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View Full Version : Is it safe/okie to have a 60g tank/stand on main floor ?


sc2canfish
11-11-2011, 04:12 PM
I have a 60g fresh water tank, stand, gravel and decoration. The total weight is around 800 - 900 lbs.

I read some article online on where to put aquarium, esp this one (http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm).

At the moment, I have my tank away 10 inches from my house front wall (which I assume is the load-bearing wall), and is at the center of the house width.

for demonstration, pls go here http://pastebin.com/i0Gm7YDZ

I went to basement and check the floor joist. I found out that floor joists are parallel to the front wall. It means that my tank is parallel to the floor joist which is not the optimal setup.

I hope that the load-bearing wall will help out because my tank is close to it.

I dont know if townhouse framing structure is different than a single house ?

Please tell me if my placement is good.

Cal_stir
11-11-2011, 04:36 PM
if the joists are parallel to the wall and the tank is parallel to the joists then all the weight will be on 2 joists that are not supported with in 3 feet so i would say that it will sag, can you put some supports in the basement like 4x4 posts and cripple the joists to the floor.

globaldesigns
11-11-2011, 04:39 PM
I have my 180G DT/100G refuge on the second floor without issue. However I do have 2 load bearing walls and enginneered floor joices under the tank. Engineered floors are laminated not just plain wood strips, so they are much stronger.

It would be best to have joices going under the tank. Is there at least one joice under things, or is the tank between the wall and the first joice? If so, things could/would most likely sag over time.

Best bet is to have someone look at it.

sc2canfish
11-11-2011, 06:33 PM
I am pretty sure my floor joists are engineered floor joists because it looks like this http://www.icreatables.com/framing/what-are-floor-joists.html

I double check in the basement, there is at least 1 joist below the tank. the tank is positioned from half the distance from load-bearing wall - 1st joist to half the distance from 1st joist to 2nd joist.

So the first joist takes all the hit.