Replies

1. 
   roqqytop | Mar 29, 2009 07:19pm | #1

   Where does the tank sit? (hopefully against a wall)
   because @ 62" x 20" = 8.61 sq ft your floor ( living quarters)
   was designed almost assuredly for only a total PSF.

   8.61 x 50 = 430 pounds which will be exceeded by a fair amount.

   Dont get alarmed just yet though.
   If the tank sits against a wall in a room with a short span floor joist or the middle of the room has relatively little live load (heavy furniture) there will more than likely be no problem; however,

   should the tank sit in the rooms center, more inspection needs to be addressed.

   MORE information is needed.

   As for the carcass (tank support)
   3/4" plywood properly braced can handle 1000# PLF.
   In fact, 3/4" ply has been used for I-Joist rim board banding for 30 years in single story construction.

   As for the proper way to construct the tank base, that depends upon HOW the tank base implies its load to the base.
   Is it applied only to the perimeter? Or uniformly distributed
   by means of a flat bottom? Double rim is OVERKILL.
   1 more divider would provide greater benefit

   Chances are that only an idiot could construct a platform that is not substantially adequate; however, there is a slight chance that where the tank sits could be a problem - especially if the house is old.

1. 
   dynamwebz | Apr 04, 2009 06:01pm | #15

   I built this nice cherry medicine cabinet with a mirror. The thing weighs like 30 pounds. Now I'm getting really concerned about my wall falling down.

2. 
   Walnutz | Mar 29, 2009 08:16pm | #2

   Your design is sound.  At one time,  I was an extreme salt water buff.  I had 3 tanks, and built the stands for all 3.  The largest was 120 gallons, and the smallest was a 65 gallon hex.   None were ever a problem, and I used 3/4" ply for the carcasses, with solid wood face frames.  I re-inforced the "header" over the doorway in the front with 3/4" 1" x 4" solid wood.  In 15 years, it never sagged even an 1/16".

   Typically, these tanks are up against the wall, where load bearing isn't an issue.  If you have it in the middle of the room, just make sure other very heavy items aren't near by.

    

3. 
   Dave45 | Mar 30, 2009 05:10pm | #3

   How about the weight of the piping, pumps, filters, etc? Your cabinet has to carry those too - and provide access to them.

1. 
   roqqytop | Mar 30, 2009 08:53pm | #4

   totally irrelevant
   with 3/4 ply sides adequately braced, and a 3/4 top,
   the stand would hold 3 times that weight, minimum.
   Only potential problem would be if the tank sat midspan of a long joist span - that 1s highly unlikely.

1. 
   Dave45 | Mar 30, 2009 09:09pm | #5

   While I agree that a properly built 3/4" ply cabinet should easily carry a 55 gal tank, I've seen too many people ignore the weight of the equipment under the tank - as well as how configuration of the internal support is affected by the piping, controls, etc.One of my cabinet customers has a 600 gal reef tank and the cost of engineering an adequate cabinet plus floor support was almost as much as the tank and equipment.As an engineer, I was brainwashed into accounting for ALL loads before calling any of them irrelevent. - lol

1. 
   roqqytop | Mar 30, 2009 11:55pm | #6

   THAT is the problem with too many engineers of which now YOU have joined the club - IDENTIFYING the problem or cause of concern.
   Too many people want to make things complicated therefore making themselves LOOK IMPORTANT with the answers. I dont play that game.On any SYSTEM with a maximum of 55 gallons of water, yes indeed, all other components are IRRELEVANT as far as weight goes. What is the max they could weigh? Tippy top 100#s.
   Unless the TANK SITS in the center of the room there is NO WAY in HELL it could cause any problem.Your rebuttal using a MUCH BIGGER tank and system just goes to show how a lot of engineers are OUT OF TOUCH with identifying the REAL PROBLEM.
   Your example is totally irrelevant as WELL.BTW, my degree is in structural engineering and IN A LOT OF CASES,
   a lot of the paperwork can be eliminated using nothing more than common sense which our society has a short supply of.Thats why obtaining a building permit costs what it does.
   You have building inspectors and 12.47 per hour paper pushers issuing permits that should be flipping hamburgers.When its all boiled down, the only engineers that can properly inspect
   new home construction are Structural engineers. They can be taught the electrical and other inspections, but it is almost impossible to teach other disciplines of engineering the structural elements.The guy wasnt building a Mars spaceship, dont complicate the solution
   to holding up a 55 gallon fish tank with a 22" high base.Simple answer - 3/4" plywood rim is more than adequate with baffle bracing at 16" oc & a 3/4" top. NO, the rim doesnt need to be doubled up. PROPER connections of the sides to the baffle braces and bottom & top are MORE important.

