Custom build a suspended fish tank?

[apollo]

Hi Guys

Will be getting our new "old" place soon.

Am thinking of building a suspended 3(L) x 1(D) x 2.5(H) Ft tank supported at a wooden shelving at the base.

There will be angle brackets in the cabinet to support the weight of the fish tank.

Anybody done this before? I am worried that the brackets might not be strong enough to hold the weight.

Initially just wanted a cabinet tank and it was the Interior Designer that suggested we suspend the tank !

Stephen

[celticfish]

i'd suggest a full metal support with wood betwen the tank and metal.

the weight of the water alone is 200+kg.
gravel is much heavier than water.
add in weight of tank...
very brave design...

[benny]

It can be done, but the expenditure will be well over the top just to ensure that safety aspect of the design, depending on the thinness of the support.

Unless your designer already have the technical details figured out, I don't think too highly of such mindless lip service. Of course, if he is willing to sign an undertaking to warranty any/all damages resulting from the tank falling apart, that's a different story.

You might like to know that there are some off the shelf capital 'I' shape setup available. I believe MP Aquarien amongst others have such designs. Basically, the support below the tank and above the floor is less than the tank floor area, creating a 'big head, small feet' feel. Nisso also has 3 ft set up with a small wooden centre column, but the 4 edge is support by stainless steel rods, so it isn't exactly suspended.

Anyway Stephen, do keep us posted and show us pictures if you can!

Cheers,

[skysky]

yes, post some pic or sketches showing the intended concept. wont mind doing a simple check of the glass thickness or steel member thickness for you.

[vinz]

Well, think of the cost. The glass bottom will have to be extra thick to support the weight of the water by itself.

Most times the designers have great design concepts, but unless they keep planted tanks or any kind of aquarium themselves, they lack the experience to know what is practical (especially for monthly maintenance.) SCRUTINISE their design. Some designers have a clause stating that they will only do something like 3 amendments FOC, before they start charging for changes to the design. For the tank portion, I suggest you negotiate for more.

[Aquaculture]

A brave concept indeed... are you staying in a HDB apollo? I'm not too sure whether HDB has any regulations to allowing us to use 'robotic' bolts as it might affect the stability.

[apollo]

Hi Guys

Its still in designing stage.

Personally i think it's a risky idea ! The sheer weight of the water is scary to me. However, the ID guy think since we are getting him to custom build, might as well do it uniquely. If we were to have a cabinet on the floor to take the weight, might as well buy it off the shelf !

And Skysky and vinz. The tank will be supported by a suspended cabinet. Brackets and filters will be kept in it. Therefore will still be using normal glass for the tank.

[valice]

The tank will be supported by a suspended cabinet. Brackets and filters will be kept in it. Therefore will still be using normal glass for the tank.

In that case, the support joint of the cabinet must be very strong. I would imagine it to be at least a metal plate cemented into the wall itself acting as the support frame.

Force applied to the joint in the wall is roughly estimated to be around 300Nm.
This is based only on one support point. If pressure is spread out properly, it might be a possible project.

I am not a mechanical engineer, but using secondary physics, it sounds plausible.
Make sure that there is a Professional Engineer (PE) that certify the safety of the thing.

[ranmasatome]

What is it suspended with?? cables?? if it is cables.. then wont the tank sway around?? or do you mean just suspended with metal beams, so that the tank tabletop does not appear to have any legs??

[apollo]

Hi ranmasatome

My little technical knowledge is that there will be a series of L angle bolted to the wall. A plank will placed ontop to hold the tank.

Below is an end elevation of what i think it will be.

Hope i shed some light.


Tank
============
wooden plank
============
++++++++++++
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+

[benny]

Where will all the piping and electricals be located?

Cheers,

[valice]

According to my mechanical engineer colleague, your interior designer must have someone to calculate what is the minimum amount of force to bend the horizontal portion. And then ensure that the weight placed on the mount is less than that. That's how a layman (me) intepreted what he explained to me.

[apollo]

Hi Benny.

I intend to partition a corner in the tank. Drill a hole in that corner.

My pipping and electrical will run up through that hole.

Valice, i am not very sure about that. Guess they might base on experience or similar project that they have done?

I am as worried as you guys. If i am not convinced, might just want him to build a cabinet to hold the tank or i get others to build one for me. Whichever is cheaper.

[skysky]

Both ideas are possible.

1) Hang from top, that means you anchor from the reinforced concrete slab above your unit. Please check whether HDB allow you to anchor unto your neighbour slab

2) Cantilever from the wall (as shown in your sketch)
, means you anchor from the brickwall. Most internal wall of HDB are brickwall not concrete wall.

Both methods required mechanical bolts or chemical anchor bolts to do the work. There are plenty of bolts that can do the work.

Technically, your proposal is buildable subjected to acceptable cost and authority approval.

Regards

[BFG]

One more thing Apollo, should somewhere in the future you may want to stop the hobby, would it be easy to remove this 'setup' easily without causing an adverse effect to the surrounding concept you've created?

[lorba]

I am sure structurally, there will be a safe way to do it. And it shouldnt be too expensive to remove the frame/tank and cover holes.

I think you should put more considerations into the maintenance part. You wouldnt want to do up everything and find that you can't reach the bottom of the tank or put in a nice piece of wood.

1. Accessibility to clean the tank, remove big rocks/wood?
2. Accessibility to remove/clean equipment such as filter?
3. Splashing of water into area where you cannot reach?
4. Emergency access to pipe, fittings, hose etc that is running behind. What if a pipe/hose loosens and water is draining at the back?
5. Will the tank be enclosed with cover and light? Temperature?
6. Ventillation for a chiller and space for it. You never know you need 1 in NEAR future.

[bossteck]

Hi ranmasatome

My little technical knowledge is that there will be a series of L angle bolted to the wall. A plank will placed ontop to hold the tank.

Below is an end elevation of what i think it will be.

Hope i shed some light.


Tank
============
wooden plank
============
++++++++++++
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+

Hi,

I used to have a set up similar to this when I was still staying with my parents.

2 angle iron + 1 wooden plank. It was first used to hold my hifi set, then my television, then a 1.5 ft setup which was unplanted. Structurally, no problem, but asthetically, it is quite ugly imho.

For the set up to be safe, you have to use angle iron that is quite long, so that there will be more points on it which can be bolted to the wall area that is under the tank. if you have no way of beautifying or hiding the angle iron, it will stand out like a sore thumb.

P.S. My angle iron was just a L-shape type, without the added support unlike the triangular type in your drawing.

[apollo]

Hi Eric

Thanks for sharing.

Basically the L angle will be boxed-up into a cabinet for me to hide the pump. So the L angle will not be seen as you perceived.

However, i understand you are placing a 1.5ft tank on it. Whereas i will be putting a 3ft length by 2.5 ft height tank on it. Would think the weight of my tank can be easily 3 times heavier.

Stephen

[skysky]

Bro Lorba stated good points on the functionality of the system.

[apollo]

Already highlighted those points to my ID guy.

So i will be using T5 lights housed in a cover that can be flip open for cleaning.

My concern is still if the L angles/plates can take the weight or not? How heavy is the tank when filled with water and sand?