Billyr98's Real Upgrade! 450g Starphire Custom Reef Tank!

[mikem]

I always put bolts thru them for safty.

 

[panmanmatt]

It's not a pretty sight when someone pushes that button.

I would add a bolt or 2 just for a little piece of mind.

 

[billyr98]

good ideas... i can't budge the bolts... but great ideas anyhow!! I will probably do a bolt and nuts...

 

[mikem]

don't buy any. I have lots of them laying around.

 

[RichT]

Can you get a lolly mid span or do you think you got it covered? Correct me if I'm wrong Mike but isn't 5' to 6' recommended pier spacing for bearing walls in a house? Not that your holding up a house but just something to ponder.

 

[mikem]

6ft. is code on lolly columns, also 3 nails straight up and down every 16" on the headers.

 

[billyr98]

i might add a third support.. but this is only for the tank, like you said.... not the house but the third would be in front of the frag tank and that would stink!

 

[mikem]

You can also move them in about a foot from each end if it's not gonna block your view anywhere. They carry more weight off the ends and you can do away without a center one.

 

[billyr98]

right now they are not in the way... any closer and they are in the way of the tank..
so.. i will wait and see thanks for all the options guys!

 

[RichT]

From column to column, run a string line real tight a couple inches below the 2x8's. Mark a spot on the 2x8's midway between the columns. Measure the gap between the string and the mark before you start and while your filling the tank. I doubt it will but if the deflection becomes unacceptable then you should be able to detect it before it becomes a real problem. When I filled my tank I just set up a cheapo trim lazer on the opposite side of the room, made a couple of marks on the red line and watched for sag that way. I got a total of a half thickness of a pencil line.

 

[billyr98]

if i do get deflection, i can crank the columns up more... right?

 

[Phyl]

I think if you get deflection you'll need to add the 3rd. You won't see deflection AT the column, it will be between.

 

[billyr98]

ok its shipping tomorrow!!!

i will know delivery date tomorrow too... keep your dates open, wednesday or thursday...

 

[RichT]

The only issue I would have would be the time. 5:30 / 6:00 would be the earliest I could make it. Do you think the driver will have a way to at least get it off the truck onto the driveway?

 

[billyr98]

i need to pick it up from a dock in pennsauken...

 

[RichT]

So is that covered as far as getting it into a truck?

 

[billyr98]

i have no idea.. until tomorrow.. i will talk to Miracles tomorrow.. but my idea would be the tank would at the dock and i need to load it into the truck to go home..

 

[mikem]

I would think they have people at their dock to load it.

 

[billyr98]

this is just a shipping dock.. the manufactor is from canada and is shipping it to Pennsauken drop point..

 

[mikem]

So, we need a few people to go to the P/U point to load the truck? Or are you gonna call them and see if they can forklift it on the truck from the ground?