A noob's first question: how big is too big?

[Linkblaze]

Hi all, my first post here after lurking for awhile. Terrific site and I really look forward to getting started in reef keeping and being a part of the community here.

Anyways, my first question is how big is too big? Specifically when it comes to floor support. I know the standard answer, when in doubt get a professional but I'm just looking for some general ideas for now. I mean, when do you get to a tank size that you need to seriously plan out extra floor support. I know that a 100g tank is over half a ton in weight, but is that a lot (sure it's a lot for me to lift, but is it a lot for a floor to holdup)? Take my example:

I'm looking to setup a standard aquarium on a stand on the ground floor of Craftsman/California bungalow style fourplex (anybody in Southern California should be familiar with the style, they are all over the place). The wall that it will be sitting flush against gives me about 7.5 feet of space to work with for length. Unfortunaly, I'll be perpendicular to the main load bearing wall as well as the floor joists (as best I can tell...was difficult to see down in the crawl space). However, they made these old places pretty well...I mean these walls are not cheap drywall and my unit has to hold up the unit above it. Also, I'm thinking of going acrylic and drilling through the wall to a closest just on the other side to house my sump so that should drop a few hundred pounds.

I know this really isn't enough info to work with, but just trying to get a ballpark idea to direct my thinking.

Thanks for your help.

P.S. Anybody have any horror stories of aquariums crashing through floors?

[LEPRECAUN]

I guess you are talking about a 4ft 90 gallon tank or perhaps making a 5 ft acrylic tank. None of us can tell you for sure if it will hold, but from a house structure stand point, it usually isn't a big deal unless your perpendicular like you said. Now a bigger tank would be a much bigger issue.


If its a crwal space why not dig out a hole big enough for a couple of 5 gallon bucket under your floor. Sink the buckets in the ground and fill them with concrete. Then you could get the jack stands from Lowes etc like you use in a garage for support.

Rmember to put like a 4x4 or 4x6 on top of the two jack stands and crank the jack stands up to the floor support.

In an 7.5 foot space you could put a huge tank. I'm working on a 8ft x 42" x 32" tank now.

But make sure someone who knows about load structures looks at it for you. Otherwise you may be taking a big chance. None of us can give you accurate information without looking at it. I hope this helps.


LEP