Not a fully welded Question ( fish tank and floor )

[W.olly]

Floor strength for a large fish tank ??

Hi all, i am atlast goinf to to build my fish tank in the new year. but before i do i am a just in need to a second opinion on it, well if the house will cope lol

It is going to be sat on a suspended concrete floor in the kitchen, it is also supported by small RSJ beams, its in an 50 year old Xcouncil house if that helps.
The basr will be of concrete blocks etc, all build properly but the one thing i need the second opinion on is if the floor will take the weight of the 1700 kg of water, so with the tank and decor aswell it will be around the 2000 kg mark.

I cant see it being a problem.........but

 

[cumbriasteve]

I also think it would be fine but suppose there is that nagging doubt that will exist.

I know for the modern suspended flooring there are tables you can google that give the floor rating / m2.

You would tend to think 50 year stuff would be the good old fashioned built to last and would support anything, however around our way a lot of council houses were demolished because the reinforcement bars within the concrete panels had corroded badly and the panels had lost their structural strength.

You may have to go down the expensive route of a survey, not only for peace of mind but also to protect any conditions of the house insurance you have.

 

[Justme]

How big is the tanks foot print?

Hard to say if 2000kg would be to heavy without knowing.

Even its intended position could make all the difference.

 

[zx9]

I am having difficulty imagining close to 2000L of water in an aquarium, what are you going to keep, sharks?

 

[W.olly]

Sorry forgot to say the foot print which makes a lot of difference, the foot print is 9x3 foot, it will be sat along a wall with both ends of the tank within 3 inch of the wall, end of a kitchen dinner.

It will be 450 gallon or thera bouts, and i will be keeping stingrays and arrowana mainly along with a few peacock bass. Awsome fish the aro, hope to get an asian red

I found a while ago while i built a con`y the footings are deep, i was near 4 foot down and still wasnt at the footings but got solid ground for it.

 

[urban]

That's one big fish tank... no need to go to Blackpool for sealife again... just call in at radcliffe!

I'd have thought the floor could take it... especially near to the wall but I'd deffo get a survey to double check, remember insurance companies will use ANY excuse not to have to pay out and you putting such a big fish tank in without any official proof the floor can support it would be a prime get out for them not paying out in the event anything did go wrong.

 

[W.olly]

This is small to my original plan mate at 7000g, but drain under ground made the cost sky high


So what survey would i need and at what cost, does anyone know? or even who to ask for a quote.

 

[mike os]

you say suspended slab.. so there i a gap below the slab?

is the slab built in to the walls? also is it reinforced and how thick?

what rays you going for?.... & get a gold rather than red aro

at a guess (ie if it were mine) 3 walls one each end & one in middle with conc lintles over & 25-40mm insulation as padding would be good...

that said my 8x3 was on a 2" box frame with full length & width bottom rails to spread the load

 

[W.olly]

HI mike, by any chance do you a chap called Richard from you neck of the north wale area, not spoke to him for years myself, he is a monster fishkeeper aswell.

I cant say the spec of the floor as its been tears since i was under the house ( it has a 4-5 foot space below) from what i can remember its around 4 inch thick and i can remember RSJs running from front to back, the tank will be sat 90 degrees to the RSJs, but all sides against the wall`s.

I will/would be having kitchen cupboard space beneath the tank, and then around either 2 concrete block or as you did, a steel frame to spread more load.

Oh and the rays i would love, and i mean LOVE a pair of leo`s, all depends on how things go realy as they are defo not cheap and the aro is the first choice, i will be getting them young in a 4x3 to grow on once ll this is sorted, but then the peacock bass are so awsome.....spoilt what to do.

I was gutted as i had a 6x2x2 grow on tank a few year back for the big tank ( yep i know i should of made more research into the footing for it ), i went under the house and put 3 acros under to take the weight, it was in the front room which id wooden and 6x2 beams, well after about 18 months the floor started to give way and the tank water level actualy tilted down away from the wall by 10mm, so i had to get rid of the 2 motoro rays 3 peacock bass.

 

[W.olly]

Mike, whats with the GOLD aro then

 

[mike os]

just love the golds espescially xbacks

richard...rings a bell, from queensferry/chester/ellesmere port way? if so he had a giant red gourami ( & a few other bits i think) off me a few years ago.

Personally i would go for steel frame.. full "cube" type thing then all the base is loaded, not just 3 points where the "legs" are ,,,, you could even extend the shelf and fix to both walls easily enough for some added support

cichla are all great, had a few... one of each.

leos are still silly money, but black diamond crosses are becoming affordable i believe... not looked recently as i dont have a big tank any more. I bred most of the "normal" types, but could never justify the cost of the black rays even though they are incredible.

 

[mike os]

also as an alternative/ belt & braces... you could start off with 2x rsj's sat on the floor & built in to the walls either side??

 

[W.olly]

Nah mate, Richard is in Wrexham itself, loved his RTC, i know what you mean about prices of fish, just mad, i am mad to pay £700 for a pair of leo`s, and SWMBO thinks, well she hasnt said yet but i know by the looks LOL

I didnt think of putting the frame/main bearers in the wall itself, dont know why as i over build everything most times lol.

So know i reckon 4x2 steel box section with 1/4 inch wall top frame bedded in the wall, and same 4x2 lower frame with 2 inch central frame . i can weld in situ aswell, but bed the lower frame on thin layer of concrete to make sure leave, and no movement.

Going to be a good project as the filter system will be in its own room/shed outside at the back of the house.

 

[Norm]

wow £700 for a pair of fish my wife would kill me hope your floor works out Ok as I would love to see some photo's of this when its finished it sounds fantastic. Structural engineer to do a quick survey and set of calcs proving it's safe is what you want for piece of mind if your worried about any future implications with insurance etc.

 

[mike os]

700 for a pair of leos is a good price