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bornwithagrin

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Since: Mar 08, 2006
Posts: 1



(Msg. 1) Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:53 pm
Post subject: Aquarium weight load on floor.
Archived from groups: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc (more info?)
I recently purchased a 90 gallon aquarium and want to use it as a
partial room divider between my living and dining areas. My question
is, do I need to give any consideration to load weight on my floor
joists. My tank is only 18 inches wide and the proposed location of the
tank runs parallel with the joists so it is possible it could be above
only one joist when it is set up.

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NetMax

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Since: Feb 19, 2006
Posts: 2334



(Msg. 2) Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:42 pm
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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wrote in message

>I recently purchased a 90 gallon aquarium and want to use it as a
> partial room divider between my living and dining areas. My question
> is, do I need to give any consideration to load weight on my floor
> joists. My tank is only 18 inches wide and the proposed location of the
> tank runs parallel with the joists so it is possible it could be above
> only one joist when it is set up.


Generally the more knowledgeable a poster is about structural
engineering, the less likely they are to offer any specific advice on
this type of question. There is a lesson in that for the rest of us ;~).
These problems are quite situation dependent, requiring joist span,
spacing etc etc ad nauseum to reach recommendations.

I can tell you a few things with some certainty. A 90g (or 167 lbs/sq ft
over 6 sq.ft) is not likely to fall through your floor. How much
deflection is caused varies according to your setup (proximity to
structural beams or walls). However - falling through the floor and
floor deflection is not going to be your biggest problem. Placing any
tank parallel to joists makes it prone to significant wobble (front to
back as you walk by it). Having it used as a room divider makes this
worse (farther from structural stabilizing wall and having traffic on
either side). You have some concerns with the static load which won't be
adequately answered here, but your show-stopper will be the live load
(imo).

I would look at the floor under the tank to see if a stabilizing post
could be added to a wooden H frame crossing the two joists underneath.
This stabilizes the live load (tank wobble during foot traffic), and
would remove any nagging concerns regarding the static load. If a post
is not possible, a custom stand which distributes the weight across 3
joists and lowers the tank's centre or gravity closer to the floor would
be a good approach to follow, along with some expert consultation.

Generally I use 55-60g as the dividing line between having concern about
the floors, but I personally wouldn't place a tall 55g in the location
you're describing. hth
--
www.NetMax.tk

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Frank

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Since: May 10, 2005
Posts: 399



(Msg. 3) Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:13 am
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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bornwithag wrote,
>I recently purchased a 90 gallon aquarium and want to use it as a
>partial room divider between my living and dining areas. My question
>is, do I need to give any consideration to load weight on my floor
>joists.

As NetMax pointed out, it depends on the joist size, span and spacing.
I have been in a few older homes that would have fell short of any
building codes.

>My tank is only 18 inches wide and the proposed location of the
>tank runs parallel with the joists so it is possible it could be above
>only one joist when it is set up.

You can tie parallel floor joist togeather by installing solid blocking
between the joist. If you install the blocking between 3 or 4 joist,
you will transfer the load over those 3 or 4 joist. This will also take
out quite a bit of the floor shake/bounce as you walk by the end of the
tank. I would glue and nail these blocks into place.

If you install a "T" support (from underside of joist to basement or
crawspace floor) under the end of the tank at the open floor end, or
center of the joist span, it will not only support the tank, but stop
any floor shake/bounce. ........... Frank
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Frank

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Since: May 10, 2005
Posts: 399



(Msg. 4) Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 11:04 am
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Nikki - wrote,
>If I take my 55gl down and put a 120 gl in its place, should it be ok, is
>there anything I should look for?

Look to see which way the floor joist are running where you plan to put
the tank. It's always better to put a large tank against an outside or
center wall where there is eather a foundation or beam supporting the
ends of the floor joist the tank will be sitting across.
.............Frank
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netDenizen

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Since: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 57



(Msg. 5) Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Nikki wrote:
> Hey I was going to ask something like that, so if no one minds I am going to
> post it on this message:)
> If I take my 55gl down and put a 120 gl in its place, should it be ok, is
> there anything I should look for? I had no problem with the 55 gl it was
> there for three years, but my husbands friend moved to a smaller apartment
> and he has a 120 gl and no room, we have the room so we are giving him the
> 55 and he is giving us the 120, not a bad deal....

In a newer house, placed across the joists next to a load-bearing wall
it's probably ok. Also a concrete slab floor on the ground - like a
basement floor - is probably ok.
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NetMax

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Since: Feb 19, 2006
Posts: 2334



(Msg. 6) Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:43 pm
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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"Nikki" wrote in message

> Hey I was going to ask something like that, so if no one minds I am
> going to post it on this message:)
> If I take my 55gl down and put a 120 gl in its place, should it be ok,
> is there anything I should look for? I had no problem with the 55 gl it
> was there for three years, but my husbands friend moved to a smaller
> apartment and he has a 120 gl and no room, we have the room so we are
> giving him the 55 and he is giving us the 120, not a bad deal....
> I just have not figured out what I am going to put in something that
> big, I read a lot of the posts to see what other people have, I was
> going to put my guppies in my 55, but now we are setting up the 120 it
> seems to big, so I want to get a lot of different fish.
> thanks nikki


Congrats on the 120g! Woo hoo, that's a nice size :o).

I've dragged a 120g around with me for about 25 years (a lot of different
houses). Also a 55g (66g actually, but close enough). At 55g, it's not
really very critical. You can get really unlucky, but a 55g is quite
safe in most places. Not so with a 120g imo. At this size, you really
need to be paying more attention to your load distribution (stand
design), proximity to structural wall & orientation to joists (and
possibly reinforcement). Whereas the 55g has few 'bad' locations, the
120g has relatively few 'good' locations where it can go without some
modifications or concessions to the ideal location. Once it is in place
though, that 5 foot wall of water is quite the canvas to color & fill
;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk
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Jürgen Exner

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Since: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 33



(Msg. 7) Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:35 am
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
wrote:
> I recently purchased a 90 gallon aquarium and want to use it as a
> partial room divider between my living and dining areas. My question
> is, do I need to give any consideration to load weight on my floor
> joists. My tank is only 18 inches wide and the proposed location of
> the tank runs parallel with the joists so it is possible it could be
> above only one joist when it is set up.

Well, just do the math:
90 gallons is roughly about 350 liters or 350 kg. Add another 50kg for the
tank and decorations and you are talking 400kg or about half a compact car.
Do you want half a car sitting on your single joist?

jue
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Marco Schwarz

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Since: Mar 07, 2006
Posts: 227



(Msg. 8) Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:58 pm
Post subject: Re: Aquarium weight load on floor. [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Hi..

> Generally the more knowledgeable a poster is about
> structural engineering, the less likely they are to offer
> any specific advice on this type of question.

;-)
--
cu
Marco
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