Tank weight issue

[wildjoe]

I have just returned form seeing a cabinet maker about building a stand and we got on the subject of weight. I'm putting together an Oceanic 58g rr and will be putting it in a bonus room on the second floor of my house. The house is fairly new, about 9 yrs. old. He said the minimum specs. in our area were 40 pounds/sq.ft. With the footprint of my tank size that comes to about a 400 lb. load. I'm figuring total weight of the tank/stand/ water/livestock/sump to be 500-600 lbs. He did say that the spec was minimum and that it may be no problem but that I may want to get it looked at by a contractor or buider. I haven't seen much feedback on anybody having issues with a tank that size on the forum and two of the LFS owners in my area (which are very reputable and well respected) didn't seem to think it was an issue. Any thoughts/experiences?

[griss]

I've had larger tanks in top floor apartments and on the main floor of my home (with basement underneath with no issues. I think you will be fine.

[WaterKeeper]

As long as the stand is a full perimeter stand there is never a problem. Stands with legs may be for large tanks but not for something as small as a 55. See Tank Selection and Placement for more on the subject.

[Vinnie71975]

Originally posted by wildjoe
I have just returned form seeing a cabinet maker about building a stand and we got on the subject of weight. I'm putting together an Oceanic 58g rr and will be putting it in a bonus room on the second floor of my house. The house is fairly new, about 9 yrs. old. He said the minimum specs. in our area were 40 pounds/sq.ft. With the footprint of my tank size that comes to about a 400 lb. load. I'm figuring total weight of the tank/stand/ water/livestock/sump to be 500-600 lbs. He did say that the spec was minimum and that it may be no problem but that I may want to get it looked at by a contractor or buider. I haven't seen much feedback on anybody having issues with a tank that size on the forum and two of the LFS owners in my area (which are very reputable and well respected) didn't seem to think it was an issue. Any thoughts/experiences?

For what its worth the house i live in is about 15 yrs old and its a Modular home on a full basement and there is a Queen size water bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms and has been there since the house was first built with no problems and im sure that it with its Oak frame and HUGE Water Mattress weighs more than your tank will you shouldn't have a problem BUT i would call a contractor and have it Checked Just to be sure Better safe than sorry!

[nmywrx]

There are a lot of variables that come into play when determining how much your floor can support.

Here's an article that may help you in your decision. There is a lot in here, but it's the most thorough explanation that I have read on the subject. If you don't want to read the whole thing then at least read the sections "Where to put the Aquarium" and the "Conclusion".

http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm

[seapug]

500-600 lbs is a very low estimate of weight. By the time it's filled with rock, sand, and water you'll probably be closer to 1000 lbs between the stand and tank.

[plyr58]

if you are worried about it, get 3 or 4 good size friends and have them stand in the area your tank is going, then jump up and down all at once in place. If they end up on the first floor, find a new location. otherwise, you are golden

[jefnalyssa]

Originally posted by plyr58
if you are worried about it, get 3 or 4 good size friends and have them stand in the area your tank is going, then jump up and down all at once in place. If they end up on the first floor, find a new location. otherwise, you are golden

Wow I wish my inspectors used that theory I'd never have a problem.

[bmrescort]

Hey seapug by my calculations that tank empyty with the stand would have to weigh about 450 pounds to get to a 1000.

58 gallon tank with 100 pounds of live rock with stand will be no problem for your room.

[plyr58]

lol I was JK. Seriously though, it will be fine

[seapug]

It may a little less than 1000 lbs, but 58 gallons of water alone will be around 550 lbs. Assuming at least 40% of the volume of the tank will be rock and sand (denser/heavier than water) you'll probably be around 700 for the tank, water, sand, and rocks. On top of that you have the weight of the tank itself and then the stand it sits on, plus lights, sump, and misc. gear. He will probably be fine, but I would still err on the safe side and estimate at least 800 lbs. for the whole setup.

[sslak]

Yep. Your estimate is low as others have said.

Figure 8.5 lbs. per gallon of water (8.33 but rounded up to be safe). If you have 58g system with a 20g sump the water alone will be over 650 lbs.

Add 60lbs of rock, 50 lbs of sand, 200 lbs for the glass tank, stand, canopy, lights, skimmer, and other asst. equipment.

You're looking at closer to 1000 lbs. as others have said.

[WaterKeeper]

Actually it is 8.55 lbs/gallon (496 lbs for that 58 gallon) for seawater at SpG of 1.025. As long as we are pinching pennies.

If you add 100 lbs of LR then you must subtract the amount of water it displaces. I usually figure a pound of Aragonite (Sp.G ~2.94) displaces a third of a pound of water. I'll leave the total calculations to the care of the student.

Believe me though almost any floor can support a tank under 300 gallons if the stand provides proper support and floor contact surface area.

[steven_dean17]

Originally posted by jefnalyssa
Wow I wish my inspectors used that theory I'd never have a problem.

Hey ive got an idea, lets get a heard of(insert your favorite brand of heard animal here) and see if they (feel free to insert funny idea here)
i havent laughed this hard in months! thank you!!

[heyfredyourhat]

i would say dont worry about

[corals b 4 bills]

My 6 ft. 155 gallon tank with all the goods weighs approx. 2930 lbs. in a house that was built in 1957, they don't build them like that anymore.