Tank Weight And Floor Boards

[idlefingers]

I've been looking at new tanks and want to get something bigger than my current 126ltr tank and have been drooling over a 240ltr jewel one.

I live in a townhouse and the living room's on the middle floor. I have no idea how strong the floorboards are, but they do creek a fair bit in places! Anyway, is a 240ltr tank something I should ask a builder's advice on? How big can a tank be before needing to worry about how strong the floor is?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[gpgscott]

Freshwater is approx 8lbs/us gal that make the water weight of your proposed tank around 480 lbs. I don't know about building standards where you are located, a minimum should be 50 lbs/sf say this tank is 4' x 1.5' that would be 6 sf. 480/6=80 lbs/sf. If you put the tank on a stand you use the area of the stands base to calculate rather than the bottom of the tank. Ask a few questions about the structure in which you plan to place this tank before purchasing it. Scott

 

[idlefingers]

So you think I should ask a builder?

If I were to put a big piece of wood under the stand to spread the weight, would that make it better? Anything else I could do? I can't make any expensive structural changes.

Sorry, I'm no good when it comes to this kind-of stuff!

 

[olly24]

i live in a first floor converted barn and the boards are really old and i have a 180 l tank which is fine when i first moved in i had a 96 l but then upgraded was unsure but thought what the f**k ill try been with 180 for about 12 months now and planning on another upgrade

up to u if u wanna try

 

[fishwatcher]

I have always been paranoid about this, but I called my homeowners insurance and they will cover it if the tank crashes, the floors falls in, a football busts through it, etc. Anything "sudden and accidental". I figure as long as it's covered I can handle it if something happens.

 

[idlefingers]

Well, it's not my house.. my dad's the landlord, so [as long as you don't tell him] I might just give it a try. shhhhhh. I didn't know it might be pushing it. I'm just an innocent bystander.

 

[gsta13]

Well, it's not my house.. my dad's the landlord, so [as long as you don't tell him] I might just give it a try. shhhhhh. I didn't know it might be pushing it. I'm just an innocent bystander.

had the sameproblem here get a chipboard base to put the tank on it does spread the weight. ring your insurance see if its ok. and check wich way the beams run in your floor. Its the opposite wa to your floor boards. ensure that the tank goes over a few of these, they are usaly 18" center to center. think about it its only like have 3 big guys stand next to each other on your floor boards.
Greg