Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum and already have my first question.
A bit about me: My name is Jonas, I’m 20 years old, and I’m an avid aquarist. I still live with my mother in a house, 22 years old.
About my issue:
As mentioned, I have aquariums. The old setup is becoming too small, so I need a larger one.
The planned setup will weigh nearly 2 tons (4400 lbs) and will cover an area of 2.4 x 0.6 meters (7.9 x 2 feet).
The subfloor won’t be able to support this weight, but the concrete ceiling below it will, as assured by the architect.
I received the following advice:
There is a special heat-sensitive paper that you place on the floor. It shows the exact location of the underfloor heating pipes. This way, you know exactly where the pipes are. You could then drill holes down to the concrete slab. What I mean is that you can support the entire load on steel or stone columns resting on the lower floor. Above the columns, you place a board and then the aquarium stand.
You could also have a substructure welded with about six legs. At the legs, you drill holes down to the concrete slab. This way, your underfloor heating stays intact. The holes can later be refilled, and the tiles replaced on top.
However, the person who gave me this advice has no experience with this and can’t assist with implementation.
Maybe someone here has experience with this and can help?
How large should the columns be? How much might this cost approximately, or could it be done as a DIY project?
A few more details about the floor:
The floor will be redone anyway, so there will be renovations regardless. It will probably be a self-leveling floor or linoleum.
I’m looking forward to good answers and a great collaboration here in the forum.
Best regards,
Jonas
I am new to this forum and already have my first question.
A bit about me: My name is Jonas, I’m 20 years old, and I’m an avid aquarist. I still live with my mother in a house, 22 years old.
About my issue:
As mentioned, I have aquariums. The old setup is becoming too small, so I need a larger one.
The planned setup will weigh nearly 2 tons (4400 lbs) and will cover an area of 2.4 x 0.6 meters (7.9 x 2 feet).
The subfloor won’t be able to support this weight, but the concrete ceiling below it will, as assured by the architect.
I received the following advice:
There is a special heat-sensitive paper that you place on the floor. It shows the exact location of the underfloor heating pipes. This way, you know exactly where the pipes are. You could then drill holes down to the concrete slab. What I mean is that you can support the entire load on steel or stone columns resting on the lower floor. Above the columns, you place a board and then the aquarium stand.
You could also have a substructure welded with about six legs. At the legs, you drill holes down to the concrete slab. This way, your underfloor heating stays intact. The holes can later be refilled, and the tiles replaced on top.
However, the person who gave me this advice has no experience with this and can’t assist with implementation.
Maybe someone here has experience with this and can help?
How large should the columns be? How much might this cost approximately, or could it be done as a DIY project?
A few more details about the floor:
The floor will be redone anyway, so there will be renovations regardless. It will probably be a self-leveling floor or linoleum.
I’m looking forward to good answers and a great collaboration here in the forum.
Best regards,
Jonas
If you are unsure about setting up an aquarium, it is advisable to consult a structural engineer. There is no point in constantly worrying that something might go wrong.
My wife also had serious concerns, so I brought in a structural engineer. He gave us useful advice on how to better distribute the load. Now we all feel more at ease and enjoy the aquarium.
My wife also had serious concerns, so I brought in a structural engineer. He gave us useful advice on how to better distribute the load. Now we all feel more at ease and enjoy the aquarium.