Expected System Weight

[Graz]

I am in the process of planning for a ~225 gallon aquarium. I am relatively certain that I will have to have the floor reinforced.

I am trying to figure out how much the entire system will weigh. I had read somewhere that a rough number is 10 lbs per gallon, but 2250 lbs seems low. Is 4000 lbs a better estimate?

 

[KJAG]

I'd say 3k lbs, give or take 100lbs with your stand, rock, sump etc is a fair estimate.
This is going on your second story?

What kind of overflow are you going with?

 

[Kershaw]

Well a gallon of water weighs 8.4lbs so 10gal per gallon is a safe number. Don't forget displacement of water from the rock. if the tank is glass it will probable be a few hundred pounds. So I agree 3k to 3.5k is fairly close. how big will you sump be? My 180 was estimated to be about 2200lbs

 

[Graz]

It will be on the main floor, over a full basement. Fortunately, the location directly below is an extra large furnace room that should have room for some supports in it. Unfortunately, the location isn't near any bearing walls and will have the aquarium parallel to the joists.

As for overflow, I was planning on a Reef Savvy Ghost Overflow. It will fit in the small recess that exists behind the planned aquarium location.

I was planning something one the order of 60-80 gallon sump.

 

[Kershaw]

I had my 180 on a elevated foundation. No basement. I had it going across 3 floor joices. I didn't add any extra support. In your case I would add some but you don't need to go crazy.

 

[Graz]

I am contacting an engineering firm in town. I would rather spend a few hundred bucks to find out that I don't need to reinforce or get it properly reinforced than drop a $10,000 aquarium through the floor.

 

[Sleepydoc]

g00d call! Chatrooms have many helpful, well-intentioned people, but their expertise is varied and the only person with actual skin in the game is you. Getting an opinion from someone with expertise in the field and who can physically look at the floor and wall construction is well worth it, IMO.