Concerning... tank on hardwood floor on second floor

[danreef55]

Does anyone have experience with a 2nd floor tank on wooden floor?
Aside from the structural concerns that can be addresses what about the impact on hardwood floors?
I am a bit hesitant and would appreciate any input from the community

thank you and happy reefing
Dan

 

[iannarelli]

I just filled my 60g cube in a 3rd floor NYC co-op apartment with hardwood floors. I designed the stand so that the only way water will get on the floor is if there's a catastrophic failure of the tank or the sump. I've had some minor spills and wiped them up with no ill effect.

With regards to structural concerns, you're probably fine. But to ease your mind, read this post about residential wood framing and structural loading, it's super informative and should answer all your questions and put your mind at ease.

 

[danreef55]

Hey Ian,
Thanks for the link there is a great deal of info here and food for thought.

 

[danreef55]

The sump will be in a bump out in the basement. There is 8' between the triple 2x12s and the back wall. On the right there is another foundation wall. The tank will be perpendicular to the joists. Do you think this would need even more support?

 

[Troylee]

The sump will be in a bump out in the basement. There is 8' between the triple 2x12s and the back wall. On the right there is another foundation wall. The tank will be perpendicular to the joists. Do you think this would need even more support?

What size tank? Mines on hardwood floors but it’s the first story.. the flooring is fine and my tank is 300gal display with a 120gal sump.

 

[danreef55]

It will be approx 240Gal with a 180gal sump in the basement.

 

[iannarelli]

Perpendicular to the joists and presumably up against the wall? I don't think you need to worry.

 

[danreef55]

Thanks Troylee.
be well

 

[danreef55]

Hi Ian yes it will be up against the wall. I thought that I would be ok but wanted reassurance

 

[iannarelli]

Hi Ian yes it will be up against the wall. I thought that I would be ok but wanted reassurance

My name is actually Darryl, Iannarelli is my maternal great-grandfather's family name. Hah. Either way, glad I can help!

 

[danreef55]

Ha

 

[JGT]

Looks fine. I have a similar setup. 240 on wood floors, sump in basement. Looks like the joists are sitting on lam beam which is super strong. Would have no worries.
Wood floors will gets drips and spills. If you wipe up quick you should be fine. Beauty of sump in basement is that any major issues won’t happen on main floor but in basement. Trust me, I’d be divorced if my sump/ato/WC’s was under the tank/ happened on main floor.

 

[danreef55]

I have a plumber coming tomorrow to verify that the two capped pipes in the basement floor are a vent and drain.
Once that is confirmed I will have him put in a sink. Next step is a contractor to create the access to the basement.
After that I am ready to pull the trigger on my new build!

 

[iannarelli]

Looks fine. I have a similar setup. 240 on wood floors, sump in basement. Looks like the joists are sitting on lam beam which is super strong. Would have no worries.
Wood floors will gets drips and spills. If you wipe up quick you should be fine. Beauty of sump in basement is that any major issues won’t happen on main floor but in basement. Trust me, I’d be divorced if my sump/ato/WC’s was under the tank/ happened on main floor.

Divorced = more tanks, right?

JK!

 

[JGT]

Divorced = more tanks, right?

JK!

Eh, depends on how good your attorney is. Could mean downsizing to a goldfish bowl.

 

[danreef55]

Just had dinner at a restaurant with my wife and broke her the news that I was getting back into the hobby. She was NOT enthusiastic about it but at least she knows where I am

 

[Peter Houde]

Second floor, basement sump, sounds great ... I guess. There are no basements in this neck of the woods. My 125g is on a hardwood ground floor. The tank is 8 inches from the wall. It's a good thing you can't easily see the floor underneath or the molding behind because after nearly 30 years of siphoning accidents, leaks, spills, and fallen salt build up, they're trashed. Given time, accidents are inevitable. I can't speak to the second floor issue, but from my experience I'd venture to say that large tanks and hardwood floors are a bad combination.

 

[mrjoe]

floors never really are the a big factor here... what's support them is tho... how big are the joists and how far apart are they???

 

[danreef55]

Hi,
They are 2x10 and because this is a bump out the joists are not more than 10' from a foundation wall and 8" from a triple 2x12 beam

 

[paintingsbyreb]

Does anyone have experience with a 2nd floor tank on wooden floor?
Aside from the structural concerns that can be addresses what about the impact on hardwood floors?
I am a bit hesitant and would appreciate any input from the community

thank you and happy reefing
Dan

In my last house I ended up putting my tanks on top of gym mats due to concerns about my wood floors and a bad experience with a seem link on another tank. This worked great for me. My current house has stone floors which is even better, but I'd recommend American Floor Mats gym mat, I put the rubber roll matting down with their puzzle piece kind of mats on top