Large Fish Tanks in Trailers / Mobile Homes

[rainmkr07]

I took some pics today.

First, here is the side of the trailer:

Here is a closer shot of the side, the windows are 7 feet apart, the tank is 6 feet and would sit centered between on the same wall as them:

Underneath the trailer, 2 steel beems run lengthwise, I'd say about 4 feet in from each side of the trailer. Every 8 feet is a metal arm that goes from the beem to the edge of the trailer. Then there are boards every 16" as well, which run perpendicular to the beems, I'd guess they are 2x6's. The tank would sit directly over one of these steel arms, and 2 2x6's on each side of that steel arm as well. You can see the steel arm in this photo. It's already reinforced by a concrete pillar structure:

Here is a shot to the left, you can see the next steel arm and support about 8 feet down:

Here is a shot to the right, you can see the next steel arm and support about 8 feet down:

I am thinking this would hold the tank fine without anymore support needed? Thoughts?

 

[grimreefer01]

personally, i would rather gamble in vegas or atlantic city

 

[rainmkr07]

bump.

I got some cinder blocks from home depot, for $1 each. I am planning on stacking them at each end of the tank, and under the metal arm in the middle.

thoughts? it should be fine now?

 

[Lordhelmet]

I'm looking at putting a 150 to 180 in my prefab and am gonna do the cinder blocks. Go for it, it will be fine.

 

[spongebob281]

Hicks arent allowed to have fishtank Kidding aside, floor jacks weldered together to form metal grids are your best bet.

 

[rainmkr07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14281554#post14281554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spongebob281
Hicks arent allowed to have fishtank Kidding aside, floor jacks weldered together to form metal grids are your best bet.

hey! all trailers aren't jerry springer. how about poor students??

the tank goes in tomorrow, I sure am nervous. If it doesn't hold, I can't imagine the damage. And I RENT this thing too, man I will be in serious trouble with the landlord!

 

[RiverOtter]

You better check to see if you can have a tank in a rental. My brother was tossed out of a place becouse he did not clear it with the owners first.

 

[rainmkr07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14282116#post14282116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RiverOtter
You better check to see if you can have a tank in a rental. My brother was tossed out of a place becouse he did not clear it with the owners first.

They said a tank is ok. I have a 75g now w/ 29g sump.

I am just upgrading to a 135g tank w/ 55g sump. It's not really THAT big of a difference right?

 

[pIankton]

Naw - not too much of a difference... It's only like putting a car in your living room - a big car.

Personally, it sounds like a good deal. I'd buy it, save it, then fill it after your move. Time goes by pretty quick.

 

[Swanwillow]

So thread resurrection. I'm moving into a single wide with my 75 gallon. I know I need to have the tank going lengthwise along the house, but I want it in the middle of the room in a peninsula form instead of against a wall. Anyone see issues with this?

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I had my 240 set up in my double wide,I placed it near the steel frame of the trailer.Only used a couple of jackstands on some flat concrete pads for support toward the outer wall.Would still have it but the seams were turning white and didn't want about 300 gallons of water on my floors.

 

[alton]

Sorry but I keep thinking about the Flintstones car flipped on its side because of the large Brontosauris Ribs they got at the drive in. Have 5 of your large friends over and ask them to stand in the area where you want to place the tank. 1300 lbs sounds like a lot but it is only 1lb per square inch. Block it up and you will be fine.

 

[Mstark11]

Throwing in my 2 cents here, I have a 55g. in a single-wide, and I just set it up wherever. I've had it up for about 10 months now, and not a single problem, never bothered to reinforce it. I also made the stand out of 2x4's, so it's heavy as sh**(probably 200+lbs in the stand alone).

 

[dthorn]

arailers are how rednecks afford reef tanks! I laugh at people paying a mortgage as I choose between my motorcycle, brand new car, and winter ride. Then I decide if I'm going to ride my wheeler, jet ski, or play with my nitro rc trucks. Sad that all this fun will end when I get a mortgage soon, since I've run out of places for tanks and toys. Joking aside, I've had a 55g against the wall in a 1972 single wide for almost ten years unbraced. It was a little off level when I set it up and is definitely sinking slowly leaning further towards the wall. That being said I have no plans to brace it now, but you may want to consider it now rather than dealing with problems later. If you are able to place the tank over the steel frame of the trailer for the peninsula idea than you would have no reason to need additional bracing. Would definitely make sure the floor doesn't have any soft spots though, pretty common in a lot of trailers. I just hope I can still afford this hobby once I buy a house will definitely be on a much tighter budget. Will miss the look on people's faces when they walk into my crappy trailer and see all the tanks and high end appliances it truly never gets old! Happy reefing!

 

[dthorn]

Btw my 55g stand is the bottom of an antique china cabinet so it's extra heavy and doesn't have a flat bottom like a proper stand would. This means all that weight is on four legs and hasn't fallen through the floor yet even in an old trailer. That would suggest my floor could hold a much larger tank on a proper stand, but still decided putting my new 56g right next to it might be pushing my luck.

 

[Swanwillow]

I figured I'd update this thread for people searching.

The 75 held up just fine running lengthwise in the house. that said, it did finally break, the bottom seam burst on the darn tank. The tank was still perfectly level when it happened. I got out of the hobby, and am now putting in a 125 gallon. I'm going to have it set right one the metal beam so I don't have to worry about the weight. Its also on my re-constructed plywood floor from when the first tank burst and soaked right through into my particleboard floors... I just nailed the plywood right ontop of the old floor (it was bad enough to need new support in some spots, but I didn't want to deal with ripping out the entire floor. Again. I had JUST gone through the same thing (water on particleboard floor) with my water heater leaking all over 2 bedrooms, leaching up the drywall)

Ya know.. I shouldn't have water in the house, ever! lol.

 

[Chris T.]

cinder blocks work well. just stack some blocks under where the tank will be, pound in a couple wedges and you should be fine.

thats what i did for my 120 works great no floor sag tanks level alls good