Fish Tank (HELP)

darrencook said:
This isn't a private house its council. i have emailed them asking about it. but unlikely they will give me a relevant answer.

How much was it for a builder to have a look? failing them telling me its going downstairs. but i wouldnt say the floor down there is any better...

there are two main beams running between two load baring walls in the sitting room, they run pretty much under where the tank is located atm, my theory was they would 100% support the dead weight as they are steal/iron beams.

But the question is if the joists rest on these beams or what.. as i have no way of finding out without ripping the chipboard up and last time i tried that it all broke to hell.
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I got a friend who is a builder to look, most people seem to know a builder so ask around for someone.

The fact that the chipboard crumbled when you tried to take it up doesn't bode well for having half a tonne on it.
 
King85 said:
I got a friend who is a builder to look, most people seem to know a builder so ask around for someone.

The fact that the chipboard crumbled when you tried to take it up doesn't bode well for having half a tonne on it.
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i mean where the nails/screws are. Local council isn't known for there workman ship...

Btw i know where the joists are running. just want to be safe really.
 
darrencook said:
i mean where the nails/screws are. Local council isn't known for there workman ship...

Btw i know where the joists are running. just want to be safe really.
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Get a second opinion from a builder/structural engineer then mate, it's the only way to know you're going to be safe.
 
If you are that adamant about having it upstairs and are worried about the fish tank joining you on the sofa one day then use a base to spread the weight over a larger area.

However, bare in mind an average bath holds around 65 litres, thats 65KG on 5 very small feet, so 250KG over a large area won't be much hassle!
 
i have a 120l in my room which has been fine so far, perhaps if you are really worried you could exchange it for a smaller one bur provided it sits in a corner above load bearing walls with the beams running so that the tank sits on as many as possible it *should* be all right but i wouldn't want to put anything bigger upstairs!
 
Currently have a 4 and a half foot 400litre (ish) jobbie in a first floor flat. Make sure you go across the beams rather than in line with them and you will be fine :)
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
Search for stories where people have had tanks go through the roof.
How many can you find?
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Who keeps their thank on the roof? You wouldn't be able to see it :D

Malt_Vinegar said:
190 litre corner tank (so not able to go fully across beams) with no issues.
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The corner of a room, especially if it were the corner between two load bearing walls would be very strong anyway.
 
300ltr tank now downstairs, and i'd no way consider having it upstairs, it weighs over a ton.
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It does NOT weigh over a ton.

Unless it's on a granite cabinet that is!
 
300 litres of water in the display = 300kg, 20kg for the glass, 20-30kg for the cab. possibly 50 litres in external filters.

300+20+30+50 = 400kg max.

On another note, does anybody know how much pressure an average size woman in high heels exerts on the floor? I remember when I was worrying about this same issue, I worked out that my 4.5feet 400 litre jobby exerts less weight per inch of floor space than an average size woman waring a pair of stilettos.... That pretty much made up my mind for me, if she doesn't fall through the floor, the tank will be fine!

BTW mine is in a first floor flat and has been for around 4 years. No sign of it falling onto the old biddy below yet.
 
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