat.
I'm not sure that the Styrofoam is going to keep the seems from stressing if there's a big hump or uneven brick.. If there's a big hump on a brick, there's still going to be a big hump on the compressed Styrofoam. I really don't think styrofoam is as useful in the aquarium hobby as it is made out to be.
I'm not sure that the Styrofoam is going to keep the seems from stressing if there's a big hump or uneven brick.. If there's a big hump on a brick, there's still going to be a big hump on the compressed Styrofoam. I really don't think styrofoam is as useful in the aquarium hobby as it is made out to be.
But wouldn't a thick enough sheet of styrofoam absorb all the differences in height from the bottom layer, and not transfer those differences to the aquarium?
But wouldn't a thick enough sheet of styrofoam absorb all the differences in height from the bottom layer, and not transfer those differences to the aquarium?
I would lay a straight edge across it in a couple different directions. I think a thick piece of styrofoam will work to even out small bumps/unevenness, but you want to make sure there is no twists, humps or dips.
The fireplace should be built on a concrete footing, unless the house is built on a slab, in which case the hearth is built on top of the slab itself. I'm sure it is plenty strong, as long as it is level you should be fine.
Why are you in such a hurry to set it up? There's a decent amount of work involved in moving a 70 gallon tank that's already set up so if you're really going to build a stand and move it anyways I might wait. If you're going to leave it there it should work ok. If it's very uneven you could put a piece of plywood down and shim it and then put styrofoam on the plywood.
Why are you in such a hurry to set it up? There's a decent amount of work involved in moving a 70 gallon tank that's already set up so if you're really going to build a stand and move it anyways I might wait. If you're going to leave it there it should work ok. If it's very uneven you could put a piece of plywood down and shim it and then put styrofoam on the plywood.
