Only Me, I Swear

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shookONES

Casper... the not so friendly ghost
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2005
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Totowa, NJ
Wow, what a ****in night. Normally, I'd be calm and cool, but not this night. I am ****ING LIVID! Since Thursday, I've had my eye on this amazing 180g setup on Ebay. THe thing was FLAWLESS and a steal at $610. I was so happy that I would finally have a tank I could be proud of. With 60 minutes left on the auction, my dad comes home from our weekend house. I tell him about the tank and he immediately shoots the idea down. We fought for damn near the rest of the auction. He tries to tell me how our floor won't hold the weight-bull****. I'm a math nerd, so I did some numbers just now-after the fact of course. If you see any flaws, please step up and correct me, because Round 2 happens tomorrow.

90g (what he wants)
48x18=864 square inches of surface area.
I used a rough estimate of 12lbs for every gallon of water (including stand + misc) soo 90x12=1080lbs. So now we've got about 1080lbs of weight over an area of 864 square inches. A simple division results in 1.25lbs of tank for every inch of water. Keep this in mind as we progress.

180g (what I want)
72x24=1728 square inches of surface area.
Again, with an estimated 12lbs per gallon. 180x12=2160lbs. 2160/1728=? Yep, you guessed it-1.25lbs/in.

Conclusion-there really is no difference between a 180g and a 90g. I'm just angry with myself for not crunching the number beforehand. Just some more ammo-did some measuring. Our floor beam will run perpendicular to the tank, so at 16" apart, the 180g will rest on 4 beams. Meanwhile, the 90 will rest on 3.

Seriously now, will the tank do any actual damage to the floor? The beams looks great-dropped ceiling helped the inspection process. I am going to put the tank on a piece of plywood to distribute the weight evenly. Someone, anyone, help me out. Aside from what's listed here, how can I convince him? My mom knew/knows how much this tank meant to me and she helped out, so I appreciate that. One thing you've got to understand about my dad, it's all about power. I know its a sadistic thing to say, but its true. I've been around for 16 some off years and I've gone through this **** every time. You name it, I've fought for it-paintball, quads, reptiles, etc.

On a sidenote, a small advancement on my part occurred in the midst of this heated dispute. My mom agreed to pay anything over $610 for a tank since that's what this one went for. I can't thank her enough for that. Hopefully, it won't be too much more.

Check this thread for replies as I'm working on another question.
 
Another option I tossed around with was having the tank in my basement. However, a single obstacle stands in my way. While the basement is cool during the summer months, the winters get chilly. The temp down there is usually around the 60* mark. A problem, no? How many watts of heating would suffice to keep the 180g around the 80* mark?
 
It shouldnt be a problem . If you know youre gonna rest your tank perpendicularly on a 3 beams then i wouldnt worry about it unless the house is really run down.

Im no math wizard or engineer but ive done that setup and more on a old POS apartment on a second floor for years without problems. I of course made sure that the tank runs perpendicular to the beams.
 
The floor will be fine. 2-300 watt heaters will be more then enough.

Sorry to hear about you and your dad fighting about something like a fish tank...tell him you were thinking about taking drugs and running around with loose women but you decided to get a fish tank instead. :hitting:
 
I don't want to come off as an arrogant kid who talks smack about their parents because I'm not like that. This is just something I feel strongly about and all my frustration just exploded out. But the tank sounds fine on the 1st floor? I kinda agree with keeping the tank in the basement. I'm rarely down there unless I'm building a quad. But the 1st floor would be sick. I missed out on this tank, so hopefully another comes up soon.
 
Mattcomptonassvanhorn said:
8 pds for each gallon.

...of water. Take into consideration the weight of the tank, stand, decor, filtration, and misc crap and 12lbs per gallon isnt an unreasonable estimate.
 
what state do you live in...I can get some smokin deals on tanks.

It's not really about power it's just that they weren't thinking about a cool tank...are you 17 or 18? Just a guess. My dads 73 and he still thinks the world should change and do it his way. :screwy:
 
repair said:
what state do you live in...I can get some smokin deals on tanks.

It's not really about power it's just that they weren't thinking about a cool tank...are you 17 or 18? Just a guess. My dads 73 and he still thinks the world should change and do it his way. :screwy:

16, actually. And it really is about power. He's been in the hobby forever. He says no just to show he's in control. That explains why he flips **** everytime something happens without his knowing. IDK, I guess I've become used to it by now. BTW, I'm located in Totowa, NJ. If you can hook me up, I'd be forever in your debt.
 
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