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- Aug 24, 2016
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I am planning to buy a large tank for my living room but I've been going back and forth non-stop debating. I have lots of space (easily 7 feet long and 3 feet wide) that is not limiting for me but it's on the main floor with an open basement beneath it. The basement ceiling below is finished so I don't have easy access to add support. Importantly, I'm going to try to plumb the sump/ATO in the room next door which previously held a washing machine, so that weight will not be on the joists supporting the tank. For reference about the tank placement, it will run perpendicular to the joists near a wall. I BELIEVE the foundation actually runs 5-6 inches past the exterior wall and under the living room (the basement room below is shorter than the living room by ~8-9 inches). So I think at least part of the tank will be sitting directly on the foundation/basement wall.
To give an idea of approximately where I'm at, my main thoughts as of now have been between the IM 150 and something 6 foot and thinner like maybe the waterbox 230.6. I really like width in a tank and don't care much for height above 20 or so inches (I know the waterbox is a little taller). The fish I'd like to be able to include that are space limited are the long nose butterflies (CBB, yellow longnose, etc) and a regal angelfish otherwise I mostly like smaller fish like wrasses.
I'm at a bit of a standstill because I haven't been able to find a structural engineer that is interested in just coming and advising, I do have a contractor coming to finish the other half of the basement so maybe I could have him pull down the finished ceiling and add support, but I'd like to avoid a huge expense if possible. Overall I'm just curious if anyone has wisdom about what my best options and how to proceed.
To give an idea of approximately where I'm at, my main thoughts as of now have been between the IM 150 and something 6 foot and thinner like maybe the waterbox 230.6. I really like width in a tank and don't care much for height above 20 or so inches (I know the waterbox is a little taller). The fish I'd like to be able to include that are space limited are the long nose butterflies (CBB, yellow longnose, etc) and a regal angelfish otherwise I mostly like smaller fish like wrasses.
I'm at a bit of a standstill because I haven't been able to find a structural engineer that is interested in just coming and advising, I do have a contractor coming to finish the other half of the basement so maybe I could have him pull down the finished ceiling and add support, but I'd like to avoid a huge expense if possible. Overall I'm just curious if anyone has wisdom about what my best options and how to proceed.