Too much weight?
- Thread starter vzgoth
- Start date
Since you are not on a pad foundation I would brace anything larger than a 150g, a 100g in an older house. I'm a bit paranoid but I have seen what can happen.
Before we can help you will need to get to the basement or in the crawl space and see what size joist your house was built with and how they are braced.
My house was built with 2- 2x10' next to each other. the span is 14'. I have a 265gal in that room with no problems.
Also you will need to go across the joists and not in the same direction that they run.
My house was built with 2- 2x10' next to each other. the span is 14'. I have a 265gal in that room with no problems.
Also you will need to go across the joists and not in the same direction that they run.
You can also widen your tanks foot print by placing it on a sheet of 3/4" plywood that you can cover with tile or linoleum, a sheet will give you a weight dispersal over 32 square feet so if your tank is smaller than that it will help
I have to disagree with you on this one. It doesn't make a diffence weather you put the tank across the joists or put a piece of plywood down across the joists they are still supporting the weight in the same way. If you are thinking about the carpet it may help not to have as defined an outline.guppy said:
i think what guppy is saying is correct, we use the same concept on aircraft floors for loading heavy oversized equipment. by applying the shoring it distributes the weight over a greater area therefore relieving the airframe enough to support the cargo.repair said:
This is great! I'm thinking about doing the same thing myself. Ours is a stem wall house we are presently refinancing, and I just fell in love 
witha 150 gallon all glass tank (ug filter, lights and cover, $600). I'm going to crawl under the house and do a survey to-day, and keep an eye on all your input on this thread.
P.S. Is that a good price for a new tank? I want to build the stand myself, as I am not without some talent m-hmmm).
witha 150 gallon all glass tank (ug filter, lights and cover, $600). I'm going to crawl under the house and do a survey to-day, and keep an eye on all your input on this thread.P.S. Is that a good price for a new tank? I want to build the stand myself, as I am not without some talent m-hmmm).
That is true on an air frame because you are useing the ribs and skin to support the weight and you have to consider that if you stress the skin in a small spot you may get a crack that could cause a failure but in a house all the weight is supported by the joists of the house.islander671 said:
If the problem was breaking through the floor covering like it is on an aircraft then spreading the weight would be a solution but in a house you are trying not to break or bow the joists.
When you place a large fish tank in a house you want to go across the joists and not run it along the joists.
ahhh. i can see clearly now. yes i can see what you are saying now. thank you for correcting me.repair said:
By using the ply you might be able to catch an extra joist or even spread the weight close to two extras, it depends on your construction. the tank I have seen get cracked was in an old house that a joist had gotten dry rot in. It also helps in places with inner floor sills under the joists. It is only a minor aid in any case and nothing beats a reinforced pad foundation for support. I didn't even think about the carpet but I have had stand legs sink into a hardwood floor (iron stand). I figure it can't hurt and helps a little so why not, I also like the look of it, last time I did this I faced the ply with glazed tiles in a burnt umber color with an outer boarder of 4" square glazed tiles in cobalt blue. It looked very cool.