1. 
   Dave45 | Mar 31, 2009 01:01am | #7

   Whatever you say, dude. - lol

2. 
   roqqytop | Mar 31, 2009 01:39am | #8

   typical response from someone called out making a MOUNTAIN out of a molehill.You should run for office where your vastly over rated importance would be noticed!

3. 
   Cincinnati | Mar 31, 2009 05:36am | #9

   QUOTE: "When its all boiled down, the only engineers that can properly inspect

   new home construction are Structural engineers. They can be taught the electrical and other inspections, but it is almost impossible to teach other disciplines of engineering the structural elements."'

   Just wondering from what institution of higher learning you got your degree? Is it in civil, structural, mechanical, or something else?

   You make a valid point with most highly technical fields. When you hear the sound of hoof beats, in America one usually appears foolish if searching for zebras.Greg

   <!---->•••••••

   Exo 35:30-35<!---->

4. 
   Dave45 | Mar 31, 2009 07:22am | #10

   ".....but it is almost impossible to teach other disciplines of engineering the structural elements."I sure wish I had known that in the late 60's, 70's, 80's & early 90's when I was trained as a Nuclear Engineer, worked as a Health Physicist and a Nuclear Chemist, got licensed as a Mechanical Engineer, and also worked for several years as a Structural Engineer. I sure hope that none of the 25-30 nuclear power plants I worked on ever fall down. - lol

5. 
   clarence_dad | Mar 31, 2009 04:03pm | #11

   Thanks for all of your input. I picked up some 1" furniture grade plywood, and will make the stand from that. The unit is against a wall, but I plan to check the structure of the floor from down in the basement. BTW, a shout out to Rosenzweig Lumber in da Bronx. I always feel like a kid in a candy shop there.Thanks,John

6. 
   RichinVA | Mar 31, 2009 06:55pm | #12

   "When its all boiled down, the only engineers that can properly inspect
   new home construction are Structural engineers."I'm gonna have to call BS on that one. Absolutely wrong. Just 'cause you got a stamp doesn't mean that others don't know about M of E, tension, moments, shear, etc. If you could learn it, others can as well.Did you get your license so that you could inspect houses? Seems like such a waste of your time.............Rich

7. 
   roqqytop | Mar 31, 2009 08:39pm | #13

   LMAO
   U got it all wrong.
   I Do NOT have my P E license, that was the point I was trying to make, the license only means that the person PASSED a test at some time - it DOES NOT mean they are REAL SHARP.oh yeah, they certainly might be, but there is no guarantee either.Nope, dont have a building inspectors license either, that was the other point I apparently didnt make clearly enough.MOST building inspectors could not determine is a beam is of adequate size or there is enough bearing length for a header or beam.
   Most inspectors have no clue as the the number of required jack studs for long headers that are prevalent in todays larger homes.In fact, I told an inspector once that I would make a large wager that I could find structural deficiencies in over half the large homes he approved based simply on header bearing length over large windows. After explaining the details, he acknowledged that he would need to examine those conditions differently in the future.I learned long ago that there are some real sharp dudes out there that dont have licenses or fancy credentials; unfortunately, in todays world passing a test gives some people more authority than the knowledge that they possess.

8. 
   RichinVA | Apr 01, 2009 04:04am | #14

   Understood, sorry for the mix up."unfortunately, in todays world passing a test gives some people more authority than the knowledge that they possess."Good line. I also like: Educated beyond their intelligence........Rich