On Mon, 17 May 2004 23:28:04 +0100, "Marcus Fox"
wrote:

Is it possible to have a 5' x 2' x 2' aquarium on the upper floor of a
two
storey building with no extra floor support? Doing the maths says that it
will exceed by a long way the 1.5kN per sq/m in the building regs, as
works
out at about 600kg over 10 sq ft (0.92 sq m) but I have a feeling it's
not
that simple.

Hi,

A bath probably holds that amount of water. If it's in a corner and
across the joints and the stand spreads the load across the floor
there's less chance of problems.

Do the manufacturers have any guidance on this sort of thing?

LOL, a bath would probably only hold about 150 litres if filled to the very
brim, and this tank would hold 566 litres.


Marcus

Some other points for you. I can't help you on the floor loading,
but I do have an aquarium of similar size (actually 2m x 60cm x 60cm)
- approx 700 litres. The weight of the glass is not inconsiderable
either.

I have mine in a downstairs room with a concrete floor so loading is
not an issue. I built the support arrangement using three hollow
brick piers with the space inside equivalent to two brick depths -
about 200mm. Each was the full depth of the aquarium and was then
filled with concrete.

A length of wood block kitchen worktop was laid across the top of
these and levelled. A piece of 12mm sheet Styrofoam was cut to
the tank size and placed between it and the wood. This is a *vital*
step as you probably know to avoid the tank cracking.
600 litres of water on the floor goes a very long way.

This has been entirely successful and in place for a number of years.
Water has been exchanged, but the tank never emptied.


..andy

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