go big or go home

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

So, pulled the trigger on a 220g tonight. Craigslist has been like my second home lately and it will probably continue to be so, until, well, forever. There just seems to be so many people constantly cycling (pun intended) out of the hobby which makes the deals real. Why anyone would be new is beyond me.

I could seriously make a living buying stuff on craigslist...oh wait. Wife says no, but yes to tank

It's not new and it wont be perfect, but it's as close to my dream tank as the budget allows. In fact, I am trading a refrigerator that was in our house when we bought it. straight up. Think I'll call it the Chill Tank, since it came from a refrigerator. get it? hardy har har

Anyways, speaking of my house, does anyone out there have experience double checking the load a floor can bear? I am about 50% concerned because our house has a decent sized crawl space and, well, 220 plus rock and gear is a lot of weight. Probably looking to reinforce things down under and want to get that ball rolling.

Tank is acrylic single overflow in the middle with an open steel stand. I wanted no seams and an open stand so things are looking good. Only issue is the long drive

but the tank is dry and will be dry so no livestock transport this time. (everyone breaths sigh of relief

)

This all came about because after experiencing the 65 and seeing what it takes to grow coral, I've pretty much all but decided to go FOWLR for now. (hope we don't have to say goodbye, we just met

) It's just that with my skill set, I could see myself getting in way over my head with water chemistry and expensive livestock. Also, I realize my true passion in this hobby is lots of fish, big and small. So, just going to keep it simple, and BIG.

morpheas · May 12, 2016

You're a whirlwind of decisions lately aren't you? Well I'm glad you're realizing your dream. And keeping it FOWLR at this point is a good move, it will be much less complicated at the pace you're going. When you slow down a little and everything gets settled maybe you'll make that 65 a reef tank, who knows....

So I guess all the fish that are crammed up in that 65 are technically just temporary in there which is definitely good and all that rock you have in there will be really useful. Are you planning to take down the 65 or keep both?

The structural support is definitely something you need to look at. If I were you I'd hire someone to come out and inspect the place you're planning to put the tank and see if there is anything that needs to be done.

Good luck!

rayn · May 12, 2016

Nice tank, and nice price!

It never hurts to have someone come out and take a look. A 220 will weigh quite a bit once full. It also never hurts to go ahead and support the floor now, I tend to think you can't over do support.

MCooper · May 12, 2016

The title says it all! That is what I tell my wife when she asks me "why did you buy that?" hahah
Looking forward to the build

Virtualbasil · May 12, 2016

You're looking at close to 1,900 pounds just in water. Have someone come and look at it. How old is the house ?

4FordFamily · May 12, 2016

I used to buy and gut and sell setups when I had free time. I rescued many fish from pretty bad situations. Poor hippo tangs would get horrible hlle in poor care by many on Craigslist

BoneXriffic · May 12, 2016

I believe minimum load ratings depending on age of house and local code is usally around 100lbs per square ft. Thats standard code here...and im sure many other places....you can add support underneath easily

BoneXriffic · May 12, 2016

Ooops forgot a 0, 1000 lbs per square ft sorry

morpheas · May 12, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
Ooops forgot a 0, 1000 lbs per square ft sorry

Haha yah I was like dang we'd be falling through on every step!

RyanCSGO · May 12, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
Ooops forgot a 0, 1000 lbs per square ft sorry

thats good to know. i was looking around everywhere trying to get an idea about that. after extensive searching i basically went for it. "lets see if the tank falls through the floor"
house was build in 1957 so it has the elevated foundation. decided on a 60G Cube over a large 150+ gallon tank until we buy a home.

Flybill · May 12, 2016

As a home builder I can say Code is 40#sf live load 10#dead load for living space 30# for bedrooms. Older homes probably don't meet those loads.
So for 200 gallons 6'x2'=12sf x 40#sf=480#.
That's based on allowable deflection not ultimate failure. Usually joists fail at much higher loads but not predictably

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

This is new language for me. Thank you! Here is a pic of what it looks like underneath where the tank will be. Does this look good to go? Thank again! (house was built in '04 or '05)

BoneXriffic · May 12, 2016

Scratch post

BoneXriffic · May 12, 2016

JonPhillips said:
This is new language for me. Thank you! Here is a pic of what it looks like underneath where the tank will be. Does this look good to go? Thank again! (house was built in '04 or '05)

Oh god that would be so easy to brace...2x12s with a solid nail patern on joists under it

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
Oh god that would be so easy to brace...2x12s with a solid nail patern on joists under it

(scratches head)

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

DrCooper said:
The title says it all! That is what I tell my wife when she asks me "why did you buy that?" hahah
Looking forward to the build

LOL! she's like "you are so done after this one!" and I am like "I promise!"

RyanCSGO · May 12, 2016

JonPhillips said:
LOL! she's like "you are so done after this one!" and I am like "I promise!"

The addiction comes on fast and strong haha. Had all kinds of tanks when i was younger. My wife and i got our first one together a year ago. Now have 3 that are wet. A spare 55 and a spare 10 thats used for the ATO

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

RyanCSGO said:
The addiction comes on fast and strong haha. Had all kinds of tanks when i was younger. My wife and i got our first one together a year ago. Now have 3 that are wet. A spare 55 and a spare 10 thats used for the ATO

lol. She says she's not all about it, but I catch her zoning out on the tank quite frequently. "WHOAAAAAAA!"

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

morpheas said:
You're a whirlwind of decisions lately aren't you? Well I'm glad you're realizing your dream. And keeping it FOWLR at this point is a good move, it will be much less complicated at the pace you're going. When you slow down a little and everything gets settled maybe you'll make that 65 a reef tank, who knows....

So I guess all the fish that are crammed up in that 65 are technically just temporary in there which is definitely good and all that rock you have in there will be really useful. Are you planning to take down the 65 or keep both?

The structural support is definitely something you need to look at. If I were you I'd hire someone to come out and inspect the place you're planning to put the tank and see if there is anything that needs to be done.

Good luck!

65 is coming down! Thanks!

JonPhillips · May 12, 2016

rayn said:
Nice tank, and nice price!

It never hurts to have someone come out and take a look. A 220 will weigh quite a bit once full. It also never hurts to go ahead and support the floor now, I tend to think you can't over do support.

Price is good!!!! Picking it up on Monday if all goes according to plan. Has a few scratches but doing a bit of research they should buff out ok!