Will my floor hold?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

billbobthegreat

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 20, 2008
367
0
0
Eastbourne uk
Im getting a 6x2x2 and i want to know if my floor will hold.

I live in the UK and I live in a first floor flat, ive been told the floors are block and beam.

I want to know if block and beam will hold a 600 ltr tank and can i check what type of floor i have?

I currently have a 48x18x18, I wondered if just filling the tank to 18" will not add anymore pressure to my floor also it should be spread out over a larger area.

Thanks in advance any advice/opinions will be greatly appreciated.
 
hello there bud im also from the uk (durham), Dont hold me to this but i used to have a 6x2x2 in a upstairs flat, but it was in a old (very well built)terraced house the beams under the floor were 12" x 4" honestly they were massive, my best advice would be to ring a builder or joiner they would look under you floor and tell you straight away, thats what i did, only thing is you will need to know an approximate weight when full to tell the fella when he comes so they can work it out. hope this helps
 
Thanks, im sure someone on here knows the weight of one lol.

My dads a builder and he said its block and beam.

Should be fine then.
 
You should go under and look to see how its constructed. I would just reinforce the floors to be safe. Better to spend a lil than to spend a lot if there is an accident. I believe it is 8 lbs per gallon just water weight.
 
Generally for this sort of calculation, you go with 10lbs/gallon to include tank etc. With that, you're looking at around 1800lbs (180gx10lbs/g)

with that, you can roughly estimate 12 sq ft and that comes out to about 150lbs/sqft. You're mostly concerned with how this weight is distributed between the joists, but 150lbs/sq ft should be no problem.
 
if its block and beam its reinforced concrete beams with interlocking concrete blocks will hold it fine but for exta peace of mind find out which way the beams run and then place your tank going the other way so it spans 2 or 3 rather than along 1
 
Out of all the aquarium horror stories I have ever heard I have NEVER heard of one going through a floor. Even massive tanks in old houses with relatively weak floors. People have water beds, massive gun safes, parties with a bunch of fat people, floors are made to handle WAY more than they ever will. If it makes you feel better talk to the landlord, hire an engineer, whatever you want to do. But you could never even think about it (think about all the idiots who don't) and it wouldn't be an issue.
 
I have heard of shifts stressing a tank till it failed however
And I've seen tanks start to lean away from the wall after a year
 
ar0wan;4475292; said:
I have heard of shifts stressing a tank till it failed however
And I've seen tanks start to lean away from the wall after a year
Click to expand...

this I have heard of with over stressed floors, the tank's weight wears down on the floor and then the tank busts due to the stress of the flexing floor beneath it.

however, I've only heard of it on tanks where the weight per square foot exceeded 200lbs.

at 150lbs per square foot he needs to only place it against a load bearing wall.

even at that though I'd at least have a peak to see what conditon the floor is in, how it's braced, what lumber was used and etc. before doing it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom