How to support the weight of a 180 gallon aquarium

[Rbarr]

I will be upgrading from a 55 gallon to a 180 gallon aquarium. I will need to reinforce the first floor under the aquarium from the basement.

The joists are engineered wood I-Beams and the tank will be sitting parallel to and directly over one I-beam.

In the basement, I am thinking about using (3/4" X 16" X 7') plywood sheets laying parallel in the spaces on both sides of the I-beam. A (4" X 4" X 7') post will be attached under the plywood laying parallel to the I-beam, one on each side. Four jack posts, two on each side of the I-beam, will be used to hold the plywood and 4 X 4 up to support the weight of the aquarium.

The aquarium and stand will be set up beside a 6' long, half wall on the first floor. See attached photos.

All comments, pro and con will be appreciated.

 

[Backfromthedead]

well that will definitely be sufficient. while your model looks very professional, i would personally use less materials.

i would most likely shore up the i beam under load with 2x10s on either side , then just use 2 of those jack stands placed 4 feet apart directly under the tank.

 

[Leebtattoos]

I personally would use 2x8’s or 10’s to box in the I-beams. But 4x4’s as you plan for the stands is what I’d do too.

Depending on how it’s decorated, you’re looking at around 2000 total pounds (water/glass/stands/gravel). You will definitely be safe with your plans.

 

[Rocksor]

Are you planning to get an acrylic 180g? This would cut the weight of just the tank itself close to 50%.

 

[Leebtattoos]

Are you planning to get an acrylic 180g? This would cut the weight of just the tank itself close to 50%.

But on a 180 we are only talking about 100lbs less. Sounds like a lot, but if the floor is going to fail because of +/- 100lbs, I would suggest not even putting a tank there. One extra person looking at the tank and boom haha.

 

[Rocksor]

But on a 180 we are only talking about 100lbs less. Sounds like a lot, but if the floor is going to fail because of +/- 100lbs, I would suggest not even putting a tank there. One extra person looking at the tank and boom haha.

That's true, but what are the chances of an acrylic tank leaking versus a glass tank?

 

[squint]

180 gal isn't that heavy. It's only an issue because it's not along a load-bearing wall nor orthogonal to the floor joists. I think one support post and some method to spread the load between >1 joist would be enough.

 

[Leebtattoos]

Water: 8.25x180= 1485
If glass: 300lbs roughly
If acrylic: 200’ish lbs
Gravel/sand 100-150lbs if used.
Extra decor , stand, canopy, rocks etc.

 

[Leebtattoos]

That's true, but what are the chances of an acrylic tank leaking versus a glass tank?

Off topic. But that’s a Ford vs Chevy argument. Seams fail on both. There’s positives and negatives to both so it’s a matter of opinion or cost.

 

[Backfromthedead]

well not to get all technical but any decor or substrate will just displace water mass with not much appreciable difference. what you really have to watch is equipment weight. canisters or a sump will run you anywhere between 100-500+ more pounds on top of everything so its probably wise to plan for top end of that. i would say to assume your whole 180 gallon system could weigh as much as 2500 lbs. at all times.