Weight Problem - An Structural Engineers?

[Shaggy]

I am planning on getting an Aqua Medic Percular 120.

The only issue I have is its location which will be in an upstairs room in a corner against an internal wall and an external wall. The house is fairly new (about 8 years old)

I am concerned whether I should be concerned with the weight. I would rather not have it ending up on my wifes head in the living room.

What we have managed to find out on another forum are these details:-

Percula 120 is about 118 gallons - the weight of the water alone is about 1,183lbs. The base on the cabinet looks to be about 4' x 2' which gives at least 148lbs/sq ft.

1. Does anyone run a Percular 120 or the like upstairs (Uk House)
2. Anyone a structural engineer and could let me know what the restraints are?

 

[Len]

Permit me to move this to the General Reef Discussion.

 

[srbayless]

Howdy,

I'm not a structural engineer, but I play one on TV. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, the biggest issue is how you orientate the tank in the room. Your floor joists usually run perpendicular to the outside wall. You will want to place the longest part of the tank against the outside wall so that there are more joists carrying the load. If you put the long part along the inside wall, assuming the joists run parallel to it, only 1 or 2 joists will carry the load. This is bad.

You want as many joists carrying the load so it can be more evenly distributed and have less of a chance to fail. Again, not knowing the size of the joists, the composition, placement, or spacing, it is hard to tell if the floor could handle the load.

I did have a 90 gallon glass tank with a very heavy stand (I made it out of 4x4's and 3/4" plywood) in my upstairs apartment. I didn't have any problems with that beast, but I did run it along the outside wall because I knew the joists were running perpendicular to it.

Good luck,

Scott.

 

[ChrisRD]

This question comes up periodically and unfortunately there's no easy answer when it comes to the larger tanks. It really depends on your floor construction, the condition of the load bearing elements/connections in your floor, location and orientation of the tank relative to your floor construction, etc.

Check this thread for more information: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43387&highlight=pounds+per+foot

HTH

 

[mark78]

If its a newer and good soilid built house it shouldn't be a problem. I put my 125 gallon upstairs in a long hallway for a few years. I mean think about some of the furniture you have, beds with 2 people on them, etc etc... Is worth trying to allign it on the joists as said above

 

[Shaggy]

Thanks for the advice guys, im currently trying to get the floor plans for my house so i can show them to a structural engineer

 

[kim]

Hi. Fancy seeing you !

Your local council may have the plans, if there's a problem getting them. They are held for a number of years after planning permission is granted. Can't remember how many....just I missed mine by three months.

Don't believe the stuff about new houses. These guys think that an old house is a bit of timber frame (the recent arrivals have no history).



kim

 

[Shaggy]

if the worst comes to the worst i will tell the wife she can have a conservatory and that the condition is i can out the tank in the dinning room

 

[buoymarker28]

You will be fine. I had a 140 upstairs and I'm currently running a 120 on a pier and beam foundation and the house is over 35 years old.

 

[Shaggy]

News news, the wifey is letting me have it downstairs. I will recieve delivery on Sat Now for the filling.

Sand first then water, then salt? Sand Salt water? Water Salt Sand?

 

[buoymarker28]

i'd do water, salt, sand. but that's just me. be sure to rinse the sand.

what type of sand?
what is your water source?

 

[kim]

Yes, don't mix freshwater to sand....you'll never unmix it without stirring.

kim

 

[Shaggy]

Water will be Ro water. I'll clean the sand with RO water also. I guess if I put around a foot of water in first and then the sand I will be ok?