Advice on keeping the tank in a garage

Scoobaman17 · 12/12/2010, 11:32 AM

I have three options. I am moving to an upstairs condo with a 2 car garage underneath.

1 option is to have the tank in the garage however I have no clue what the effects of gas may be to the tank. There will also be two cars in the garage one being a 1971 Pontiac GTO.

2nd option is to have it upstairs but I just have no clue what the structure is like or am I just being ridiculous since the tank it a 100 display with about a 40 gallon sump.

The final option is taking my prized work of art tank that I have built up for years to my family warehouse which used to be a plating company so the chemicals in the air are intoxicating enough but if this won't effect the tank then I have the option to set up my 240 gallon display next to my 100 gallon.

I need some advice this would be happening this month. Thanks!

kfisc · 12/12/2010, 02:17 PM

Assuming you may have the budget for this kind of thing, I'd reinforce the area beneath the tank and put it upstairs. While not a monster system, a 140 g system could be significant weight. If you know the load-bearing rating it may be alright, but well worth the security of the extra construction if I were doing it. Good luck!

reefermad619 · 12/12/2010, 04:22 PM

You'll be fine with a 100gal tank upstaired. Picture 3 fat dudes on a couch. Will the couch fall though?

Dustin1300 · 12/12/2010, 04:34 PM

But....Do the three fat dudes sit on the couch for years at a time?

Sk8r · 12/12/2010, 05:11 PM

Just don't imagine them hopping up and down for 3 years. If your upstairs holds a fridge, it'll manage the tank. Most modern apts have a 'foamed concrete' floor, reinforced concrete. It'll hold. Do set it against a loadbearing wall, best idea. Mid-floor is asking for trouble.

Dustin1300 · 12/12/2010, 05:31 PM

On a serious note, I'd agree with sk8r and just put against a load bearing wall. The tank and sump water volume is going to equate to ~1167 pounds plus your tank/stand/equipment weight. I'd guess that would end up putting the tank at about 1500 pounds. That's three rather fat dudes on a very large couch

Sk8r, why would you put fat guys jumping on a couch in anyone's mind?!?

Scoobaman17 · 12/12/2010, 08:42 PM

lol I've had the tank upstairs once before but I will try to look at what the structure is like. The way the garages are setup isn't in a way that I can reinforce the structure beneath the tank. I'll check at whats under the carpet and if a small drill bit breaks trying to find the studs then I know I have concrete. That's the best case scenario. At 1500 pounds it breaks into about 150 pounds per square foot. That's really not bad at all to think about it especially off a load bearing wall. I can put all my 190 pounds on my tippy toes without any creaks in the floor and that's 190 pounds in a 3 inch square "I'm estimating here"

I hope I don't have three 500 pound guys over on my couch any time soon however. That's a little much.

On the last note, is there any danger for having the tank in the garage?

cm11599ps · 12/12/2010, 08:49 PM

Be sure to see what direction the floor beams are running and try to position the tank so it sits perpendicular to them.

Agu · 12/12/2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

On the last note, is there any danger for having the tank in the garage?

I've seen it done. However their daily drive car doesn't get parked in the garage. More often there's a couch (usually without three fat guys), refrigerator, tools and a motorcycle (the GTO will qualify) taking up most of the floor space.

It's called a man cave

.......

The biggest danger is having a partner who thinks their car should get parked in the garage.

Scoobaman17 · 12/12/2010, 08:57 PM

Well my girlfriends car "2006 Chevy Aveo" is a daily driver car and will get parked in the garage daily and the GTO will be taken out a few times a week. I mean I plan on having the exhaust on both cars pointing out towards the door to the garage not sure if that will change anything. I guess the best bet is to just keep it inside the upstairs so everyone can enjoy it.

Agu · 12/12/2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

I guess the best bet is to just keep it inside the upstairs so everyone can enjoy it.

That would be my vote .....

12/12/2010, 11:32 AM	#1
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	Advice on keeping the tank in a garage I have three options. I am moving to an upstairs condo with a 2 car garage underneath. 1 option is to have the tank in the garage however I have no clue what the effects of gas may be to the tank. There will also be two cars in the garage one being a 1971 Pontiac GTO. 2nd option is to have it upstairs but I just have no clue what the structure is like or am I just being ridiculous since the tank it a 100 display with about a 40 gallon sump. The final option is taking my prized work of art tank that I have built up for years to my family warehouse which used to be a plating company so the chemicals in the air are intoxicating enough but if this won't effect the tank then I have the option to set up my 240 gallon display next to my 100 gallon. I need some advice this would be happening this month. Thanks! __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

12/12/2010, 04:22 PM	#3
reefermad619 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Salty D! Sandy let go of my eggo! Posts: 1,962	You'll be fine with a 100gal tank upstaired. Picture 3 fat dudes on a couch. Will the couch fall though? __________________ Fish tanks and Chevys... And my cousin's Datsun too. Some call it paranoid. I call it prepared. You have more post than I do... You MUST be right then!

12/12/2010, 04:34 PM	#4
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	But....Do the three fat dudes sit on the couch for years at a time? __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/12/2010, 05:11 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Just don't imagine them hopping up and down for 3 years. If your upstairs holds a fridge, it'll manage the tank. Most modern apts have a 'foamed concrete' floor, reinforced concrete. It'll hold. Do set it against a loadbearing wall, best idea. Mid-floor is asking for trouble. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/12/2010, 05:31 PM	#6
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	On a serious note, I'd agree with sk8r and just put against a load bearing wall. The tank and sump water volume is going to equate to ~1167 pounds plus your tank/stand/equipment weight. I'd guess that would end up putting the tank at about 1500 pounds. That's three rather fat dudes on a very large couch Sk8r, why would you put fat guys jumping on a couch in anyone's mind?!? __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/12/2010, 02:17 PM	#2
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	Assuming you may have the budget for this kind of thing, I'd reinforce the area beneath the tank and put it upstairs. While not a monster system, a 140 g system could be significant weight. If you know the load-bearing rating it may be alright, but well worth the security of the extra construction if I were doing it. Good luck!

12/12/2010, 08:42 PM	#7
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	lol I've had the tank upstairs once before but I will try to look at what the structure is like. The way the garages are setup isn't in a way that I can reinforce the structure beneath the tank. I'll check at whats under the carpet and if a small drill bit breaks trying to find the studs then I know I have concrete. That's the best case scenario. At 1500 pounds it breaks into about 150 pounds per square foot. That's really not bad at all to think about it especially off a load bearing wall. I can put all my 190 pounds on my tippy toes without any creaks in the floor and that's 190 pounds in a 3 inch square "I'm estimating here" I hope I don't have three 500 pound guys over on my couch any time soon however. That's a little much. On the last note, is there any danger for having the tank in the garage? __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

12/12/2010, 08:49 PM	#8
cm11599ps Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY Posts: 1,413	Be sure to see what direction the floor beams are running and try to position the tank so it sits perpendicular to them. __________________ LIRA Member Current Tank - 55 gallon. Custom CLF1 sump, fuge, overflow & SVS2-24 skimmer from Lifereef. 4x54 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 4 Lunar LEDs. 2 EcoTech MP40's, 70lbs assorted

12/12/2010, 08:57 PM	#10
Scoobaman17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 1,087	Well my girlfriends car "2006 Chevy Aveo" is a daily driver car and will get parked in the garage daily and the GTO will be taken out a few times a week. I mean I plan on having the exhaust on both cars pointing out towards the door to the garage not sure if that will change anything. I guess the best bet is to just keep it inside the upstairs so everyone can enjoy it. __________________ "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work" - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75g reef, 140g reef

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