advise needed:tank weight & safety (not falling through the floor)

[Swim74]

I have a 125 gallon tank that I want to set up but have been putting off.

I would also like to hook up a 29 gallon sump fuge with the tank as well, have live sand and minimal live rock for filtering capacity. With water, equipment, organisms and all else, do you think it would be safe to set this thing up in a house that was built circa 1920. The tank would be on the first floor, but we do have a basement beneath it, so its kinda like the second floor.

Its not my house and I have to convince my landlord that its all good.

I am going to go in the basement tonight to see if there are some cross beams or something I can piggyback on.

Also I could plumb the sump to the basement if it would help....

thanks for the inspiration everyone, this forum RULES!!

 

[NateHanson]

Putting the tank against a structural wall, and perpendicular to the floor joists will distribute the weight best.

It seems to me that older houses are often over-built compared to some newer houses, so I don't think the age of your house is in itself a problem.

 

[denvig]

Some older buildings are under sized. Get the framing size of the floor joist along with the spacing, the legnth of the span of the framing and what the framing is sitting on and size span etc. (beam, wall etc) post this info.

 

[Swim74]

thanks Nate-

I was actually dreaming of having the tank be a room divider so it could be viewed from all around, so what you say makes sense and I will have to consider this.

 

[NateHanson]

You could put stilts under the middle of your room if you want a room divider. Put a 4x4 perpendicular to the joists under the tank, and support it at either end with two more 4x4s. It could be completely removable when you leave, (but should probably be secured somehow so it can't get bumped out of place accidentally).

Regarding the basement sump, as a landlord, I'd be pretty unhappy with two 2" holes through my floor, but maybe your landlord feels differently.

 

[paulpp187]

i used 2-4x6 boards running the opposite way of the joists w/6 adjustable colums my floor has not moved at all you wanna make sure that you have the boards extend at least 2 ft betond the tank on each side(lest to right). when i placed them in place i went 1 ft in both directions (front to back) beyond the tank. just out of curiousity are you joists logs.mine look like someone cut down trees and just laid them down

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I built my 125g into wall, there is a main beam underneath it, which is supported by steel columns. If you need support, go with steel support beams, it's a lot cheaper then rebuilding a floor

I also used 2x6's & 4x4's to build the stand

 

[Reef55]

I am doing just what you are talking about.... 1900 built home, and a 120 gallon going into a 26" wide wall to be visible on the two long sides. The sump is all going in the basement. To make my wife feel better about the tank (she wants it there also), I bought two lally's from home depot (metal adjustable columns), that support 10,000 lbs each, and are $24.95 each. Cheap peace of mind

If anyone is interested, I'll get some progress pics up.

 

[Swim74]

wow! thanks everyone. I was down in the basement last night looking at the bottom of my floor and there is lots of support in there already. it seems like every 16 inches or so (did not measure yet, will measure soon and post specs), there are beams that are like 3 inches wide and maybe a foot high and however long (length of floor?). in addition to this there are two steel beams. and it looks like I could run parallel or perpendicular and get the same support.

I really like the idea of the extra home depot supports, and for the money, it sounds like you cant go wrong.

more to follow....
thanks again
mark

 

[ScottM]

you should be fine with a 125. I have seen a number of poeple with 6ft 125's on 2nd and 3rd floors without a problem. its really when you go bigger than that should you be worried. I"d support the basement if you plan for it to be a walk around.
i'll snap a pic of my support for you tonight