130 gal Tank....Need some help/input!

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#1
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#1
Hi,

I've just recently started keeping fish. I have currently have one 30 gallon tank that I received from a friend. I set it up a couple weeks ago and everything has been going great. Although I like the tank a lot, it isn't big enough to hold what I would really like to have - sharks.

A friend of a friend is selling a bunch of stuff due to a divorce. This person has a 130 gallon complete saltwater tank setup for sale - asking price is $300.00 but I'm thinking of offering $200 or $250 (is this too insulting - for reference she is selling a brand new baby grand piano that cost 12k for 6k.) If I do buy it I plan to do freshwater fish only.

I'm worried about upkeep with this tank, whether or not my floor would be able to support the weight, and how I can set up the environment cheaply (I spent about 150 bucks on stones, plants, rocks, and wood for my 30g).

I told this lady that I would get back to her tomorrow. I need some input. I'd like to have it but I am a little scared.

Thanks!
Gretchen

Ps. Here are links to a couple pictures of the tank. The first pic is of the stand and top. Second is of the tank itself. The blue that you see is the actual color of that wall. It isn't a taped on background.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/paaf31572acdc01152bd68a21e247189e/fbc776af.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p55d3b0e68f2aea16e3b2f5a5bf8a0483/fbc776ae.jpg
 

weasle

weasle

Small Fish
#2
Oct 22, 2002
26
0
0
#2
tank ,stand,all the gear for 300 bucks is an awsome deal. as for the weight, with all the filter and standand stuff would be very close to 1500 lbs so make sure your floor can handle that. i say buy it and dont look back.
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#3
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
43
Colorado
#3
Don't forget the only stuff you REALLY need is for the upkeep of the tank. If you don't have money for anything else in the tank except some gravel or some cheesy fake plants, then you can add stuff later!

I agree...that is a great price, and if she's that big on getting rid of it she might go down lower then even better!

As for the actual upkeep of the tank, water changes/cleaning might take longer, but overall a larger tank is easier to take care of than a smaller tank...especially if you want large fish like the sharks.
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#6
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
43
Colorado
#6
wow...now that is a good question.

I would call and ask my dad...he'd have an idea lol OK as a matter of fact I did call him because I'm curious about the answer to the question. Before his cell phone cut off he said that usually things like floors or roofs are measured in pounds per square inch that they can hold. He said that most floors are rated at a 100 ppsi...but that there isn't a real good way to find out w/o calling a contractor and paying them to come out and take a look underneath your floor.

BUT if you don't live in a very old house (like mine that the floors creak) I would take that 100ppsi measurment and figure out how many square inches the tank's stand would cover, and see if it equals your 1500 pounds or not.

(If/when my dad calls me back I'll edit this post and add some more info! lol)
 

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#8
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#8
The house I live in is pretty old. I know the tank is 6 ft long and probably 2 ft wide. So If i am doing my calcs correctly a 72" by 24" stand and 1500 lbs would be 0.868 psi. If that is right I should definitely be ok.

Gretchen
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#10
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
43
San Ramon, CA
#10
heres a thought...if it is in this persons house, and you are in the same neighborhood the houses are (most likely) the same so it would (most likely) be ok...might want to look into whether your floor is concrete...many houses are built with concrete slab floors (like my folks house) in which case you wouldnt have a problem
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#11
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
43
Colorado
#11
You got it right on camaro! its the area of the stand that needs to be measured. Dad called me back...lol he said that as long as you put it across the floor joists and not along one joist, that most any floor should hold it (barring any wierd circumstances like the stand not spreading out the weight enough)

Also if you were REALLY worried about it you could take a look at the floor from underneath (assuming its not concrete slab like camaro said) and write down a) the size of the joists themselves height x width...and b) how far between the joists. Then call a construction company, general contractor in your area and someone should be able to easily figure out your specific floor's rating in ppsi.
 

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#12
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#12
Right, I just realized that after I submitted my post. I haven't seen the tank in person and it is hard to tell what the structure of the tank looks like.

Okay here are some rough calcs to use as indicators. If you look at the pic of the stand there are the two ends and three panels in the middle. Assuming they are 12" long and 1" wide that would give me 31 psi. That doesn't even count the front and back of the stand which has to be at least 72" long and probably 1 to 2 inches thick.
 

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#13
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#13
Okay...Just went down and looked at how the joints are mounted. Looks like I am not going to be able to put the tank where I want it but we'll just move the furniture around to accomodate it.

If most floors can take 100 psi I dont think I should have any problem. The tank will span 4 joists and gives me about a 20.83 psi rating worse case.

Gonna make an offer tomorrow.

Gretchen
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
#14
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
43
Colorado
#14
Its too bad they don't have it set up or have some better pictures. Did you ask why its disassembled? It would really bite to find out theres something wrong with the stand or the tank...everything else is expendable LOL

Maybe you could ask if you can see it and take some measurements of it yourself...or ask her to take specific measurements for you.

Back to the floor thing though, I am horrid at math, but i'm PRETTY sure you'd be fine. Who was it around here that said they were really good at math...GOMER WHERE ARE YOU? :D

Edit: YAY ya know what? I forgot to mention how jealous I am that you A) have the money for this. B) have the space for this and C) Got the opportunity!!

You'll have to keep us posted!
 

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#15
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#15
This lady just recently got divorced and is in a bunch of debt and is selling everything off. Like I said, she just bought a $12000 baby grand piano and only wants $6000 for it!!!

I couldn't afford it if it weren't so cheap and everything weren't already included. Plus I have a bunch of stuff that I bought for my 30 g that I wont need to get for the new one. All I need really are stones and fish.

I am graduating from college this semester and have been going nutty with the graduation presents for myself. LOL
 

G

gscorvette

Medium Fish
#17
Jul 2, 2003
68
0
0
Visit site
#17
Actually, no vette for me yet. The Grand Sports (hence the gs) are my favorites so I always use it for my user name.

I do have a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 though. Sunset Orange Metallic, 6 Speed, no Traction Control. It only has 661 miles on it. I've been doing co-ops for school and haven't had a chance to drive it since I bought it.

Gretchen
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#18
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
43
San Ramon, CA
#18
nice car...would go with the camaro SS myself, but its all a matter of styling...performance is virtually identical...my bro has a 2002 Z-28....thats a fun car to drive

what year GS do you like? 63 or 64 was the first, correct?
 

You must log in or register to reply here.