To set up or not to set up?

People standing on the floor in a spot is considered live weight because those 4 adults will not stand there not moving or shifting for years. The tank is considered dead weight. I am shutting my tank up on a raftered floor and I was told I should reinforce the joists with some bracing. I don't know if that is possible in your situation but that isuthe advice I have been given.

 

It's true. Just because it doesn't collapse today does not mean the strain won't do damage eventually.

 

It was more to get him thinking. Floors can handle more than people think. Think of what a fully stocked fridge weighs (hundreds of pounds, over a relatively small footprint). Or what a tall entertainment canter with a big old TV on it weighs. With a proper stand, the weight is distributed throughout the footprint of the floor, so you really are looking at a relatively small lbs. per sqft.

And it is live loading vs. dead loading btw

 

I asked the owner to get a blue print or constructions plans for the floor, but I think he is quite set on me not setting the tank up regardless of how the floor is structured so he won't produce it. He offered me a ground floor apartment so I can set the tank up. My wife said no way, because we have a view and the floor apartment does not.
That stand is crazy how its notched for the supports then stapled on, so the stand is held together with staples. If its not one thing then its my wife then another thing.

 

Believe me you I thought that crazy also, foot to foot I am sure I would cover about a square foot and I am 250lbs

 

bingo. If anything build a longer stand with more support to spread the load.

 

Wow, good article(s)!

Now I'm even more ar ease w/ my 125 above my basement, on the 1st floor.
I used to have the sump in the stand- in reality, that added quite a bit more to the same 'foot' area total weight of my DT.
The sump is in the basement for a while now though, lees weight on the 1st floor.
I also know the DT runs perpendicular to the joists, and it's very near a bearing wall.

Like Marty said, do the math, and try and figure out the joist direction under where you want it to go.

 

I live in a house with wood flores and I had a 55 the, flore showed no cracking or any signs of stress. My 55 was on 4 2x4 legs. I would not feel comfortable with anything above a 75.

 

My dad and stepmom are staying in a condo in vero beach right now. Very pretty area you live in Bob

 

I bought me some nice red oak to support the stand, I already done the back with pine since it won't be seen anyways! For the front I will use the red oak cus I can't use them on the inside so they will have to be placed on the outside. That was some expensive wood too. I will put some wood screws in place of the staples holding it together.
I wish I knew which way the joist ran in the floor. I also bought a 58 x 20 plywood board that I would/will sit the tank on distributing the weight even more. I really need to get my Corals in a bigger tank. My 40b is so full you can barely even see any sand. My goodness.